2025 Honda Passport vs 2026 Ford Explorer
Comparison Overview
The most significant numerical disparity between the 2025 Honda Passport and the 2026 Ford Explorer is the $4,070 difference in starting MSRP, with the Explorer priced at $38,330 versus the Passport's $42,400. Performance metrics favor the Explorer, boasting 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, substantially outpacing the Passport's 280 hp and 262 lb-ft. Fuel economy also leans toward Ford, achieving a combined 24 MPG compared to the Honda's 21 MPG, aided by superior 20/29 MPG city/highway ratings versus 19/24 MPG. However, the Passport offers superior utility, presenting 50.5 cu ft of cargo space against the Explorer's 16.3 cu ft. Additionally, the Passport features standard AWD and a marginally shorter 189.1-inch length for easier urban maneuvering.
Size Comparison
Performance
Fuel Efficiency
Full Specifications
Our Verdicts
2026 Ford Explorer
The 2026 Ford Explorer achieves better fuel efficiency with 24 combined MPG compared to the Passport's 21 MPG, reducing running costs.
2025 Honda Passport
The 2025 Honda Passport offers substantially greater utility with 50.5 cu ft of cargo capacity versus the Explorer's 16.3 cu ft.
2026 Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer delivers superior power with 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque, exceeding the Passport's 280 hp and 262 lb-ft.
2026 Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer offers a lower entry price point at $38,330 while delivering higher power and better fuel economy.
Choose the Honda Passport if...
- Maximum hauling capability is essential, as the Passport provides 50.5 cu ft of cargo space.
- Predictable all-weather traction is preferred, due to the Passport's standard All-Wheel Drive.
- Maneuverability in tight spaces is prioritized, considering the Passport's shorter 189.1-inch length.
Choose the Ford Explorer if...
- Achieving 24 combined MPG is a primary objective, outperforming the Passport's 21 MPG rating.
- Higher performance metrics are sought, evidenced by the Explorer's 300 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque.
- The lowest possible starting MSRP of $38,330 is necessary for budget adherence.
Key Dimensions
| Dimension | Honda Passport | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 189.1" | 198.8" |
| Width | 78.6" | 78.9" |
| Height | 72.2" | 69.9" |
| Wheelbase | 110.9" | 119.1" |
Features Comparison
Safety
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Blind Spot Monitor | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lane Departure Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Lane Keeping Assist System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Cross Traffic Alert | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-Collision Safety System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Post-Collision Safety System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags | ✓ | — |
| Front Head Airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Head Airbags | ✓ | ✓ |
| Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electronic Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Traction Control System | ✓ | ✓ |
| LATCH System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Door Child Safety Locks | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) | 4-Wheel | 4-Wheel |
| Front Ventilated Disc Brakes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Solid Disc Brakes | ✓ | — |
| Brake Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tire Pressure Monitoring System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Automatic Headlights | ✓ | ✓ |
| LED Headlights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Front Headrests | 2 | 2 |
| Front Height Adjustable Headrests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Headrests | 3 | 2 |
| Rear Height Adjustable Headrests | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt | ✓ | — |
| Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Engine Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Attention Alert | — | ✓ |
| Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags (with Head Protection Chamber) | — | ✓ |
| Third Row Head Airbags | — | ✓ |
| Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes | — | ✓ |
| Brake Preparation System | — | ✓ |
| Headlight Delay-Off | — | ✓ |
Engine
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Base Engine Displacement | 3.5 L | 2.3 L |
| Number of Cylinders | V6 | inline 4 |
| Base Engine Type | gas | gas |
| Horsepower | 280 hp @ 6000 rpm | 300 hp @ 5500 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm | 310 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm |
| Number of Valves | 24 | 16 |
| Camshaft Type | Single overhead cam (SOHC) | Double overhead cam (DOHC) |
| Variable Valve Timing | Variable | Variable |
| Fuel Injection Type | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cylinder Deactivation | ✓ | — |
Drive Train
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission Type | 9-speed shiftable automatic | 10-speed automatic |
| Drivetrain Type | all wheel drive | rear wheel drive |
| [object Object] | ✓ | — |
| [object Object] | ✓ | — |
Fuel
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel Type | regular unleaded | regular unleaded |
| EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway) | 19/24 MPG | 20/29 MPG |
| EPA Fuel Economy (Combined) | 21 MPG | 24 MPG |
| EPA Driving Range (City/Highway) | 370.5/468.0 mi. | 358.0/519.1 mi. |
| Fuel Tank Capacity | 19.5 gal. | 17.9 gal. |
Comfort & Convenience
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Push Button Start | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel | ✓ | — |
