HONDA Passport Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Honda introduced the fourth generation of the Passport in 2023 for the 2024 model year, thus expanding its crossover and SUV lineup.

The Japanese automaker worked together with GM and Isuzu to develop a road-oriented off-road vehicle, which resulted in a wide range of vehicles such as the Opel/Vauxhall Frontera in Europe, the Isuzu Amigo/Rodeo/Axiom in the U.S., and the Honda Passport. That badge-engineered product survived until 2002 when Honda pulled back from that project. Still, it kept the nameplate in its basket. In 2019, the Japanese automaker revived it, and in 2023, three decades after the model’s introduction, it launched the fourth generation of the Passport.

In 2023, Honda introduced the fourth generation of the Passport for those families who enjoyed going into the woods for camping. The SUV was better prepared than its larger sibling, the Pilot, and it showed a more off-road-oriented look. The flat front fascia with a massive grille flanked by LED headlights, but despite that, the Passport still kept some of the design language already present on the Civic and the Accord. The profile showed additional plastic cladding around the wheel arches and on the side sills, which emphasized the 8.1-inch (20.5 cm) ground clearance. The short front and rear overhangs confirmed the off-road-oriented nature of the vehicle, while the 110-inch (279 cm) wheelbase ensured customers that the car could cope well with daily traffic situations. At the back, the Passport featured a raked-forward tailgate adorned at the top by a roof spoiler, while underneath the bumper, it sported a black, unpainted plastic area, an underbody plastic shield, and two exhaust pipes on the sides.

Inside, the Passport offered room for up to five passengers. Honda didn’t need another people carrier in its lineup, so it made this SUV with two bucket seats at the front and a split-folding bench in the back. On the dashboard, the automaker ditched any analog dials and placed a digital cluster in front of the driver and a touchscreen for the infotainment system atop the center stack. The center console housed the buttons for the transmission, a charging pad for a mobile phone, and two cup holders. In addition, under the center armrest, the Passport featured a large cubby storage. In the back, the flat floor allowed three passengers to sit comfortably, although the back side of the center console intruded into the middle-seated passenger area. But, at least there was no center tunnel to hump on.

Underneath its skin, Honda installed a platform with independent suspension in all corners and an intelligent all-wheel-drive system based on torque vectoring, which made the vehicle very capable in off-road situations compared to other crossovers on the market. Under the hood was the same 3.5-liter naturally-aspirated V6 that powered the Pilot and the ten-speed automatic transmission.

The first two generations of the Honda Passport were based on the Isuzu/GM platform, used in Europe for the Opel Frontera. But, in 2018, it decided to move from there and used the Honda Ridgeline pickup platform for the third Passport generation. Honda said it is a mid-size SUV built to tackle off-road, and compete against vehicles such as the Jeep Grand Cherokee or the Toyota 4Runner.

It doesn't have a chassis or a transfer case with low range gear. What it has though, is a 3.5-liter V6 engine mated to a 9-speed gearbox. This combination might work and do the job even without the transfer case. The 2019 Passport features Available Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4™) torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, which enhances on- and off-road performance and Intelligent Traction Management system with available Snow, Sand and Mud modes help optimize performance for varying surface conditions.

Inside, there is enough room for five people and the AWD system is offered as standard only on the top trim level and as an option for the other. But the top trim level comes with 20" wheels, which are not suitable for "serious off-road".

On the dashboard, Honda installed its latest Display Audio interface with an 8-inch touchscreen, a physical volume knob, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The instrument panel is split into three parts, two with regular dials for the tank and the other for the coolant temperature. The middle part is a TFT where the speed, rev counter, and traction modes are displayed.