Honda resurrected the Passport nameplate a few years ago and glued it onto a Pilot-based midsize 5-passenger crossover SUV. The Passport was a part of a partnership between Isuzu and Honda in the 1990s, which saw an exchange of passenger vehicles from Honda to Isuzu, such as the Isuzu Oasis, and trucks from Isuzu to Honda, such as the Passport and Acura SLX. This arrangement was convenient for both companies, as Isuzu discontinued passenger car production in 1993 after a corporate restructuring, and Honda was in desperate need of an SUV, a segment that was growing in popularity in North America as well as Japan during the 1990s. The partnership ended in 2002 with the discontinuation of the Passport in favor of the Honda-engineered Pilot.
2022 Honda Passport to give its customers something to consider in between the popular CR-V and Pilot model. The result was one of the roomiest, most comfortable, and most off-road-capable vehicles in the segment. To underscore the model’s underlying abilities, the 2022 Honda Passport gets a styling update to make it look more rugged. Honda also introduces a new Passport TrailSport trim level, slotted between the EX-L and Elite versions of the SUV. Otherwise, the 2022 Passport continues largely unchanged. The 2022 Passport gets new styling from the windshield forward. It shares its front end, hood, and fenders with the Ridgeline, more closely tying the two mechanically related models together. The Passport has a unique grille.
Under the hood is the same 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 and nine-speed automatic transmission as found in the 2021 Honda Pilot. Those who want the all-terrain capability of all-wheel drive can add it for extra coin; otherwise, the Passport is front-wheel drive. The SUV boasts 7.5 inches of ground clearance (8.1 inches for all-wheel-drive models), and the Passport can tow up to 5000 pounds. The ride is comfortable on most roads, and the steering is pleasingly direct, which makes the Passport feel nimble. With a single engine choice and either front- or all-wheel drive, the Passport has two different EPA estimates. The front-drive model is expected to earn up to 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway. A Passport with all-wheel drive does a little worse, with ratings of 19 mpg city and 24 mpg highway.
A 9-speed automatic transmission powers the front wheels, unless you get the TrailSport or the Elite, which have i-VTM4 as standard equipment. The i-VTM4 system offers torque vectoring and can transfer up to 70 percent of the engine’s output to the rear axle. From there, i-VTM4 continually varies the power split to the rear wheels depending on traction and driving conditions and can put all of the rear-axle power to one side of the axle or the other. To help maximize traction in specific driving situations, the 2022 Passport offers Sand, Snow, and Mud driving modes. The SUV also has up to 8.1 inches of ground clearance. Maximum towing capacity amounts to 5,000 pounds.
Despite an unremarkable design, the materials are attractive enough and the controls are nicely organized—although we’d like more knobs and buttons instead of touchscreen controls. The front seats are wide and comfortable, with a handy armrest that can be adjusted for optimal comfort. The back seat is also roomy and allows the Passport to transport up to five people.Across the 2022 Passport lineup, the interior features new gray-faced instrumentation with white gauge needles. The EX-L trim gains perforated leather upholstery with new contrast stitching for a more upscale look and feel. A power rear liftgate is standard, opening to reveal a 50.5 cubic-foot cargo area and a 2.5 cubic-foot underfloor storage compartment. With Elite trim, the liftgate offers hands-free operation. Compared to most other 5-passenger SUVs, the Passport can handle plenty of cargo.
