Compare the2026 Honda PassportVS 2025 BMW X4

For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Honda Passport have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The BMW X4 doesn’t offer pretensioners for its rear seat belts.

For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Honda Passport are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X4 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Passport are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The X4 doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the Passport deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The Passport’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The X4’s side airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the Passport and the X4 have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

Honda’s powertrain warranty covers the Passport 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X4. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X4 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are over 3 times as many Honda dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Passport’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Honda vehicles are better in initial quality than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Honda above average in initial quality. With 25 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Honda vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Honda fourth in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 8th.

The Passport’s 3.5 DOHC V6 produces 37 more horsepower (285 vs. 248) and 4 lbs.-ft. more torque (262 vs. 258) than the X4 xDrive30i’s standard 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder.

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Passport’s fuel efficiency. The X4 doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Honda Passport uses regular unleaded gasoline. The X4 requires premium, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Passport has 1.3 gallons more fuel capacity than the X4 (18.5 vs. 17.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

The Passport has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X4 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Honda Passport higher (7 out of 10) than the BMW X4 (4 to 6). This means the Passport produces up to 13.2 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the X4 every 15,000 miles.

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Honda Passport, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only an eight-speed automatic is available for the X4.

For better stopping power the Passport’s brake rotors are larger than those on the X4:

For better traction, the Passport has larger standard tires than the X4 (265/60R18 vs. 245/50R19). The Passport TrailSport’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the X4 (275/60R18 vs. 245/45R20).

The Passport has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The X4 doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Passport offers an optional full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the X4; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare or run-flat tires, either of which has mileage and speed limitations.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Passport is 4.5 inches wider in the front and 3 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the X4.

For better maneuverability, the Passport’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the X4’s (39 feet vs. 39.7 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Passport has a greater minimum ground clearance than the X4 (8.3 vs. 8 inches), allowing the Passport to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged.

The Passport has 21.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the X4 (119.1 vs. 97.8).

The Passport has 1 inch more front headroom, .4 inches more front legroom, 4.4 inches more front shoulder room, 3.5 inches more rear headroom, 5.4 inches more rear legroom and 5.7 inches more rear shoulder room than the X4.

The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the X4 with its rear seat up (44 vs. 18.5 cubic feet). The Passport has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the X4 with its rear seat folded (83.8 vs. 50.5 cubic feet).

Standard Trailer Stability Assist on the Passport uses the Vehicle Stability Assist sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The X4 doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Passport’s standard easy entry system glides the driver’s seat back, making it easier for the driver to get in and out. The X4 doesn’t offer an easy entry system.

The Passport’s standard Push Button Start and Smart Entry allow you to unlock the doors from either front door handle, open the cargo door, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Comfort Go standard on the X4 only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the vehicle.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Passport has a standard rear wiper. The X4 doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Passport to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The X4 doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Honda Passport has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the X4.

The Passport TrailSport has a 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The X4 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Honda Passport, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Honda Passport outsold the BMW X4 by over three to one during 2024.