Pros:
- Excellent standard safety features.
- Good looking exterior.
- Great interior comfort.
- Decent towing and off-road capability.
Cons:
- Interior is quality, but never premium.
- Lone engine option.
- Bare-bones in base trim.
Would we buy one? Yes.
Vehicle Type: 4-door, 5-seat midsize crossover.
Price Range: The base Passport Sport starts at $33,110; the top-end Elite trim starts at $44,900. All prices include destination but are before adding any options.
Powertrain: The Passport's sole engine is a 3.5-liter V6 engine, making 280 horsepower. That engine is hooked up to a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Front-wheel drive is standard, with optional all-wheel drive available.
Competitors: Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Toyota Venza, Subaru Outback, Nissan Murano, Ford Edge, and Chevrolet Blazer.
Overall Score: 7.4/10
Safety Features: 9/10
The IIHS chose the Honda Passport as a Top Safety Pick (the agency's second-highest rating) in part due to Honda Sensing, a safety package standard on all trims that includes forward collision warning with emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert.
In crash tests performed by the NHTSA, the Passport also received 5-star and 4-star ratings across the board.
Value: 8/10
While the Honda Passport Sport trim may be a little too spartan for many of today's buyers, the EX-L includes many features that are usually optional on rivals. These include leather seats, heated front seats, and a power moonroof. The Touring trim adds a hands-free power liftgate, and the Elite trim gets extras like a wireless phone charger and rain-sensing windshield wipers.
Overall pricing is on par with the competition, and the Honda Passport won't win buyers solely looking for a deal.
Honda's reputation for reliability will keep resale values high and should alleviate owners' fears of major repairs. Honda offers a 3 year/36,000 mile limited warranty, with five years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage. No scheduled maintenance package is included.
Tech Features: 8/10
In addition to the standard Honda Sensing safety suite, the Passport has plenty of tech. In all trims above the Sport, an eight-inch touchscreen can run both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Base buyers will have to do with a five-inch infotainment display, but it does have Bluetooth capability.
The standard audio system runs through seven speakers. In higher trims, the premium audio system with ten speakers is available, as well as integrated navigation, two USB ports per row, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. AWD is standard on the top-spec Honda Passport Elite.
Practicality: 7/10
With 78 cubic feet of available cargo space with the rear seats folded and 41 when they are up, the Honda Passport has plenty of room for people or cargo. There are plenty of storage spaces for smaller items and a reasonably sized underfloor compartment in the rear.
The Passport provides up to 5000 pounds towing capacity in AWD models, which is in the top tier of the segment and matches the Passport's larger sibling, the Honda Pilot. Those looking to go off-road will want to spec AWD due to its 8.1 inches of ground clearance and intelligent i-VTM4 traction control.
Styling & Design: 7/10
A more upright grille and taller greenhouse give the Honda Passport a tougher exterior look than some of the competition. Black 20-inch wheels fill out the wheel wells, making the Passport overall a very attractive crossover.
Inside, the design isn't the most premium in the class, but the material and upholstery are of good quality, and seating is spacious and comfortable in the front and second row.
All trim levels include automatic climate control. Heated front seats are standard in EX-L trim, Honda Passport Touring trim adds heat to the rear seats, and in Elite trim gets heated and ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Driving Experience: 7/10
The Passport feels smaller than it is thanks to responsive steering and excellent drivetrain. The V6-engine can get the Passport up to freeway speeds quickly and with ease, and the suspension setup is plush enough for comfort without letting the crossover feel bloated.
Adding AWD makes the Honda Passport a decent weekend getaway car, and it performs well off-road. The suspension is clearly designed mainly for on-road use, so it can get a little rough when leaving the pavement.
Fuel Efficiency: 6/10
With only the 3.5-liter V6 and nine-speed automatic transmission available, all FWD Honda Passport models are rated at EPA estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined.
Adding AWD drops one mpg from each category for 19 mpg city, 24 mpg hwy, and 21 mpg combined.
These fuel economy numbers lag slightly behind many competitors with V6 engines or smaller but equally powerfully turbocharged engine options.
