Compare the2023 Honda PassportVS 2023 Lexus RX

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The RX’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Passport. But it costs extra on the RX.

Both the Passport and the RX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras and rear cross-path warning.

Honda pays for scheduled maintenance on the Passport for 1 year and 14,000 miles longer than Lexus pays for maintenance for the RX (2/24,000 vs. 1/10,000).

There are over 4 times as many Honda dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Passport’s warranty.

The engine in the Passport has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the RX have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Passport third among midsize suvs in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The RX isn’t in the top three in its category.

The Passport’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 34 more horsepower (280 vs. 246) and 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 233) than the RX 350h’s standard 2.5 DOHC 4-cylinder hybrid. The Passport’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 5 more horsepower (280 vs. 275) than the RX 350’s standard 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The RX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Passport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The RX 350 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Passport has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 350h/500h’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Passport has 1.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the RX 350’s standard fuel tank (19.5 vs. 17.8 gallons).

The Passport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The RX doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the RX.

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the RX (245/60R18 vs. 235/60R19). The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the RX (265/45R20 vs. 235/60R19).

The Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the RX’s optional 50 series tires.

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The RX doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 1.7 inches wider in the front and .4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the RX.

The Passport is 3.4 inches shorter than the RX, making the Passport easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Passport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The RX doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Passport has 2.4 inches more front hip room, 3.9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom, 1.4 inches more rear hip room and 5.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the RX.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the RX with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 29.6 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the RX with its rear seat folded (77.7 vs. 46.2 cubic feet).

The Passport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the RX’s (5000 vs. 0 pounds).

The Passport has a standard remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The RX doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Passport has a standard rear wiper. The RX doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Passport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the RX.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Passport, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Lexus RX isn't recommended.