Compared: 2023 Honda Passport vs. 2023 Volkswagen Atlas
These two midsize SUVs take different approaches to serving growing families.
Honda | Volkswagen
The 2023 Honda Passport and 2023 Volkswagen Atlas compete in the midsize SUV segment. The main difference is that the Passport has two rows of seating, whereas the Atlas has three.
Here are some other key differentiators between the two crossover SUVs to help you figure out which one might better fit your lifestyle and needs.
Honda
The VW Atlas Boasts the Lower Starting Price
The Atlas starts at $36,000 and has front-wheel drive as standard. All-wheel drive (AWD) is a $1,900 option. The Passport comes only with AWD. As you level up through the five Atlas trims, each adds more technology and convenience features. The top-tier SEL Premium R-Line starts at $54,000.
The Passport offers three trims, one of which has an off-road, adventure-ready focus: TrailSport. The base EX-L trim starts at $42,000, and the Passport tops out at $48,000 with the Elite trim.
Volkswagen
The Passport Is Your Ticket to More Standard Features
The Passport justifies its higher price point with more standard features such as leather seats, three-zone climate control, adaptive cruise control, and a power liftgate. These features are also available on the Atlas at higher trim levels.
As a three-row vehicle, the Atlas comes standard with seating for seven and offers available middle-row captain's chairs — something you won't see on the five-seat, two-row Passport. The slightly larger Honda Pilot comes with three rows of seats.
Honda
Top versions of the Atlas offer wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, a panoramic moonroof, a Fender premium audio system, a 360-degree camera, and a 10.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Don't look for those features on the Honda.
Both, however, include automatic emergency braking and blind-spot monitoring. VW charges extra for lane-keep assist and adaptive cruise control.
Volkswagen
The VW Is Capable of Better Fuel Economy Than the Honda
The Atlas has two engine and two drivetrain options, so EPA-estimated fuel economy ranges between 21/25/23 mpg city/highway/combined for the four-cylinder turbo-engine, front-drive model with 235 horsepower, and 18/23/20 mpg for the 276-hp V6-engine, AWD variant.
The Passport has one powertrain, a 280-hp V6 and AWD, and the EPA estimates its fuel economy to be 19/24/21 mpg.
All vehicle pricing includes MSRP plus destination charges (set at the time of publication), and will be rounded to the nearest thousand.
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Edited by humans.
Jill CiminilloJill Ciminillo is a Chicago-based automotive writer, YouTube personality, and podcast host, with her articles and videos appearing in outlets throughout the U.S. Additionally, she co-hosts a weekly radio show on cars for a local Chicago station. Previously, Jill has been the automotive editor for both newspaper and broadcast media conglomerates. She is also a past president for the Midwest Automotive Media Association and has the distinction of being the first female president for that organization.
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