Honda has been teasing about the revival of the Passport nameplate for quite a while now. To the unfamiliar, the Passport nameplate was last used in 2002, which is essentially a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo for the North American market that lasted for two generations. Fast forward today, Honda has revived the nameplate to take advantage of the consumer’s shift towards SUVs and crossovers.
If you think the Passport looks like a shortened Pilot, then you’re not far off. It even has the same wheelbase as the Pilot, but this time around, the front and rear overhangs have been shortened for better approach and departure angles when off-roading. Adding to the Passport’s rugged character are the more liberal use of plastic cladding, as well as a slightly revised front fascia featuring many black elements to make the Passport more reminiscent of the Honda Ridgeline, which it also shares its platform with. 20-inch alloy wheels and full LED headlights come as standard for the Honda Passport. With its revised dimensions and combination of rugged dynamics and on-road refinement, the Passport slots in between the CR-V and Pilot, which are both oriented more for on-road driving.
Likewise, the interior features the same dashboard design as the Pilot’s. It still features the same four-spoke steering wheel, as well as a 7-inch TFT LCD virtual gauge cluster. There’s also a tri-zone climate control system, as well as an optional 8-inch Dsiplay Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Touring and Elite variants feature GPS navigation, ambient lighting, and a 10-speaker premium audio system. Because the rear overhangs have been shortened, the third row seats have been eliminated, and as a result, there’s 1,166 liters of space with the second row seats up. There’s also a clever under floor storage with 70.8 liters of space. Folding the second row seats down boosts space to 2,205 liters.
Under the hood of the Honda Passport is a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 hp and 354 Nm of torque, sending power through all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. An optional torque vectoring all-wheel drive system is available. Because the Passport was primarily designed for off-road use, all variants come as standard with Intelligent Traction Management System, which features different modes for different driving situations.
The Honda Passport will go on sale early 2019 for the North American market.
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