Execs: Tons of cargo room; moderately environment friendly V6; normal AWD
Cons: Unremarkable cabin and infotainment; costly; not notably sporty as rival SUVs; dated platform
No, it’s not simply your creativeness: The 2024 Honda Passport is basically a sawed-off, last-generation Pilot. Not solely does that imply the Passport’s not as lengthy and doesn’t have as many seats, it additionally doesn’t profit from the brand new Pilot’s re-engineering. To many, that may look like disadvantages, however that doesn’t imply it doesn’t stay a contemporary and succesful midsize two-row crossover.
Yep, it’s a midsize SUV; wider than Honda’s bread-and-butter two row, the CR-V, however with a less-cluttered cabin than the aforementioned Pilot because of the deletion of its third row. As an alternative? Simply extra cargo house. The result’s a automobile geared towards those that don’t want six rear seats to haul round two children. Or those that don’t have children in any respect. Or those that’ve already despatched them off to a farm upstate. Wait, is that the improper metaphor? In any case, if gear hauling issues extra to you than individuals hauling, the Passport may be what you’re in search of.
It additionally stacks up effectively to its numerous group of opponents. It’s extra on-road pleasant and gas environment friendly than the Toyota 4Runner, but extra rugged and utilitarian than the equally sized Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. It additionally has extra space than the admittedly extra luxurious Jeep Grand Cherokee and sportier Chevy Blazer. It is also an SUV, not like the Subaru Outback, which however has the same skillset.
Inside & Know-how | Passenger & Cargo House | Efficiency & Gas Financial system
What it is wish to drive | Pricing & Options | Crash Rankings & Security Options
What’s new for 2024?
The 2024 Passport advantages from the teachings Honda engineers discovered redesigning the 2023 Pilot. The TrailSport will get a brand new suspension and a set of true all-terrain tires offered by Basic, giving it extra off-road credibility than final 12 months’s TrailSport. Honda additionally took the chance to revamp the Passport’s heart console (present homeowners mentioned they needed it extra regular and SUV-like fairly than the extra minivan-like outgoing model), leading to room for each a wi-fi charging cradle and a second wi-fi machine side-by-side beneath the principle stack. There’s additionally a brand new Black Version, which replaces the previous range-topping Elite mannequin and affords some blacked-out trim components for added panache. Beneath all of it, although, this is identical previous Passport.
What are the Passport’s inside and in-car expertise like?
The Passport’s inside was once a carbon-copy of the Pilot’s, however now that Honda’s bigger SUV has been redesigned, the siblings have much less in frequent. The Passport’s inside is a bit dated and never as visually fascinating as what you’d discover in a Chevy Blazer or Hyundai Santa Fe (or the brand new Pilot for that matter), however supplies high quality may be very sturdy for this section and all the things is put collectively exceedingly effectively.
Regardless of diverging in aesthetics, the Passport nonetheless inherited a lot of the Pilot’s distinctive inside storage, though adjustments since its arrival have lowered the Passport’s whole capability. Nonetheless, there are a number of door bins, two cupholders in every rear door, two areas to retailer a smartphone up entrance, a redesigned smartphone cubby subsequent to the elective wi-fi machine charger, and the middle bin is sufficiently big to cover a handbag below its big lid. That heart bin was once even greater, however individuals didn’t just like the garage-style rolling cowl and minivan-style seat-mounted armrests. There’s much more storage beneath the cargo ground, together with a plastic bin that may be simply cleaned and drained.
Inside tech is much less spectacular. There’s a whole lot of it normal, true, however the means bye which it’s managed can frustrate. There are inadequate menu buttons, no tuning knob and/or direct tune perform, and the method for going between Honda and Apple/Android interfaces is excessively annoying. The programs present in different Hondas, minus the identically outfitted Ridgeline, are superior.
How massive is the Passport?
For a midsize two-row crossover, the Passport supplies an unlimited, space-efficient inside. Solely the Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport comes near its passenger and cargo house. The second row affords plentiful head- and legroom, whereas additionally sliding significantly to carry children nearer to oldsters up entrance or to release cargo house. Want to suit a rear-facing baby seat? No drawback. There’s greater than sufficient house between rows and decrease LATCH anchors for all three positions.
The cargo space is just not solely the largest within the section, however arguably probably the most versatile as effectively. Moreover increasing because of the sliding again seat, it additionally homes a big bin below the ground that may disguise valuables or safe soiled objects from the clear inside (it will also be eliminated to be cleaned). The cargo space itself is deep, huge, tall and affords 41.2 cubic ft of house — excess of the rest within the section not named Atlas. The identical might be mentioned when the seats are lowered, with 77.9 cubic ft of most house. You’d need to step as much as an extended three-row mannequin just like the Pilot to get extra.
What are the Passport gas financial system and efficiency specs?
The Passport has just one engine and transmission providing: a 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V6 paired to a nine-speed automated. These are paired with normal all-wheel drive (front-wheel drive was dropped as the usual powertrain in for 2023). This engine is powerful, clean and, in keeping with the 0-60 instances posted by varied publications, acceleration might be the strongest within the section. Gas financial system scores are typical: 19/24/21 with the usual AWD (together with TrailSport). Confirming the freeway quantity, we achieved 24.8 mpg in 340 miles of principally rural freeway driving.