| Cruise Control on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audio Controls on Steering Wheel | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Power Steering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear View Camera | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Parking Sensors | ✓ | — |
| Rear Parking Sensors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wireless Charging Pad | ✓ | — |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Universal Remote Transmitter | ✓ | — |
| Front Cupholders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Cupholders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Door Pockets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Door Pockets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Overhead Console with Storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Seatback Storage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Leather Steering Wheel | ✓ | — |
| Three Zone Climate Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Ventilation Ducts | ✓ | — |
| Interior Air Filtration | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual Vanity Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror | ✓ | — |
| Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| 3rd Row Cupholders | — | ✓ |
| Manual Rear Seat Easy Entry | — | ✓ |
| Rear Ventilation Ducts with Fan Control | — | ✓ |
In Car Entertainment
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment Display | 8.0 in | — |
| AM/FM Stereo | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stereo Power | 215W | — |
| Speaker System | 7 | 6 |
| Subwoofer Count | 1 | — |
| Android Auto (Wired) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Apple CarPlay (Wired) | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB Port | ✓ | ✓ |
| USB Port with External Media Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Satellite Radio | ✓ | ✓ |
| Speed Sensitive Volume Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Satellite Radio Trial Period | — | 3 months |
Power Feature
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| One-Touch Power Windows | 2 | 2 |
| Moonroof Type | 1st Row Power Glass | — |
| Keyless Entry | ✓ | ✓ |
| Reverse Tilt Passenger Mirror | ✓ | — |
| Heated Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
Frontseats
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Front Head Room | 39.5 in. | 40.7 in. |
| Front Leg Room | 40.9 in. | 43.0 in. |
| Front Shoulder Room | 62.0 in. | 61.8 in. |
| Front Hip Room | 59.1 in. | 59.2 in. |
| Seat Material: Leather | ✓ | — |
| Front Seat Type: Bucket | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Power Adjustments | 8-way | 6-way |
| Driver Seat Height Adjustment | ✓ | ✓ |
| Driver Seat Lumbar Support | Power | — |
| Driver Seat Memory Settings | 2 | — |
| Passenger Seat Power Adjustments | 4-way | — |
| Driver Seat Heating | Multi-level | — |
| Passenger Seat Heating | Multi-level | — |
| Seat Material: Premium Cloth | — | ✓ |
| Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments | — | 4-way |
Rearseats
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Rear Head Room | 40.0 in. | 40.5 in. |
| Rear Leg Room | 39.6 in. | 39.0 in. |
| Rear Shoulder Room | 61.9 in. | 61.9 in. |
| Rear Hip Room | 57.3 in. | 59.1 in. |
| Split-Folding Rear Seatback | ✓ | — |
| Folding Center Armrest | ✓ | ✓ |
| Folding Rear Seatback | — | ✓ |
| Reclining Rear Seats | — | ✓ |
| Manual Folding Third Row Seat | — | ✓ |
Tires and Wheels
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel Material | Alloy | — |
| Wheel Diameter | 20 in. | 18 in |
| Tire Type | All Season | All Season |
| Tire Size | 265/45R | P255/65R18 |
| Spare Tire Type | Temporary | Temporary |
| Spare Tire Location | Inside Mounted | Underbody Mounted |
| Wheel Finish | — | Painted Alloy |
Suspension
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Four-Wheel Independent Suspension | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front Stabilizer Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Stabilizer Bar | ✓ | ✓ |
Warranty
| Feature | Honda | Ford |
|---|---|---|
| Basic Warranty | 3 yr./ 36000 mi. | 3 yr./ 36000 mi. |
| Drivetrain Warranty | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
| Corrosion/Rust Warranty | 5 yr./ unlimited mi. | 5 yr./ unlimited mi. |
| Roadside Assistance | 3 yr./ 36000 mi. | 5 yr./ 60000 mi. |
| Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance | 1 yr./ 12000 mi. | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about comparing the 2025 Honda Passport and 2026 Ford Explorer.
Which vehicle has better standard traction capability?
The 2025 Honda Passport comes standard with All-Wheel Drive, providing consistent traction. The 2026 Ford Explorer utilizes a Rear-Wheel Drive platform as standard configuration.
How significant is the difference in size between the two crossovers?
The Ford Explorer is considerably longer at 198.8 inches compared to the Passport's 189.1 inches. However, the Passport is taller by 2.3 inches, measuring 72.2 inches high.
Does the extra horsepower in the Explorer translate to better efficiency?
Yes, the 2026 Ford Explorer produces 300 hp while still achieving 24 combined MPG. The less powerful 2025 Honda Passport (280 hp) is rated lower at 21 combined MPG.
What is the primary trade-off when choosing the lower-priced Explorer?
The main sacrifice for the $38,330 starting price of the Explorer is cargo volume; it offers only 16.3 cu ft versus the Passport's class-leading 50.5 cu ft.
Are both vehicles compatible with regular unleaded gasoline?
Yes, both the 2025 Honda Passport and the 2026 Ford Explorer are specified to use regular unleaded fuel.
Which vehicle has a more sophisticated automatic transmission?
The 2026 Ford Explorer utilizes a 10-speed automatic transmission, offering one more gear ratio than the 9-speed shiftable automatic found in the 2025 Honda Passport.
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