The 2026 Honda Passport vs. the Competition

With a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine, Jeep’s mid-size two-row SUV has been revised with a few new details. It remains one of the choices in this segment, thanks to its spacious cargo area and the inherent agility expected from a Jeep. The Grand Cherokee comes with rear or four-wheel drive.

• The Passport V6 has more torque than the standard V6 on the Grand Cherokee –262 pound-feet of torque vs 257 pound-feet of torque. 
• The standard 10-speed automatic transmission on the Passport beats the Grand Cherokee’s standard eight-speed automatic with more ratio options, along with a more logical and precise push-button shifter than the knob used in the Jeep.
• All 2026 Passport models come standard with the i-TVM4 all-wheel drive. The Grand Cherokee comes with two-wheel drive standard, with its four-wheel drive system optional. 
• Rear seat legroom is more generous in the Passport compared to the Grand Cherokee – 40.9 inches vs. 38.2 inches.
• Cargo space is more generous in the Passport than in the Grand Cherokee. Behind the second row of seats, Honda provides 44.0 cubic feet of space, compared to the Jeep’s 37.2 cubic feet. Fold down the second row, and that space expands to 83.6 cubic feet in the Passport, compared to the Grand Cherokee’s 70.8 cubic feet.

Looking the part is one thing. Hyundai’s boxy SUV actually has three rows of seats, yet it offers an expansive lineup that fits plenty of budgets. That includes a rugged model called the XRT. The Santa Fe is offered in both front- and all-wheel drive with a choice of a turbocharged 2.5-liter engine or a hybrid with a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine.

• Hyundai gave its Santa Fe a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, its power figures do not match the Passport’s V6. The Honda offers 285 horsepower compared to 277 in the Hyundai.
• The standard 10-speed automatic transmission on the Passport beats the Santa Fe’s standard eight-speed automatic with more ratio options, along with a more logical and precise push-button shifter than the “stalk” on the steering column used in the Hyundai.
• All 2026 Passport models come standard with the i-TVM4 all-wheel drive. The Santa Fe comes with two-wheel drive standard, with all-wheel drive optional. 
• To match the Passport’s standard 44 cubic feet cargo space, you would have to fold down the third-row seats in the Santa Fe. With that, you still cannot match the Passport’s cargo space behind the second row of seats. The Santa Fe only has 40.5 cubic feet for the second-row backrests. Overall cargo space in the Hyundai is at 79.8 cubic feet – still sort of the Passport’s maximum cargo hold of 83.6 cubic feet.
• With the standard engine, the Santa Fe is rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds. The Passport can pull more – a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds.

As a two-row mid-size SUV, the Blazer offers signature style with a wide array of trim levels. While sporty in design, with a sloping roofline, they do come in both front- and all–wheel–drive versions with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a V6.

• Blazer was a name from the past that symbolized Chevrolet’s off-road prowess. This iteration is more of a crossover than an off-roader. Plus, Chevrolet does not offer a trim level to match our Passport TrailSport. 
• To get the Passport’s performance level, you have to order the optional V6 in the higher-trim Blazer. The V6 comes standard on all Passport models. 
• Our 10-speed automatic gives you more ratios than the Blazer’s nine-speed transmission.  That translates into improved efficiency and gear selection upon passing and cruising. 
• All 2026 Passport models come standard with the i-TVM4 all-wheel drive. The Blazer comes with two-wheel drive standard, with an all-wheel-drive system optional. 
• Cargo space is more generous in the Passport than in the Blazer. Behind the second row of seats, Honda provides 44.0 cubic feet of space, compared to 30.5 cubic feet in the Chevrolet. Fold down the second row, and that space expands to 83.6 cubic feet in the Passport, compared to the Blazer’s 64.2 cubic feet.

Volkswagen infuses its German engineering into a two-row mid-size SUV. Based on the three-row Atlas, the Cross Sport is shortened and given a fastback-like roof design. It is only available with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine driving either the front or all four wheels.

• Volkswagen gave its Atlas Cross Sport a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, its power figures do not match the Passport’s V6. The Honda offers 285 horsepower compared to 269 in the Volkswagen. 
• The standard 10-speed automatic transmission on the Passport beats the Atlas Cross Sport’s standard eight-speed automatic with more ratio options, along with a more logical and precise push-button shifter than the knob used in the Jeep. 
• All 2026 Passport models come standard with the i-TVM4 all-wheel drive. The Altas Cross Sport comes with two-wheel drive standard, with an all-wheel-drive system optional. 
• There is more rear seat headroom in the Passport RTL than the Atlas Cross Sport – 40.7 inches vs. 37.6 inches. The TrailSport and TrailSport Elite offer 39.6 inches of rear-seat headroom as well.
• Cargo space is more generous in the Passport than in the Atlas Cross Sport. Behind the second row of seats, Honda provides 44.0 cubic feet of space, compared to 40.3 cubic feet in the Volkswagen. Fold down the second row, and that space expands to 83.6 cubic feet in the Passport, compared to the Atlas Cross Sport’s 77.8 cubic feet.