2026 Honda Passport vs 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

2026 Honda Passport

Comparison: 2026 Passport vs 2026 Santa Fe

The 2026 Honda Passport and 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe both bring plenty of value to the midsize SUV segment, but they go after buyers in different ways. The Santa Fe leans into three-row versatility, a bold design, and a long list of features, while the Passport stands out with stronger standard capability, more passenger space, and a more rugged, confident feel that fits everyday driving just as well as weekend travel.

The Santa Fe is a solid family SUV with useful space and a modern tech setup, so it absolutely deserves a look. Still, when you compare how these two SUVs fit real-life needs over time, the Passport feels like the more well-rounded choice. With standard AWD, stronger towing, a standard V6, and a cabin designed around comfort and utility, many drivers at Jeremy Hodge Honda of Ardmore in Ardmore, OK, will find the Passport is the better fit for daily life and weekend plans alike.

Interior Comparison

2026 Honda Passport

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

  • Rows: Two
  • Max Seating: Five
  • Max Cargo Capacity: 104.6 cubic feet
  • Upholstery Options:
    • Leather and Cloth
    • Durable leatherette and cloth seats with TrailSport orange stitching and accents
    • Perforated leather with contrast stitching and accents and black piping
  • Rows: Three
  • Max Seating: Seven
  • Max Cargo Capacity: 79.6 cubic feet
  • Upholstery Options:
    • YES Essentials stain-resistant cloth seats
    • H-Tex trimmed seats
    • Leather-trimmed seats
    • Nappa leather seating surfaces

Why This Matters

The Santa Fe gives you the extra flexibility of a third row, but the Passport makes better use of its space for the way many drivers actually live. If you care more about everyday comfort, easier cargo loading, and a roomy two-row layout, the Passport feels simpler and more useful over time.

Exterior Comparison

2026 Honda Passport

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Ground Clearance:

  • 8.1 inches

Approach/Departure Angles:

  • Approach angle: 21.3 degrees
  • Departure angle: 24.4 degrees

Wheels:

  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • 18-inch black alloy wheels (TrailSport trims)

Lighting:

  • LED headlights with auto on/off
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED fog lights
  • LED taillights

Exterior Features:

  • Standard all-wheel drive (i-VTM4)
  • Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud modes
  • TrailSport off-road tuned suspension
  • All-terrain tires (TrailSport)
  • Steel skid plates (TrailSport)
  • Front recovery hooks (TrailSport)
  • Trailer hitch with harness

Ground Clearance:

  • Up to 8.3 inches (XRT trim)

Approach/Departure Angles:

  • Approach angle: 19.3 degrees (XRT trim)
  • Departure angle: 21.8 degrees (XRT trim)

Wheels:

  • 18-inch alloy wheels
  • 20-inch and 21-inch alloy wheels (higher trims)

Lighting:

  • LED headlights
  • LED daytime running lights
  • LED taillights
  • High Beam Assist

Exterior Features:

  • HTRAC all-wheel drive (available)
  • Drive Mode Select with terrain modes
  • Additional ground clearance on XRT
  • Trailer Sway Control

Why This Matters

The Santa Fe adds style and light off-road flexibility, but the Passport is built with capability in mind from the start. That shows up when conditions get rough, giving drivers more confidence on trails, dirt roads, and in bad weather.

Power and Performance

2026 Honda Passport

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Maximum Towing Capacity: 5,000 pounds

Maximum Towing Capacity: 3,500 pounds

  • Base Engine: 3.5-liter V6
  • Horsepower: 285
  • Torque: 262 lb-ft
  • Transmission: 10-speed automatic
  • EPA fuel economy: 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined
  • Base Engine: 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-four
  • Horsepower: 277
  • Torque: 311 lb-ft
  • Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
  • EPA fuel economy: 20 city / 29 highway / 24 combined

Why This Matters

The Santa Fe does a nice job with efficiency and everyday drivability, but the Passport gives you more built-in capability without asking you to move up the lineup just to get it. For drivers who want smooth power, stronger towing, and more confidence in bad weather or rougher conditions, the Passport feels like the more ready-for-anything SUV.

