Compare the2024 Honda PassportVS 2024 BMW X3

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Honda Passport are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X3 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Passport are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X3 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

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 X3’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 X3.

Both the Passport and the X3 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, 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.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the BMW X3:

	Passport	X3
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	202 lbs.
Neck Compression	36 lbs.	64 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/243 lbs.	116/280 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Honda Passport is safer than the BMW X3:

	Passport	X3
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	153 lbs.
Hip Force	269 lbs.	275 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Spine Acceleration	42 G’s	45 G’s
Hip Force	304 lbs.	794 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Passport 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X3. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X3 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Honda dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Passport’s warranty.

Reliability

The engine in the Passport has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the X3 have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Passport’s reliability 11 points higher than the X3.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated lower.

Engine

The Passport’s 3.5 SOHC V6 produces 32 more horsepower (280 vs. 248) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the X3 s/xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

As tested in Consumer Reports the Honda Passport is faster than the X3 s/xDrive30i 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder:

	Passport	X3
Zero to 30 MPH	2.5 sec	3.1 sec
Zero to 60 MPH	6.4 sec	7.7 sec
45 to 65 MPH Passing	2.9 sec	5 sec
Quarter Mile	15 sec	16 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	95 MPH	92 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The X3 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 X3 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

The Passport has 2.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X3 (19.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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 X3 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Transmission

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 X3.

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Passport EX-L/Elite’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X3 (265/45R20 vs. 245/45R20).

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 X3 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 3.4 inches wider in the front and 2.9 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X3.

For greater off-road capability the Passport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X3 (8.1 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Passport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

Chassis

The Passport uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X3 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Passport Elite is quieter than the X3 M40i xDrive:

	Passport	X3
At idle	39 dB	40 dB
Full-Throttle	76 dB	80 dB
70 MPH Cruising	65 dB	69 dB

Passenger Space

The Passport has 13.5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X3 (114.9 vs. 101.4).

The Passport has .6 inches more front legroom, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, 1.5 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom and 5.9 inches more rear shoulder room than the X3.

Cargo Capacity

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X3 with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 28.7 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X3 with its rear seat folded (77.7 vs. 62.7 cubic feet).

The Passport’s cargo area is larger than the X3’s in almost every dimension:

	Passport	X3
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42.5”/76”	36.5”/69”
Max Width	52”	47”
Min Width	45.5”	43.3”
Height	30”	30.1”

Towing

The Passport’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the X3’s (5000 vs. 4400 pounds).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Passport uses the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X3 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Passport’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X3 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Passport has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X3 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

Consumer Reports rated the Passport’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the X3’s headlights, which were rated “Fair.”

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 X3.

The Passport TrailSport/Elite has a 115-volt a/c outlet, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X3 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Passport owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Passport will cost $1255 to $3190 less than the X3 over a five-year period.

The Passport will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Passport will retain 52.97% to 53.54% of its original price after five years, while the X3 only retains 50.69% to 52.37%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Passport will be $6457 to $17822 less than for the BMW X3.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Passport and the BMW X3, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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