Originally twinned with the Isuzu Rodeo, the Passport became its own thing for the 2019 model year. Unveiled at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, the front-biased crossover utility vehicle received a well-deserved facelift for the 2022 model year.
A two-row affair instead of the Pilot’s three rows, the mid-size crossover is getting on a bit. Sales took a turn for the worse in 2022, falling to 41,306 deliveries in the United States market as opposed to 53,133 in the previous year. From January 2023 to September 2023, the V6-powered utility vehicle tallied 33,347 examples in this part of the world as opposed to 82,397 for the family-oriented Pilot.
Part of the reason Passport sales are this abysmal comes in the form of underpinnings. The 2024 model year Passport is based on the previous-gen Pilot, itself underpinned by the Global Light Truck Platform 2 of the Odyssey minivan and Ridgeline pickup. The most obvious difference between the Pilot’s all-new platform and the GLTP2 of the Passport is the transmission. Rather than ZF’s 9HP, the newcomer uses a Honda-developed 10-speed tranny.
Speculatively rendered by Q Cars with familiar styling cues, the next-generation Passport is certain to adopt said transmission. We also expect a carry-over V6 from the J engine family, most probably the J35Y8 of the 2023-present Honda Pilot. What’s peculiar about said engine is the lack of VTEC. By comparison, the J35Y6 of the Passport and previous Pilot rocks VTEC for the intake valves only.
Expected to drop as early as late 2024 for the 2025 model year, the fourth-gen Passport should mirror the output ratings of the Pilot: 285 horsepower at 6,100 revolutions per minute and 262 pound-feet (355 Nm) at 5,500 revolutions per minute. Not bad for a naturally-aspirated sixer, although there are punchier alternatives in this particular segment.
Photo: Q Cars on YouTube
When it comes to styling, the folks at Q Cars didn’t have any reference material other than the Pilot for this design study. As far as the real thing is concerned, we’re inclined to believe that Honda will use a mix of Pilot and Prologue for this fellow.
Styled at the Japanese automaker’s Honda Design Studio in Los Angeles, the Prologue isn’t a true Honda. Believe it or not, said electric utility vehicle has more in common with General Motors than Honda. Based on the BEV3 platform of the Chevrolet Blazer EV and Equinox EV, the Prologue is comparable in size with the outgoing Passport.
288 horsepower and 300 miles (that would be 483 kilometers) are the key numbers, with prices kicking off in the upper $40,000 range. By comparison, the Passport belts out 280 ponies for a reasonable $41,100 (sans destination charge). As per the Environmental Protection Agency, the combined range is estimated at 21 miles per gallon (11.2 liters per 100 kilometers), which is exactly the same rating as the Pilot with optional all-wheel drive.
In terms of total range, the EPA lists 410 miles (660 kilometers) for the Passport and 388 miles (624 kilometers) for the Pilot. It should be noted the Passport has a larger fuel tank, namely 19.5 gallons (73.8 liters) compared to 18.5 gallons (70.0 liters) for the lighter (yes, lighter!) Pilot.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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