![]() ![]() Power moves quickly where it needs to go, and the added throttle responsiveness pays dividends. I tested the Passport in all three aforementioned conditions, and it handled them all very well. For example, Snow mode locks out 1st gear and softens the throttle for gentler launches on the slippery stuff. Each changes the throttle response, torque bias and how the torque is split between the rear wheels. The AWD also comes with a few drive modes, including Snow, Mud and Sand. It’s the same system (no surprise) that I found impressive under the Pilot. You can even see it working in real-time via a graphic in the instrument panel. The AWD is robust, a true torque-vectoring system that can shift torque between the left and right rear wheels rather than using the vehicle’s brakes to do it, as do most competitors. Solid Off-Roadįor an SUV on a unibody platform, the Passport is mostly quite capable off-road. But it still feels stable at highway speeds and tracks very well an SUV driving more like a traditional SUV didn’t bother me. The added ground clearance does make the Passport feel a bit more like a truck, with more body roll and the sensation that you’re sitting higher off the ground. I hope these changes make their way onto the Pilot, as well. You feel more connected to the Passport and the road when piloting it (pun intended). The result of these updates is an SUV that feels more alive. Both these changes fix problems I had with the Pilot, in that its accelerator felt sluggish at times and the steering was too muted, needing more bite. Honda said it made two key changes intended to make the Passport better off-road, but the tweaks may be more impactful on-road: The throttle mapping is more aggressive and it has a quicker steering ratio, making the steering more responsive. EPA fuel economy estimates check in at 20/25/22 mpg city/highway/combined with FWD AWD trails slightly at 19/24/21 mpg. All-wheel drive costs $1,900 on lower trims and is standard on Elite models. A nine-speed automatic is the Passport’s only transmission, and front-wheel drive is standard. The Passport features the same 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 that’s found in the Pilot. It also gets a few changes to the powertrain and steering that I found improved the Passport’s driving experience handily versus the Pilot. After that comes EX-L, Touring and Elite trims. While the Pilot starts with an LX model (as do most Honda vehicles), the Passport eschews that base trim to start with a Sport. The Passport is also sold in fewer trim levels. (Front-wheel-drive Passports have 7.5 inches.) All-wheel-drive Passports also have 0.8 inch more ground clearance than the Pilot, making them more capable off-road, for a total of 8.1 inches. The Passport is 6.0 inches shorter, almost all of it coming off the rear with the removal of the third row. There are also a few key differences, starting with the most obvious one: size. The same multimedia system is found in both vehicles, and climbing into the Passport felt very familiar to what I experienced when testing the 2019 Pilot. Beyond that, the two SUVs have the same powertrain and even have identical dashboards. ![]() The Passport and the Pilot ride on the same 111-inch wheelbase (also shared with the Ridgeline, Honda’s mid-size pickup truck). Compare the Passport with those vehicles here. ![]() The Passport now competes in that class against the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer, also recently reborn, and other five-seat mid-size mainstays like the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Ford Edge. There hadn’t been anything between the compact CR-V and the three-row Pilot - a class that’s becoming increasingly crowded. The Passport plugs a mid-sized gap in Honda’s lineup. It would be a mistake, however, to think of the Passport as just another clone Honda has given it enough distinction that I prefer the Passport to its larger sibling in a few key areas. Much like its predecessor, this new Passport also shares much of its DNA with another vehicle, but this time it’s one of Honda’s own: the three-row Pilot. ![]() The previous Passport, which was discontinued in 2002, was a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo that simply wore the Honda name. The 2019 Honda Passport might be an all-new vehicle, but its name is not. Versus the competition: Though it’s priced higher than most competitors, the Passport features enough equipment and safety features to justify the difference. The verdict: The Passport offers a solid mix of on- and off-road capability, along with a robust set of safety features, in a spacious package with good passenger and cargo room. ![]()
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