The base model is now more expensive thanks to the loss of the FWD variant.
The Honda Passport, a mid-size crossover SUV that competes with the likes of the Ford Bronco and Toyota 4Runner, has been lauded for its affordable asking price and general value for money, but Honda has quietly increased the price of this humble SUV. Kind of. Instead of raising the price across the trim line, Honda has opted to drop front-wheel-drive models from the lineup, which has effectively pushed the cost of the base model up. With the FWD EX-L trim no longer available, those interested in a Honda Passport will have to settle for the AWD EX-L, which goes for $42,395, including a $1,295 destination fee.
That move means new customers looking to get behind the wheel of a Honda Passport will have to pay $2,700 more for the privilege. This isn't the first time Honda has made drastic cuts to its Passport lineup; the company cut the Sport trim for the 2022 model year, resulting in a price increase of $5,080 over the entry-level 2021 model. The Passport lineup saw the introduction of the hardcore TrailSport version in 2021, which currently sells for $43,600. The latest move means that the Passport is exclusively available as an AWD vehicle, which makes it more practical, but the question is whether new customers will be willing to cough up the extra money.
The 2023 Passport lineup consists of the AWD EX-L, the TrailSport, and the Elite. The EX-L comes with standard features such as tri-zone automatic climate control, a driver's seat with 10-way power adjustment, an eight-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and driver assistance features such as adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, and lane departure warning. The TrailSport adds features such as LED fog lights, roof rails, integrated sunshades, illuminated beverage holders, ambient interior lighting, and navigation. The range-topping Elite model costs $46,560 and adds premium features such as ventilated front seats, rain-sensing window wipers, second-row climate controls, a heated steering wheel, a 540-watt premium audio system with 10 Speakers, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability.
Honda has been utilizing the same method across the board: the FWD Ridgeline was pulled two years ago, and the disappearance of the LX trim on the new CR-V will result in a price increase of $4,300. With consumers already taking strain due to ever-increasing car prices, and the steadily increasing inflation rate, a move like this will surely be unpopular, but manufacturers are also being forced to simplify lineups due to supply chain constraints. It seems like the only loser here is the consumer, but we suspect that sales of the FWD Passport can't have been too high if Honda fears no backlash from this move.
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