Very Quietly, Two Consumer Reports Testers Name the 2026 Honda Passport Best Pick Based On Road Testing

As a vehicle tester, I am always interested in what vehicles knock the socks off of others who do what we do. One group that has my highest respect is Consumer Reports. The group is beholden to no manufacturer. Heck, they BUY the cars they test, rather than use media test vehicles in the fleet (which are available to them if they need to “rent” a car for a review or for some other reason). I like the way that Consumer Reports calls ‘em like they see ‘em. In a recent podcast, two staffers named the Honda Passport Best Pick for 2025. A choice I find very easy to agree with, having tested the Passport myself.

Mike Quincy, Autos Content Specialist, Explains Why He Loved the Honda Passport 
Like many testers, myself included, Mike had a hard time not comparing the Passport to the new Toyota 4Runner. Both have a long history of being much loved by owners, reliable, and safe. Mike found the Passport better for his needs and lifestyle than the 4Runner in virtually every category of consideration. “I love the day-to-day usability of this car, and I would totally buy one,” said Mike.

Mike went on to explain that the pluses of the Honda Passport, in contrast to its peers, were as follows:
1) It’s quieter
2) Rides better
3) Superior handling
4) Better powertrain
5) Higher quality, better-designed interior
“The Passport fits my lifestyle,” said Mike. “I need some utility, you know, folding down the back seat, but I don’t need a third row of seats.” He went on to say, “I don't need serious off-road hardware.” Mike’s one area for improvement with the Passport was fuel economy. He’s spot on. The Passport needs about 25% better MPG, and a hybrid would also boost its torque at low RPMs. You can see and hear Mike’s commentary starting at the 43:00 timestamp mark.

Mary Reed, Business Manager, Auto Tester, Explains Why the Honda Passport Is Her Best Pick
One of the benefits of Consumer Reports' large staff is that many members of the testing staff have a chance to drive the same car and offer input. There is even a logbook for note-taking. Mary Reed is a team member whose primary focus is buying the cars, registering, insuring, and doing critical logistics work to keep the CR fleet moving. Mary pointed out that the Passport, which is larger than crossovers like the CR-V, is still “Easy to go shopping in, easy to park, very easy to drive and maneuver.” She summarized her thoughts on the Passport by saying, The size is wonderful. ..It’s just a very comfortable car.” Jennifer Stockburger, Consumer Reports’ outgoing Director of Operations, Auto Test Center, concurred with what Mary offered, saying that the two of them often have similar impressions of which car is good and which isn’t. Jennifer added that the Passport has a V6 with “great power delivery.”

Do We Agree or Disagree With Consumer Reports’ Opinions Of the Passport?
Hearing these staffers explain why they found the Passport to be the Best Pick of 2025 reminded me why I also love it. I feel very much like Mike in that I want and need off-pavement ability. I am on dirt roads on a weekly basis. But I don't need crazy off-road gear like rock rails and disconnecting sway bars that only a tiny fraction of SUV buyers will ever use. The Passport has the perfect mix for me. I also understand where Mary is coming from. When I test giant, gluttonous SUVs, I end up leaving them at home a lot and taking one of the smaller crossovers available to me. They stink for day-to-day use. For example, I needed to go to a hospital for a non-emergency visit. The roof of the structure is under seven feet, so I could not take a large SUV, but the Passport does just fine. Massive SUVs handle OK, but are not in any way fun to operate. The Passport feels big and safe, not big and bloated.

What do you think of Consumer Reports’ staffers choosing the Passport from Honda as a Best Pick of 2025? Is it a vehicle you would consider buying? Tell us in the comments below. 

You can find the Consumer Reports Podcast here.

Read our Review of the Passport Here.

John Goreham is the Vice President of the New England Motor Press Association and an expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his fourteen years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. John employs grammar and punctuation software when proofreading, and he sometimes uses image generation tools. 

Image by John Goreham