Compare the2024 Honda PassportVS 2023 BMW X5

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
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 X5 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 X5 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 X5’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 X5.

Both the Passport and the X5 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.

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 X5:

	Passport	X5
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	149	209
Neck Injury Risk	28%	34%
Neck Stress	189 lbs.	308 lbs.
Neck Compression	36 lbs.	112 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	46/243 lbs.	636/584 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	216	342
Chest Compression	.6 inches	.8 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	35%
Neck Stress	116 lbs.	220 lbs.
Neck Compression	69 lbs.	91 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	478/436 lbs.	527/418 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 X5:

	Passport	X5
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.6 inches	.6 inches
Abdominal Force	101 lbs.	130 lbs.
Hip Force	269 lbs.	279 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	304 lbs.	584 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 X5. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X5 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 X5 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 X5.

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.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Passport gets better fuel mileage than the X5 M50i (19 city/24 hwy vs. 16 city/22 hwy).

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The X5 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

Both the Passport and the X5 have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stoplights and heavy traffic. All Passports have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily. A disable switch for start/stop is only offered on the X5 M50i.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Passport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X5 requires premium, which can cost on average about 82.8 cents more per gallon.

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 X5 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 X5.

Tires and Wheels

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 X5 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Passport AWD’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the X5’s (39.3 feet vs. 41.3 feet).

Chassis

The Honda Passport may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 600 to 1000 pounds less than the BMW X5.

The Passport is 5.2 inches shorter than the X5, 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 X5 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Passport has 1.1 inches more front legroom, 2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom and 3.8 inches more rear shoulder room than the X5.

Cargo Capacity

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X5 with its rear seat up (41.2 vs. 33.9 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X5 with its rear seat folded (77.7 vs. 72.3 cubic feet).

The Passport’s cargo area is larger than the X5’s in almost every dimension:

	Passport	X5
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	42.5”/76”	40.7”/70”
Max Width	52”	49”
Min Width	45.5”	44”
Height	30”	31.5”

The Passport’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The X5’s tailgate’s top part raises up, but the bottom part lowers, getting in the way of loading and making an uneven surface for sliding cargo.

Towing

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 X5 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

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 X5 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 X5’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 X5.

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 X5 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 $4005 to $5615 less than the X5 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 X5 only retains 48.6% to 49.43%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Honda Passport will be $23852 to $41597 less than for the BMW X5.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Honda Passport and the BMW X5, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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