2024 Honda Passport Review: Passing The Test
A midsize SUV has to offer the best of a few worlds, combining affordability and dependability with practicality, safety, and capability. The 2024 Honda Passport embodies these characteristics, but it isn't the only one since the Kia Telluride, Toyota Highlander, and even the Jeep Grand Cherokee offer similar value. However, where they squeeze in a third row of seats, the Honda prioritizes being one of the best five-seaters on the market. The Passport is equipped with a competent 280-horsepower V6 engine, and the TrailSport trim makes it an even more capable off-roader than before. It may not be the most attractive contender, but you'll definitely want to look at it up close and personal.
New for 2024
The updates to the new Honda Passport SUV are minor, with the TrailSport receiving a revised suspension and all-terrain tires, while the Elite trim has been replaced with the Black Edition, which boasts slightly more aggressive design cues. Lastly, the center console is now a little wider and offers more storage space.
2024 Honda Passport Price: Which One to Buy
The price of the 2024 Honda Passport starts at $41,900, just $800 more than last year. With the most updates, the TrailSport will cost you $44,500, while the seemingly new Black Edition sells for $47,970 - about $1,400 more than the Elite it replaces. These are the MSRP prices of each model and do not include any tax or registration nor the $1,375 destination charge.
Each trim fits a different need, with the EX-L offering the best value for money, while the Black Edition charges a bit more of a premium to unlock the more high-end functions available to the Passport. We don't feel that it is necessary, as even the base model gets many advanced driver-assistance tech and heated, power-adjustable front seats. The TrailSport is the model of choice if you regularly go on off-road adventures or camping.
EX-L | TrailSport | Black |
---|---|---|
Entry Level | Off Road | Top Trim |
$ 41900 | $ 44500 | $ 47970 |
3.5-liter V6 (280 hp/262 lb-ft) | Based on the EX-L’s features, plus: | Based on the EX-L’s features, plus: |
20-inch wheels | Off-road-tuned suspension | Rain-sensing window wipers |
Power moonroof and tailgate | Two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels with 245/60R18 off-road tires | Heated steering wheel |
Power-adjustable and heated front seats | 0.4-inch wider front and rear tracks | Ventilated front seats |
Blindspot warning with cross-traffic assistance | LED fog lights | Heated rear seats |
Orange interior contrast stitching | Ten-speaker premium sound system |
Interior and Features
A well-constructed cabin with high-quality materials and loads of space make the interior of the Passport truly special.
The interior looks much the same as it did, save for a larger central console that now has space for a full-size tablet and a larger cubby that can easily stow a couple of smartphones. There is loads of space, which has always been a strength of the car, with both passengers and cargo easily accommodated. This is because the Passport is based on a three-row SUV design even though it only has two. A large touchscreen display is located on a raised portion of the dashboard, framed by a set of air vents and underlined by a few physical controls. All of this is carefully positioned for ease of access, and the digital gauge cluster is under a hood for better visibility.
Space
There is loads of interior space, with both rows of seats offering around 40 inches of head- and legroom. Up to five passengers can be accommodated with ease, with even six-footers remaining comfortable over long rides. The wide-opening doors, high floor, and level roofline make getting inside easy, and power-adjustable front seats allow you to find a suitable driving position with limited effort. Overall visibility is quite good, but the impressive length of the car, which gives it all that passenger space, does create some unwelcome blind spots.
Cargo
Sports utility vehicles need to be practical to be competitive, and the Passport is more than well-equipped to take the fight to its rivals. Without the option to install a third row of seats, you'll find an impressive 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space. This is more than enough for most daily needs, with even larger items being handled easily. Folding down the rear seats almost doubles this area to 77.7 cubes. There are some tie-down anchors to help keep things in place, especially when things get bumpy.
There are numerous small-item storage solutions, starting with a large center console that offers space for a tablet beneath the controls, along with two cupholders, and a large armrest cubby. The glove compartment can also handle some larger items, which is good since the door pockets are not that large and can be tricky to access. There are additional cupholders in the rear fold-down middle seat.
Honda Passport | Toyota Highlander | Kia Telluride | |
---|---|---|---|
Seating | 5 Seater | 5/7/8 Seater | 7/8 Seater |
Headroom | 39.5 in. front 40 in. rear | 39.6 in. front 39.4 in. middle 36.1 in. rear | 39.5 - 40.9 in. front 38.8 - 40.2 in. middle 37.8 - 38.1 in. rear |
Legroom | 40.9 in. front 39.6 in. rear | 42 in. front 38.7 in. middle 28 in. rear | 41.4 in. front 42.4 in. middle 31.4 in. rear |
Cargo | 41.2 - 77.7 ft³ | 16 - 84.3 ft³ | 21 - 87 ft³ |
Materials and Colors
There are no cut corners here, with every trim sporting leather upholstery and you get a choice of three interior colors. These include Gray, Brown, and Black, none of which are overly inspired, and which ones you can pick depends on the paint job. The TrailSport differs slightly from the rest of the range with its Black leather and Orange contrast stitching and monikered embroidery.
