Honda Passport vs Honda Pilot vs ???

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minivans lack AWD and good ground clearance. So they are not really a better option.

You can get AWD Sienna. You don’t really need the SUV kind of ground clearance unless you take it off road

DP. I do want both 4WD/AWD and ground clearance.

But I think ground clearance is more beneficial then AWD/4WD. Where even though I have a 4WD (where you need to manually switch between 2WD and 4WD), I rarely put my car in 4WD and have never been stuck. (There have been instances where I needed to put it in 4WD to get out of/through some spots)

And I've seen a good number of AWD cars get stuck at the same places. Often times you see that not all of the wheels are spinning because I guess the sensor doesn't detect that it needs to spin the wheels.

There are some parking lot entrances and inclines and dips on roadways, where I see cars often bottoming out on a normal day. And you see other cars scrape their hitches due to being too low to the ground.

With that being said, I think 7 to 8 inches is enough for normal driving. And when you look at the early 2000s minivans they had about 7 inches of ground clearance:
2005 Toyota Sienna 6.9 inches
2025 Toyota Sienna 6.4 inches to get 7 inches you have to get the "off road version" Woodland

2005 Honda Odyssey 4.5 inches
2025 Honda Odyssey 4.5 inches

For the Honda Odyssey, I looked at them on the road and they don't seem to far different then other cars. So think they must have a low hanging part somewhere underneath that decreases the ground clearance.

[Anonymous]

We actually have one of each, but the Pilot is the logical choice for most people and most situations IMO.

Passport - better legroom in 2nd row, more usable cargo space, better ground clearance and significantly better for light offroading, but poor fuel economy

Pilot - drives more like a car, generally handles better on the highway and gives us more flexibility to haul people around.

[Anonymous]

Just go with the Pilot. It will sit 8 people when you need to (plus room for cargo) and you can put your biggest two in the middle and the smallest in the 3rd row for trips around town.

My friend has a Pilot and it sits a little higher than my CRV. She has grandkids locally so she needs the extra room.

They are both AWD for the occasional snow and ice.

Our other friend got the Odyssey for ease of getting in and out for their elderly parents. But I always think "mom-van" when she drives up and chuckle to myself (note - I drove an Odyssey until my youngest went to HS and it was - practical). I think the Pilot is a bit more stylish than the mini-van.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We actually have one of each, but the Pilot is the logical choice for most people and most situations IMO.

Passport - better legroom in 2nd row, more usable cargo space, better ground clearance and significantly better for light offroading, but poor fuel economy

Pilot - drives more like a car, generally handles better on the highway and gives us more flexibility to haul people around.

Helpful. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minivans lack AWD and good ground clearance. So they are not really a better option.

You can get AWD Sienna. You don’t really need the SUV kind of ground clearance unless you take it off road

DP. I do want both 4WD/AWD and ground clearance.

But I think ground clearance is more beneficial then AWD/4WD. Where even though I have a 4WD (where you need to manually switch between 2WD and 4WD), I rarely put my car in 4WD and have never been stuck. (There have been instances where I needed to put it in 4WD to get out of/through some spots)

And I've seen a good number of AWD cars get stuck at the same places. Often times you see that not all of the wheels are spinning because I guess the sensor doesn't detect that it needs to spin the wheels.

There are some parking lot entrances and inclines and dips on roadways, where I see cars often bottoming out on a normal day. And you see other cars scrape their hitches due to being too low to the ground.

With that being said, I think 7 to 8 inches is enough for normal driving. And when you look at the early 2000s minivans they had about 7 inches of ground clearance:
2005 Toyota Sienna 6.9 inches
2025 Toyota Sienna 6.4 inches to get 7 inches you have to get the "off road version" Woodland

2005 Honda Odyssey 4.5 inches
2025 Honda Odyssey 4.5 inches

For the Honda Odyssey, I looked at them on the road and they don't seem to far different then other cars. So think they must have a low hanging part somewhere underneath that decreases the ground clearance.

