Toyota Crown Signia Vs. Honda Passport: 5 Major Differences originally appeared on Autoblog.
They’re in the same segment, but these vehicles won’t appeal to the same buyer
At first glance, these two Japanese crossovers may not seem like direct rivals. The refined, wagon-like Toyota Crown Signia looks like it wants to appeal to Lexus drivers, while the Honda Passport is a more rugged, utilitarian vehicle. But these midsize crossovers both start at around the same price and provide more space than their smaller RAV4/CR-V siblings, while sticking to a less complicated two-row layout. Toyota’s other midsize SUV, the 4Runner, is a rugged body-on-frame vehicle, so is a more serious off-roader than the Passport.
Here’s how the Crown Signia and Passport compare, bearing in mind that we’re comparing the 2025 version of the former and the 2026 model of the latter, as those are the ones you can buy right now.
Related: 2026 Toyota RAV4 Vs. 2026 Honda CR-V: 5 Major Differences
1. Urban Sophistication Vs. Adventure Crossover
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As a replacement for the Toyota Venza, the Crown Signia dials up the premium appeal even more than that model did. This may just be Toyota’s classiest crossover, although the proportions are closer to those of a wagon to some. There aren't any hints of off-road aspirations in the design; even the base XLE gets flashy 19-inch alloys and a general absence of black plastic body cladding. All Crown Signias have acoustic front side glass, whereas only the top two Passport trims do—another little hint that the Toyota is the more upscale of the two.
Honda went in a totally different direction with the latest Passport, which has a much boxier, butched-up look than before, especially in new TrailSport guise. Chunky all-terrain tires, skid plates, and much more ground clearance (8.3 to 6.7 inches) distinguish the rugged Honda from the Toyota.
While the Toyota is longer, the Honda is wider and a lot taller, so buyers who prefer a traditional SUV look will prefer the Passport.
2. Honda’s V6 Is More Powerful But Less Efficient Than Toyota’s Hybrid
Reliable power rather than peak efficiency is often what’s desired in a rugged crossover, which is why all Passports have a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. A 10-speed automatic and all-wheel drive are standard across the Passport lineup, and this setup should result in a 0-60 mph time in the mid-seven-second range. This is hardly a recipe for thriftiness, so expect 19/25/21 mpg city/highway/combined on lower trims and 18/23/20 mpg for TrailSport models.
The Crown Signia has a completely different powertrain that’s best-suited for urban commutes. Both trims get a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid producing 240 hp combined, paired with an electronic on-demand AWD system and a CVT. Toyota claims a reasonable 7.1 seconds for the 0-60 run, so it’s potentially quicker than the more powerful Honda. Despite this, the Sygnia is far more efficient, with an EPA rating of 39/37/38 mpg.
On the downside, we did find the four-cylinder and CVT combination to be noisy in our review, especially since the rest of the Crown Signia driving experience is so refined.
3. Honda Has More Off-Road Toys
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There’s no contest here, as only the Honda should be considered if you’ll be doing any off-roading at all. Besides, Toyota has the 4Runner for off-road enthusiasts.
Although both crossovers have standard all-wheel drive, Honda’s dedicated TrailSport trims have several extras to make off-roading easier. These include hill descent control, Snow/Trail/Sand driving modes, an underbody skid plate, an off-road tuned suspension, and all-terrain tires. Certain Passport models also get a TrailWatch camera system with four exterior cameras to alert the driver of any obstacles.
Superior ground clearance and better approach/departure angles also make the Passport much better across loose, uneven surfaces.
4. Toyota Has More Creature Comforts
If you’ll be spending all your time on normal city streets and highways, the Toyota Crown Signia is a better choice. Its interior is quiet and the materials are especially nice, from the standard leather seats to the supple plastics.
In the Toyota, you get more standard features than in the Honda, such as heated front/rear seats (only heated front seats are standard in the Passport), ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, a hands-free power liftgate, an extra USB-C port, and a larger digital gauge cluster (12.3 to 10.2 inches). There are also some available features in the Toyota that aren’t available in the Honda at all, such as a digital rearview mirror.
The Honda is by no means badly equipped, but the Toyota provides a more luxurious experience. It’s also worth mentioning that the Toyota is priced between $44,090 and $48,490, whereas the Passport has a price range of between $44,750 and $53,650. Ultimately, you’re going to be paying more and losing out on some features to take advantage of the Passport TrailSport’s more robust underpinnings.
5. There’s A Huge Difference In Cargo Space
Without a third row to squeeze in, one would assume that both these crossovers have large trunks, but that's only true for one of them.
The Passport’s extra height and more traditional SUV proportions give it more interior space. It has 44 cubic feet of space behind the second row and as much as 104.6 cubic feet when the second row is folded. The Crown Signia’s space behind the second row is 25.6 cubic feet; even the RAV4 has more space. With the back row folded, the Crown Signia has 68.8 cubic feet.
Legroom in the second row of the Toyota works out to 37.1 inches, a reasonable figure, but the Honda has a spacious 40.9 inches.
Final Thoughts
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In the end, these two-row mid-size crossovers cater to different buyers. The Honda is a better off-roader, a lot more practical, and its powertrain is smoother. The decision to give most trims the TrailSport treatment was a smart move, as these more rugged versions of the Passport are selling strongly.
Over at Toyota, things are a bit different. Because Toyota already has a dedicated off-road SUV in the form of the 4Runner, the Crown Signia has been engineered to focus exclusively on refinement and efficiency. Its classy design and premium cabin are truly impressive, and visits to the gas station will be much less frequent than in the Honda.
For normal family duties like carpooling and commuting to and from the office each day, the Toyota is excellent. But for something that can tackle the rough stuff and accommodate your adventure gear, the Honda wins.
Toyota Crown Signia Vs. Honda Passport: 5 Major Differences first appeared on Autoblog on Aug 13, 2025
This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
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