Features and Infotainment
Even in its most basic configuration, the Passport is extremely rich in features. The EX-L comes with a ten-way power driver's seat, a four-way power passenger seat, tri-zone climate control, a Smart Key, push-button start, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and heated front seats. An eight-inch touchscreen controls the infotainment, which comprises Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and HD Radio. This is channeled through a seven-speaker sound system, and a wireless charger with four USB ports keeps everyone's devices going. The TrailSport only gets a few new features, such as ambient interior lighting, courtesy door lights, and navigation. At the top of the range, the Black Edition gets heated rear seats, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, and a ten-speaker sound system.
EX-L | TrailSport | Black | |
---|---|---|---|
Tri-zone climate control | S | S | S |
Heated front seats | S | S | S |
Ambient lighting | N/A | S | S |
Ventilated front seats | N/A | N/A | S |
Eight-inch infotainment with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto | S | S | S |
Performance
While it may be shared with the smaller Pilot, the nat-asp V6 engine still does a decent job of motivating the Passport.
While it may impress in many areas, performance is not where the midsize Honda SUV shines. The engine under the hood of the Passport is a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 that develops 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It comes mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission that sends power to all four wheels. This sees the Honda Passport launch from 0-60 mph in around six seconds and hit a top speed of 111 mph.
These figures may not sound amazing, but from behind the wheel, the car feels lively and the steering is light and accurate - perfect for city driving. There are manual paddle shifters if you want a more hands-on experience, but it's not a must-have on a car like this. A few driving modes provided by the Intelligent Traction Management system help switch things up, and they work particularly well with the TrailSport's new suspension setup. No matter the configuration, the Honda Passport has a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds.
Fuel Efficiency
There is only one powertrain and every model is equipped with an all-wheel drivetrain as standard. The V6 doesn't get particularly great gas mileage, but it isn't terrible, either. The EPA rates the Honda Passport at 19/24/21 mpg across the city/highway/combined cycles.
With a fuel capacity of 19.5 gallons, the midsize SUV can travel up to 410 miles between gas station visits.
3.5L V6 Gas 9-Speed Automatic AWD | |
---|---|
Power | 280 hp |
Top speed | 111 mph |
MPG | 19/24/21 mpg |
0-60 | 6 seconds |
Safety
While it rates highly in the eyes of the IIHS and NHTSA, the Passport does have some passenger-side crash concerns.
The NHTSA gives the Honda Passport a pretty great safety review, with five stars overall. The rollover and front passenger crash tests were slightly lower at four stars. The IIHS hasn't tested the Passport for the new model year, but the 2023 version scores similarly well, with Good in most categories but only Acceptable for front passenger and Marginal for side crashes.
Where we can't fault the Passport is its extensive list of standard safety features. These include ABS, EBD, stability and traction control, and six airbags. You also get forward collision warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, and road-departure mitigation on every trim. Front and rear parking sensors, along with a multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines are included, too.
EX-L | TrailSport | Black | |
---|---|---|---|
Collision mitigation with braking system | S | S | S |
Adaptive cruise control | S | S | S |
Front and rear parking sensors | S | S | S |
Blind spot information system | S | S | S |
Cross traffic monitor | S | S | S |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
---|---|---|---|
5/5 | 4/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Reliability
With a reliability score of 85 out of 100 from JD Power, the Honda Passport is one of the most dependable cars on the road. Despite this, it was recalled twice in 2023 for a loose fastener on the brake booster assembly and no image being displayed on the rearview camera. 2024 models are recall-free at the time of writing.
For 2024, the Honda Passport gets a three-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile drivetrain warranty.
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|
3 Years / 36,000 Miles | 5 Years / 60,000 Miles | 5 Years / Unlimited Miles | 3 Years / 36,000 Miles |
Design
Since its restyling a few years ago, the Honda Passport has been regarded as a relatively handsome SUV. The grille is just large enough to be bold, and the hood bulges powerfully. LED headlights with incorporated daytime running lights at the edges extend from the grille like wings. At the rear, the LED brake lights are cut off by the power tailgate, and there are dual exhaust tips at either end of the rear bumper. The EX-L and Black Edition come with 20-inch alloy wheels, with the latter painted black to match the name, while the TrailSport gets slightly smaller 18-inch alloys wrapped in all-terrain tires. A moonroof is standard across the range, and the top two trims get roof rails.
Verdict: Is The 2024 Honda Passport A Good SUV?
While it may not be as flashy as some of the other midsize SUVs, the 2024 Passport is extremely attractive on paper. It boasts incredible passenger and cargo space and comes equipped with a long list of standard features that many rivals would make you pay more for. With high safety and dependability ratings, and respectable trailering figures, this is a car that doens't mind doing some hard work, even if its engine is not as strong as we'd expect from a vehicle this size. Inside, the car looks and feels good, but all of this comes at a cost that is slightly higher than your average Honda. Still, you get what you what you pay for, and it's well worth the price.