The usual Passport can tow as much as 3,500 kilos, which is about common within the section. The TrailSport bumps that to five,000 kilos with its cheap utility bundle, besting even the AWD Chevy Blazer, which boasts as much as 4,500 kilos of trailering capability.
What is the Passport wish to drive?
Rather a lot just like the Pilot! The springs are barely stiffer than these discovered within the previous boatlike Pilot it is primarily based on, so the Passport does not bob and roll as a lot on the highway. Its steering can also be barely sharper. Then once more, it exhibits a reluctance to be hustled alongside a windy highway. In some ways, the brand new Pilot drives extra just like the Passport now. In the end, consider Honda’s two-row midsize crossover as a extra comfy, refined and spacious various to the rugged, outdoorsy Toyota 4Runner. For individuals who are in search of that rugged edge, notice that the TrailSport’s knobby 18-inch tires do contribute a bit extra highway noise however their taller sidewalls make for a superb experience on the expense of some tactile suggestions. It’s a sacrifice, however in a household automobile, an affordable one.
The one actual wart is the nine-speed automated transmission. Although improved from different iterations that all the time appear to be within the improper gear or sluggish to interact the right one, there are nonetheless moments of bizarre habits. There generally is a little an excessive amount of engine braking off throttle, as an example, as in the event you’re within the improper gear. The shift calibration stays a bit herky-jerky at instances too, and it is exacerbated round city by the Passport’s auto-stop/begin characteristic, particularly in bumper-to-bumper visitors. The cadence of seeing visitors transfer and attempting to time it so that you simply easily roll onto the throttle simply because the engine fires up finally ends up being a bit tedious at instances simply by itself; throwing in sluggish low-speed shifts mars an in any other case wonderful driving expertise.
What different Honda Passport opinions can I learn?
2024 Honda Passport will get extra rugged TrailSport, trendy Black Version
The one revision frequent to the whole lineup is a brand new heart console with a bigger storage bin. Amongst particular person trims, the TrailSport acquired probably the most consideration.
2019 Honda Passport Elite Evaluation
We check the very best Passport trim stage, that includes all of the bells and whistles doable. We additionally took it on a highway journey to see the way it handles the form of family-oriented out of doors adventures it was apparently designed for.
We go glamping in a Honda Passport
The Passport is squarely geared toward people of their 30s, with or with out children, who wish to take their SUV on outdoorsy weekend adventures. So we did simply that.
2019 Honda Passport First Drive Evaluation
Our First Drive Evaluation of the 2019 Honda Passport. We focus on why the Passport, which does not break a lot new floor or stand out within the section in any goal means, could transfer the needle for Honda within the nice crossover wars.
How a lot is the 2024 Passport’s value? What options can be found?
Pricing for the 2024 Honda Passport begins at $43,275 for the bottom EX-L trim (all costs embody a $1,375 vacation spot cost).
Normal gear is above-average with 20-inch gloss-black wheels, the driving force help tech listed within the security part under, an influence liftgate, a sunroof, leather-based seating, heated entrance seats, automated LED headlights, LED fog lights, rear privateness glass, proximity entry and push-button begin, tri-zone automated local weather management, a manually height-adjustable driver seat, fabric upholstery, USB cost factors in each rows and the middle console, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and a seven-speaker sound system.
TrailSport brings its personal styling, a set of 18-inch all-terrain Basic tires and a singular suspension tune supposed for off-pavement excursions.
The Black Version takes the place of the earlier Elite mannequin and provides some visible aptitude. Checking in at $49,345, it provides widespread gear together with ventilated entrance seats, heated rear seats, rear window sunshades and 4 USB ports. Each Black Version additionally comes with black 20-inch alloy wheels, blackout therapies for the grille, headlight trim, facet trim, door handles, window trim and fog gentle accents, and Black Version badges on the grille and tailgate.
A full breakdown of every trim and its options, specs and native pricing might be discovered right here on Autoblog.
EX-L: $43,275
TrailSport: $45,875
Black Version: $49,345
What are the Passport’s security scores and driver help options?
The Passport comes normal with the “Honda Sensing” suite of security options that features ahead collision warning, automated emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping help, blind-spot and rear cross-traffic warning and adaptive cruise management.
Whereas it’s nice that every one these programs are normal, they don’t seem to be the best-executed driver help options. They’re Honda’s previous-generation programs, versus the up to date ones within the Pilot and CR-V. The lane-keeping help and highway departure mitigation are far too delicate or vulnerable to false alarms with loud warnings of BRAKE! within the instrument panel accompanied by beeping. This will happen when not crossing both lane line. The adaptive cruise management system can also be one of many least refined and doubtlessly annoying examples in the marketplace. We go into extra element about this in our evaluation of the Passport Elite.
In authorities crash testing, the Passport acquired a five-star general rating. It received 4 stars for frontal crash safety and 5 stars for facet safety. Its rollover rating was 4 stars. The Insurance coverage Institute for Freeway Security gave the Passport the best-possible score of “Good” in all crash exams however the brand new IIHS small overlap entrance: passenger facet check the place it received a second-best “Common.”
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