2019 Honda Passport Review: Challenge All Weekend Warriors!

94Excellent2019 Honda PassportOverall impressionsNice interior layout. Lots of room for cargo. Ideal for adventure seekers. Pros Spacious interior Off-road capabilityEndsFind tripsVery sensitive security systems

You may not remember, but the original Honda Passport was retooled by Isuzu from the 1990s, but the Passport is now a completely different and new model. The 2019 Honda Passport slots between the smaller CR-V and the three-row Pilot. The Passport and the Pilot ride on the same platform, but the Passport has two rows and is six inches shorter.

Think of the Passport as an adventure vehicle for outdoor enthusiasts. It has an inch more clearance, but with the same interior space as a larger pilot. (And some interior specifications are even the same).

We drove the top trim 2019 Honda Passport Elite with all-wheel drive this week.

What's new in 2019

The Honda Passport is a brand new model for 2019. The Passport is based on Honda's versatile mid-size light truck platform. Key features include a full box floor design and the latest generation of Honda Advanced Compatibility Engineering construction for improved safety. Trim levels include Sport, EX-L, Touring and Elite.

Features Options: Convenient

The best of its kind, the 2019 Honda Passport Elite AWD ($43,680) comes with LED exterior lighting, 20-inch alloy wheels, push-button start, keyless entry, and an eight-inch screen that's beautifully integrated into the dash. , Leather seats, heated and ventilated front seats; heated rear seats, heated steering wheel and three-zone climate control will help everyone feel comfortable.

The 2019 Honda Passport Elite also features a sunroof, manual gates, front and rear parking sensors, a 115-volt outlet, auto-dimming side mirrors, and LED interior lighting. Connectivity features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, additional USB ports, a 10-speaker audio system, navigation, and a wireless smartphone charging pad. Passport also gets the Honda Sensing Safety Kit, which includes forward collision warning, blind spot and lane departure warning.

Total MSRP including destination: $44,725. By comparison, the 2019 Honda Passport starts at $ 31,990.

Interior Highlights: Plenty of Space

The interior of the 2019 Honda Passport is similar to the Pilot in many ways, but with a sportier and more active sound. It seems to handle difficult occasions a bit better: weekend warriors taking it off-road, for example. Instead of three rows of seats like the Pilot, the Passport is a two-row, five-passenger SUV. There's ample legroom and leg room, and the same adjustable rear seats as the pilot.

As sporty as they are, we think the materials and quality for a luxury car are high. The soft-touch plastics on the dash combined with glossy black trim and matte additional controls look and feel good. Top notch fit and finish.

You can comfortably sit with three adults in the back in comfort, and you'll find your passport extremely useful for transporting things. It offers many useful things to carry equipment and people, making it ideal for weekend warriors. The cargo bay is large and offers plenty of internal storage space. For example, the passport storage located next to the rear bumper is easily accessible by lifting up the rear of the floor. With the rear seatbacks folded down, space is 77.9 cubic feet.

engine fuel mileage

The 2019 Honda Passport is powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 as the Pilot. The six-cylinder engine is rated at 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. torque and comes mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport gearbox allows you to start second gear, which will help when it comes to towing. When properly equipped, the 2019 Honda Passport can tow 5,000 pounds, making it a real adventure machine for the weekend warrior.

Our tester comes with Honda's Intelligent Variable Torque Control, also known as AWD. The system rotates the outer rear wheels faster than the front wheels. This creates a "yaw" motion that guides the passport in a way that reduces understeer while still improving traction through corners.

Four-wheel drive EPA fuel mileage estimates come in at 19/24 city/highway and 21 combined. By comparison, front-wheel drive models perform slightly better at 20/25 city/highway and 22 combined.

Related: On the road with the 2019 Honda Pilot.

Driving Dynamics: Nimble Light

The 2019 Honda Passport offers four driving modes: Normal, Snow, Mud and Sand, depending on conditions. The Passport can be driven off-road, but there are no underbody pads, so everything is limited to softer terrain. Most of them will use it for regular weekend getaways and for hiking, mountain biking and kayaking. And a new passport will take you there without any problems.

The Passport is a more powerful SUV than the Pilot, but manages to achieve a lighter, more nimble feel. We made it easy to quickly change lanes, and maneuvering through the hard-to-reach corners of the mountains is a breeze.

Driving Dynamics: Fast Quiet

The Honda V6 delivers smooth, powerful acceleration when you need it, and it never left us feeling like we needed more power. The steering wheel hand switches are at hand to give you manual control, a nice feature for driving enthusiasts.

The ride in the 2019 Honda Passport isn't as comfortable as the Pilot, but this SUV is for those who want to use it more off-road. The suspension feels a bit stiffer as it seems to be tuned for those looking to get away from civilization. With an acoustic laminated windshield and additional soundproofing throughout the chassis, the new Passport is still a good option for week-long commutes. However, you will definitely want to use it on the weekends.

Conclusion: perfect for the weekend

The 2019 Honda Passport is for those who find the CR-V too small and not powerful enough, and for those who don't need three rows of seats. The benefits of a passport are numerous, but they really come to life for those who take their vehicle off-road and need to tow a trailer on their way there.

Denis Flier has invested over 25 years in the automotive industry in various fields. All of his first-hand reviews are archived on our test drive page. Follow Denis on Twitter: @CarReviewGuy

2019 Honda Passport Gallery

Photos: Honda North America.

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