The Honda Passport is a great SUV that offers some excellent off-road performance features, but there’s a big hitch with its price tag. The Passport starts at about $38,000, which makes it very expensive for the segment, and many car shoppers may be unable to afford it. However, there are alternatives, so here’s a look at four great Honda Passport alternatives that’ll cost less than $30,000.

4. The Jeep Wrangler is a classic off-roader for less than the Honda Passport

The Jeep Wrangler has a starting price tag that’s just under $30,000, and it provides a solid mix of features for its price, especially compared to the Honda Passport. The Wrangler starts with a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 285 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. The Wrangler also comes with four-wheel drive as standard, and, unsurprisingly, one of its best aspects is its off-road capabilities. Jeep also offers a lot of customization options for owners.

However, according to Edmunds, the Wrangler has some issues. The Wrangler isn’t as practical as more conventional SUVs, which is primarily seen in its cargo capacity. The Wrangler has a max cargo capacity of about 31.7 cu. ft., which is well below average for the segment. On top of that, it doesn’t handle well, and the cabin can get noisy. 

3. The Ford Bronco Sport is the return of an icon

Ford recently revived the Bronco, and it’s a strong alternative to the Honda Passport. As is the more compact Ford Bronco Sport, which starts at just under $29,000 and comes with a 1.5-liter inline-three engine. This engine gets 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque, and Ford also gave the Bronco Sport all-wheel drive as standard. Unsurprisingly, this makes the Bronco Sport a great SUV for off-roading. Just like Jeep, Ford gave owners a lot of customization options.

However, unlike the Wrangler, the Bronco Sport has a max cargo capacity of 65.2 cu. ft., allowing it to be a practical SUV for daily driving. It still has some small issues, though. Even though the Bronco nameplate was recently revived, the Bronco Sport’s infotainment system is dated. Its handling also isn’t great, and the rear seats don’t have much legroom.

2. The Mazda CX-50 is solid all-around

The Mazda CX-50 starts at about $27,500, and even though Mazda vehicles aren’t known for off-roading, the CX-50 is actually quite off-road capable, especially if folks choose the Meridian Edition. The CX-50 comes with a 2.5-liter inline-four that gets 187 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Mazda also gave the CX-50 all-wheel drive as standard.

The best thing about the CX-50, however, is its interior design, which is more upscale than what its peers have, including the Honda Passport. The Mazda also handles better than most off-road rivals, but it still has some flaws. Although the interior is nice and luxurious, its ride quality isn’t on the same level. The CX-50 also has a max cargo capacity of 56.3 cu. ft., which is just average for the segment.

1. The Subaru Forester has very few flaws

Finally, there’s the Subaru Forester. It starts at just under $26,000, which makes it one of the most affordable alternatives to the Honda Passport. Not only that, but the Forester is simply a great SUV with few flaws. This Subaru model comes with a 2.5-liter flat-four engine with 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. Just like the other Passport alternatives, all-wheel drive is standard on the Forester.

Subarus are well-known for being great for the outdoors, and that’s still true for the Forester, as it handles off-roading well. Subaru also gave the Forester a lot of standard safety features, as well as 74.2 cu. ft. of cargo capacity. The only issue with the Forester is that its engine is weak, so it can feel underpowered, especially if folks need to tow something.