Tech and Entertainment

2026 Honda Passport

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

Infotainment Screen Options:

  • 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
  • 12.3-inch color touchscreen

Audio System Options:

  • Audio system with nine speakers, including a subwoofer

Other Standard Tech Features:

  • Speed-Sensitive Volume Compensation
  • 12-volt power outlets front and cargo
  • Wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility
  • Wireless Android Auto™ compatibility
  • Alexa Built-In
  • Google built-in
  • USB-C 3.0A data port in the front console
  • USB-C 3.0A charging port in the front console
  • USB-C 3.0A charging ports in the rear console
  • HondaLink
  • Wi-Fi hotspot capability
  • 115-volt power outlets in the second row and the rear cargo area

Infotainment Screen Options:

  • 12.3-inch touchscreen
  • 4.2-inch color Multi-Information Display

Audio System Options:

  • HD Radio
  • SiriusXM

Other Standard Tech Features:

  • Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
  • Rear Seat Quiet Mode
  • High power USB charge ports, two front and two rear
  • 12-volt power outlets, front and cargo
  • Bluelink+
  • Over-The-Air updating capability
  • Bluetooth® hands-free phone system
  • Steering-wheel-mounted audio, cruise, and Bluetooth® controls
  • Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
  • Proximity Key entry with push button start
  • LED interior lighting

Why This Matters

The Santa Fe gives you a nice modern tech setup, but the Passport feels more useful once daily life takes over. With its mix of built-in apps, digital displays, and practical charging options, the Passport does a better job of keeping people, devices, and drives organized.

Safety Features

2026 Honda Passport

2026 Hyundai Santa Fe

  • Collision Mitigation Braking System with
  • Advanced Pedestrian Detection
  • Road Departure Mitigation System
  • Forward Collision Warning
  • Lane Departure Warning
  • Lane Keeping Assist System
  • Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
  • Traffic Sign Recognition System
  • Traffic Jam Assist
  • Blind Spot Information System with Lane Change Assist
  • Cross Traffic Monitor
  • Low Speed Braking Control
  • Driver Attention Monitor
  • Auto High-Beam Headlights
  • Parking Sensors
  • Anti-Lock Braking System
  • Brake Assist
  • Rearview Camera
  • Rollover Mitigation
  • LATCH lower anchors and tether anchors
  • Rear Seat Reminder
  • Blind-Spot Collision Warning
  • Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist
  • Parking Distance Warning – Forward/Reverse
  • Rear Occupant Alert on SE or Advanced Rear Occupant Alert on higher trims
  • Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian, Cyclist, and Junction Turning Detection
  • Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go on lower trims or Navigation-based Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go and Curve Control on higher trims
  • Lane Keeping Assist
  • Driver Attention Warning
  • Safe Exit Assist
  • Lane Following Assist
  • LATCH lower anchors and upper tether anchors
  • Anti-lock Braking System with 4-wheel disc brakes
  • Hillstart Assist Control
  • Downhill Brake Control
  • Rear View Monitor with parking guidance
  • High Beam Assist

Why This Matters

Both SUVs bring strong driver-assist technology, with Honda Sensing® in the Passport and Hyundai SmartSense in the Santa Fe. The Santa Fe gives you a solid range of safety features, but the Passport makes more of its advanced support standard across the lineup. That can make daily driving feel more consistent and reassuring, especially in traffic, parking lots, and stop-and-go situations.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose the 2026 Honda Passport if you want:

  • A more capable SUV with standard AWD
  • More cargo room in a roomy two-row layout
  • Stronger standard towing and a standard V6
  • A more rugged, adventure-ready feel without giving up comfort

Considering the 2026 Hyundai Santa Fe?

  • It is a good fit for buyers who want three-row flexibility
  • It offers strong torque and better fuel economy on many trims
  • It has a modern design and a family-friendly feature mix
  • It remains a competitive SUV, but the Passport offers more built-in capability and a more confident all-around driving experience.

Why More Drivers Choose the Passport

The 2026 Honda Passport stands out because it feels ready from the moment you step into it. It gives buyers standard AWD, a strong V6, generous space, and a long list of useful features without making them hunt through the trim lineup for the essentials.

The Santa Fe has a lot going for it, especially for shoppers who want a third row and a feature-rich cabin. But the Passport feels more naturally suited to the way many SUV buyers actually drive and live. It is roomy, capable, and easy to trust, which is a big part of why so many drivers continue to gravitate toward it.

Test Drive the 2026 Honda Passport Today

Some differences only really show up once you are on the road. The best way to understand what sets the Honda Passport apart is to experience how it drives, how the cabin feels, and how easily it fits into your routine.

Visit Jeremy Hodge Honda of Ardmore in Ardmore, OK, to explore available Passport models, take a test drive, and talk through your options. Our team can walk you through financing solutions and help guide you through the buying process so you can move forward with confidence.

* Bluetooth® word marks and logos are registered trademarks owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda or Hyundai is under license. A compatible Bluetooth®-enabled phone must first be paired. Phone performance depends on software, coverage, and carrier.

* All fuel economy mpg listing in the content above are EPA estimates. Actual mileage will vary.

*Disclaimer: This content was drafted with AI assistance for initial drafting, reviewed by a subject-matter expert for accuracy, and edited by our team of writers and editors.