Helpful to understand the ground clearance comparison. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

We looked at cars recently. Wanted a passport but couldn’t find the right one, and decided it was too big and expensive. Ended up ordering a RAV4.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bought a Pilot when I was pregnant w my DC1. Drove it for 22 years as a family of 4 and loved it. The 3rd row was a nice to have when we got together with my parents. Other wise, that 3rd row (when folded down flat) provided ample trunk space to haul luggage + sports equipment. We moved 2 kids to and from college, took annual beach trips and travelled all over the country with it for sports tournament. It was spacious and the ride was smooth for a SUV. When the AC unit gave out on us for the 3rd time 2 years ago, DH finally sold it. The engine still ran great after almost 300k+ miles. The old Pilot was a solidly built car and a workhorse car for sure.

What did you get after the Pilot. We’re a family of 5 and had the Odyssey when the kids were little and then Pilot for the last decade. It was great for carpool and road trips but my kids are all at college across the country and I’d like to commute in a smaller car. Mostly considering a 2025 hybrid RAV4 or Lexus NX, but there’s also the Mazda cx5, crv, or even some G wagons in the same price family

PP. we now have a 2018 Accord hybrid and a 2024 CRV hybrid. DH and I drive the Accord when we don’t need to haul anything. The CRV is great when both DCs come home for the holidays w airport runs and outings. These days when we get together w my parents, we do end up driving 2 cars. One car is used to do the pick up and drop off as they no longer drive far and almost never on the beltway.

[Anonymous]

If you want a wagon look at the Toyota Crown Signia. Its been in the US since 2025, but has been overseas for like 50 years as a Crown Estate. It sits slightly higher than a sedan, but not as high as a Pilot (I also have a 2019 Pilot). There are only 2 models, and both are hybrids and well appointed.

[Anonymous]

PP, also, it is AWD. Many owners feel it is closer to a Lexus than a Toyota. I've never owned a Lexus so can't comment, but it is nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want a wagon look at the Toyota Crown Signia. Its been in the US since 2025, but has been overseas for like 50 years as a Crown Estate. It sits slightly higher than a sedan, but not as high as a Pilot (I also have a 2019 Pilot). There are only 2 models, and both are hybrids and well appointed.

helpful. Thanks.

[Anonymous]

Parents have both.

[Anonymous]

Passport is essentially pilot with rear removed.

Highlander is probably more reliable FYI, Honda as a company is struggling (read about there $B lost in cancelled EVs)

A Forerunner is Passport equivalent but is actually different lineage than Highlander (though I think they moved on from body on frame).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Minivans lack AWD and good ground clearance. So they are not really a better option.

You can get AWD Sienna. You don’t really need the SUV kind of ground clearance unless you take it off road

DP. I do want both 4WD/AWD and ground clearance.

But I think ground clearance is more beneficial then AWD/4WD. Where even though I have a 4WD (where you need to manually switch between 2WD and 4WD), I rarely put my car in 4WD and have never been stuck. (There have been instances where I needed to put it in 4WD to get out of/through some spots)

And I've seen a good number of AWD cars get stuck at the same places. Often times you see that not all of the wheels are spinning because I guess the sensor doesn't detect that it needs to spin the wheels.

There are some parking lot entrances and inclines and dips on roadways, where I see cars often bottoming out on a normal day. And you see other cars scrape their hitches due to being too low to the ground.

With that being said, I think 7 to 8 inches is enough for normal driving. And when you look at the early 2000s minivans they had about 7 inches of ground clearance:
2005 Toyota Sienna 6.9 inches
2025 Toyota Sienna 6.4 inches to get 7 inches you have to get the "off road version" Woodland

2005 Honda Odyssey 4.5 inches
2025 Honda Odyssey 4.5 inches

For the Honda Odyssey, I looked at them on the road and they don't seem to far different then other cars. So think they must have a low hanging part somewhere underneath that decreases the ground clearance.

Unless you're really rural you'll be fine in a Sienna. I've driven them since 2010 in Colorado and unless we get 2 feet of snow overnight clearance has never been a problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Passport is essentially pilot with rear removed.

Dug into the online specs. Above seems to be the case. Same engine and drivetrain. That 3.5l engine appears to be the same one that Honda has used for many years - very reliable.

Trim packages do vary between the two. Passport packages seem mostly off-road oriented.

[Anonymous]

Stop being a little B and get the Honda Odyssey