2026 Honda CR-V vs 2026 Honda Passport

Folsom Lake Honda Presents a Comparison: 2026 Honda CR-V vs 2026 Honda Passport

Honda continues to stand out as one of America’s most trusted names in compact and midsize SUVs, offering an iconic blend of reliability, comfort, and value for families throughout Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Shingle Springs, and Elk Grove. The 2026 Honda CR-V and 2026 Honda Passport exemplify this legacy, each showcasing Honda’s hallmark craftsmanship, impressive efficiency, smooth performance, and class-leading safety.  For nearly 30 years, the Honda CR-V has remained a best-seller, and the 2026 model carries that tradition forward with sleek, athletic styling, a spacious and refined cabin, and an upgraded technology suite. Every trim now features standard Honda Sensing driver-assist technologies, an intuitive infotainment system, and enhanced connectivity.  Eco-conscious drivers from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Shingle Springs, and Elk Grove will appreciate the 2026 Honda CR-V Hybrid, which delivers up to 40 mpg combined and a robust 204-horsepower system output.  Are you and your family looking for a bit more muscle?  The 2026 Honda Passport steps up with a larger footprint, powerful V6 performance, and enhanced towing capability, making it ideal for drivers who demand rugged strength for outdoor adventures or hauling gear. While the CR-V Hybrid excels in fuel economy and agile handling, the Passport shines with its off-road capability and expanded cargo space: two distinct personalities tailored to two different kinds of Honda SUV owners.  Here at Folsom Lake Honda, we invite you to explore both models in depth as we investigate their differences and compare their performance specs, interior highlights, efficiency, and available trims in hopes of helping you discover which 2026 Honda SUV best fits your lifestyle.

Engine Specs and Fuel Efficiency

Starting with the smaller and sportier 2026 Honda CR-V, this compact SUV offers gas-powered trims that are equipped with a 190-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, paired with a smooth continuously variable transmission. Available Real Time AWD with Intelligent Control and a 3-mode drive system (Normal, Snow, ECON) ensure optimal traction and adaptability across varying conditions.  In search of a more eco-friendly option? The 2026 CR-V Hybrid lineup, including the Sport Hybrid, Sport-L Hybrid, and Sport Touring Hybrid, combines a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with two electric motors to produce a total of 204 horsepower. This hybrid powertrain delivers responsive performance along with exceptional fuel efficiency. The Sport Touring Hybrid takes capability up a notch, featuring standard Real Time AWD and a 4-mode drive system (Normal, ECON, Snow, Sport) for enhanced versatility on any journey. Fuel economy is impressive, with gas models rated up to 28 mpg city / 34 mpg highway, and the Sport Hybrid FWD achieving up to 43 mpg city / 36 mpg highway.
Stepping up to the 2026 Honda Passport, drivers will find a larger, more rugged SUV designed for both comfort and adventure. Powering every Passport is a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, paired with a refined 10-speed automatic transmission that delivers smooth shifts and confident passing power. Standard i-VTM4 all-wheel drive provides outstanding traction and control, whether navigating wet city streets or tackling off-road trails.  Fuel economy remains solid at an estimated 19 mpg city / 24 mpg highway, and capability is further amplified in the TrailSport trim, which adds off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, and extra ground clearance for more adventurous terrain. With a 5,000-pound towing capacity, the 2026 Honda Passport is ready for anything.

Interior Highlights

Folsom Lake Honda is thrilled to showcase the 2026 Honda CR-V’s thoughtfully crafted interior, with a wide, horizontal dashboard that gives the cabin an open, upscale feel, complemented by sleek hidden air vents that maintain a clean, minimalist aesthetic. The center console layout places essential controls right where you need them, while premium materials and ergonomic seating deliver all-day comfort for both front and rear passengers. With generous legroom and headroom, the CR-V ensures every trip is comfortable.  Technology is seamlessly integrated throughout the cabin, featuring a customizable digital gauge cluster and available 7- or 9-inch infotainment displays with a crisp, user-friendly interface. The system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and behind the rear seats, the CR-V offers 36.3 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to an impressive 76.5 cubic feet with the second row folded.

