Since its release in 2019, the Honda Passport has performed admirably, and due to its straightforward driving manner, attractive appearance, and superior ergonomics, it continues to be one of our most highly recommended mid-size SUVs. It carries over the same facelift from 2022 into 2023, adding a softer front end that matches the Ridgeline. The new Pilot displays a front fascia that is even more contemporary and resembles the new CR-V, which the Passport may get in the next year or two.
The Passport is a great option for those who require more space than a CR-V, but who do not require an SUV with three rows of seating or a Pilot's size. We get more and more attached to its minivan-like adjustable armrests, enormous center console cubby that can fit our SLR cameras, and roomy rear seat accommodations with a second row that can fold flat for a completely level cargo surface each time we get behind the wheel of one.
But as a 2023 model, the Passport is starting to feel dated thanks to a long list of cheap-feeling leather and scratchy black plastics, especially when you compare it to what the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride are offering for the same price. The new Civic and CR-V's minimalist styling and polished interior are absent from this vehicle, but the tactile buttons, easily readable gauges, and generous storage space help to cement its status as a true SUV that isn't trying to pass as something it isn't.
The only engine available for the Honda Passport is a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 that sends 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque to all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. Although the V6 has good power, the majority of it is located on the right side of the needle, so it will take some serious revving to extract all the pulp. The Passport makes up for the lack of low-end boost from a turbocharged engine with a more linear and predictable power delivery. For both novice drivers and driving purists, the proportional relationship between the gas pedal and forward thrust is a welcome feature. Additionally, the Passport accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h more quickly than the Toyota 4Runner, Ford Edge Sport, and Chevrolet Blazer RS.
It is to be expected that the Passport will drive like a smaller Pilot with a firmer suspension to counteract its severed rear end. When negotiating winding roads, it's not nearly as entertaining as a Mazda CX-9, and the Passport is surprisingly less comfortable and well-damped, ensuring that every passenger feels the bigger bumps and oscillations on the road. Notable are the four available driving modes, normal, snow, sand, and mud, each of which modifies the throttle sensitivity, gearbox mapping, torque vectoring, and stability control for a more adaptable approach to all-terrain driving. Also amusing is the Japanese touch of the cartoonish graphics that are displayed when scrolling through the modes.
The steering is light and precise with a moderate amount of rotational resistance, but it has an ambiguous on-center feel. Similar to old-school hydraulic steering racks, the wheel quickly returns to neutral when released. Honda fitted the Passport with a clever torque vectoring system, and I don't mean the brake-based kind, in an effort to reduce body roll and improve dynamics. You can see this power distribution in real-time in the instrument cluster. This is true torque vectoring, meaning the differential can re-route 70% of the torque to the rear axle and 100% of that torque to either the right or left wheels. When driving this brute around a sharp turn, you can immediately tell how this improves handling and traction. However, it doesn't grant you any newfound athleticism, and you still have the same top-heavy lean that the Pilot would give you.
Without turbochargers, a large V6 engine isn't exactly a recipe for fuel economy, but the Passport uses clever engineering to lower that consumption. The V6 will decouple the rear driveshaft and turn off three of its cylinders under light loads. We averaged 13.6 L/100 km in city driving alone, which is still less efficient than its smaller turbocharged competitors. However, drivers can save some money by pressing the big green ECON button, which modifies the air conditioning to function more effectively but takes longer to cool the car, remaps the throttle for lighter acceleration, and modifies the shift points in the gearbox.
Nothing here should be a surprise. No fuss. There are no trendy gadgets or features that obviously target millennials. Instead, the Passport is a specialized automotive device that stays true to its origins, successfully closes the gap in Honda's lineup, and gives customers what they want: a roomy five-seater SUV that transports people and goods without fuss.
Specifications:
- Model: 2023 Honda Passport Touring
- Paint Type: Platinum White Pearl
- Base Price: $55,871
- Price as Tested: $56,171
- Wheelbase(mm): 2,817
- Length/Width/Height (mm): 4,839 / 2,115 / 1,834
- Curb weight (kg): 1,914
- Engine: 3.5-litre V6
- Horsepower: 280 hp @ 6,000 rpm
- Torque: 262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm
- Transmission: 9-speed automatic
- Engine & Drive Configuration: Front engine, AWD
- Observed Fuel Consumption (L/100km): 13.6
- Tires: Michelin Pilot Alpin 5; P265/50R20
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