Enter the 2026 Honda Passport and you’ll find a cabin that builds on the CR-V’s design ethos with more space and adventure-ready functionality. A modern, horizontal layout, premium soft-touch materials, and topographic-inspired trim accents create a bold yet inviting atmosphere. The new Body Stabilizing front seats—heated, power-adjustable, and equipped with memory settings—come standard, offering superior comfort and support. Rear passengers enjoy 1.3 additional inches of legroom, ensuring ample space for everyone on board.  Storage is abundant and cleverly designed, with two-tier door bins, a large multi-use tray, deep center console, passenger-side shelf, and 10 oversized cup holders. Cargo versatility reaches new heights, offering up to 44.0 cubic feet behind the second row and an expansive 83.5 cubic feet with the seats folded.  Technology also takes a major step forward, featuring a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, wireless smartphone connectivity, 5G Wi-Fi, and a 15W wireless charging pad. 

Trim Line-up

The 2026 Honda CR-V lineup offers six well-equipped trims, ensuring there’s a perfect match for every driver and lifestyle across Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Shingle Springs, Elk Grove.  The CR-V LX delivers all the essentials with a 1.5-liter turbocharged engine, 7-inch touchscreen featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and the full suite of Honda Sensing safety and driver-assist technologies. Stepping up to the EX adds everyday luxuries like 18-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated front seats, and a power moonroof.  For a touch of sophistication, the EX-L includes leather-trimmed seating, an upgraded 9-inch touchscreen, wireless charging, and a premium 8-speaker audio system.  Drivers seeking enhanced performance and efficiency can turn to the Sport Hybrid, which combines bold exterior styling with a 204-horsepower two-motor hybrid system and a leather-wrapped steering wheel for a sportier feel. The Sport-L Hybrid takes comfort further with dual-zone automatic climate control, front and rear parking sensors, a hands-free power tailgate, and extra USB ports to keep everyone connected.  At the top of the lineup, the Sport Touring Hybrid delivers the ultimate in tech and refinement. It features standard Real Time AWD, 19-inch alloy wheels, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.

One major difference between the CR-V and the larger 2026 Honda Passport is their trim offerings:  the Passport offers a more streamlined trim line-up with three main models—RTL, TrailSport, and TrailSport Elite—each offered in both standard and Blackout editions. The RTL also introduces a new Towing configuration for those needing added muscle.  The Passport RTL blends everyday comfort with rugged style, featuring matte black rocker panels, silver front and rear skid plates, black trim and grille, and 18-inch Gloss Shark Gray wheels wrapped in all-season tires for confident on-road and light off-road performance.  Adventure seekers will gravitate toward the TrailSport and TrailSport Elite, both engineered for off-road exploration. These trims add gloss black grilles, amber daytime running lights, TrailSport badging, and metallic silver skid plates for a bold, trail-ready appearance. Designed for true off-road durability, they also include heavy-duty front and rear recovery points rated at twice the vehicle’s weight, orange powder-coated front tow hooks, and integrated trailer hitch with a 7-pin connector for maximum towing convenience.  Both TrailSport models feature exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels with finishes like Matte Shark Gray or Dark Tinted Clearcoat, paired with General Grabber all-terrain tires for superior traction on rugged terrain while maintaining smooth, quiet performance on pavement.

Folsom Lake Honda Dealership

Welcome to Folsom Lake Honda!  Customers from Sacramento, Folsom, Roseville, Shingle Springs, and Elk Grove can confirm with confidence our friendly service and intelligent staff, as well as our huge inventory of pre-owned and new cars, trucks and SUVs!  We are happy to assist you in the car buying process, whether it's questions about finance, pre-owned or new vehicles, parts or service.   We hope you can come on down to Folsom Lake Honda to experience the best in service and all of the Folsom Lake Honda deals we have to offer.  We thank you for joining Folsom Lake Honda in this comparison of the specs of the 2026 Honda CR-V and the 2026 Honda Passport, and we hope to see you here soon to check out these capable, efficient, and family-friendly vehicles!