The revived mid-sizer fills a gap in Honda’s SUV lineup.
Say hello to the newest SUV from Honda with a not-so-new name. You may recall the previous Honda Passport from the 1990s, which actually was an Isuzu Rodeo with some very minor changes. This time around it’s an all-Honda affair, designed by Honda’s North American research and development staff and built at the company’s plant in Lincoln, Alabama. It will go on sale early next year as a 2019 model but you can see it now at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
As predicted, it’s a roomy five-seater unibody SUV that slots neatly between the compact CR-V and full-size, three-row Honda Pilot. Power comes exclusively from a 280-horsepower (209-kilowatt) 3.5-liter V6 connected to a nine-speed automatic driving just the front wheels in standard trim, though we suspect a majority of Passport shoppers will opt for the available i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system.
Specifically, this is an electronic, torque-vectoring arrangement that can send up to 70 percent of engine power to the rear wheels, or 100 percent power to either the left or right rear wheel. It’s available with four different modes to tackle a variety of conditions, and it gives the Passport a towing capacity of 5,000 pounds (2,268 kilograms). A version of the system is also available on front-wheel-drive models, offering two settings for normal and snow conditions with a reduced tow rating of 3,500 lbs (1,588 kg).
Inside, the Passport looks to be a comfortable, roomy place for occupants. Honda says it’s actually a class leader for passenger volume at 115.9 cubic feet, and best-in-class for overall volume at 157.1 cubic feet. With its overall size closer to the seven-passenger Pilot, having just two rows of seats means ample room in the back for cargo. There’s 41.2 cubic feet of space available, which expands to 77.9 cubic feet with the back seat folded.
As for technology, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are offered, along with mobile WiFi and a range of infotainment and stereo options depending on which trim level you choose. The Sport model gets a 215-watt system with a five-inch monitor, while higher grades get an eight-inch screen with up to 590 watts. Regardless of trim, Honda packs the Passport with its suite of Honda Sensing safety systems as standard equipment. That includes emergency auto braking and forward collision warning, lane departure alerts and lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise, cross-traffic alert, and cameras galore.
“The all-new 2019 Honda Passport provides the on-road comfort and nimble handling buyers will appreciate on their daily commute with the robust off-road and all-weather capability that make for a great weekend adventure vehicle,” said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and general manager, Honda Division.
Pricing for the Honda Passport will be announced next year.
Source: Honda
2019 Honda Passport Makes World Debut: Adventure-Ready All-New 5-passenger SUV on Display at 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show
- Passport provides a unique blend of on- and off-road prowess with exceptional occupant and cargo hauling capability
- 280-horsepower V6 and available sophisticated all-wheel drive system give Passport robust towing and off-road capabilities
- Standard Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive tech on all trims
- Multiple accessory options to personalize Passport ownership
LOS ANGELES, Nov. 27, 2018 – The all-new 2019 Honda Passport 5-passenger V6-powered SUV made its world debut today. Going on sale early next year, Passport provides a unique combination of on-road driving refinement and off-road adventure capability along with best-in-class interior space.
The all-new Honda Passport will slot between the compact CR-V and three-row Pilot in Honda’s award-winning SUV lineup. The model’s reinforced unibody frame, powerful direct-injected i-VTEC® V6 engine, fully independent suspension and nimble steering make it an ideal choice for driving long distances or around town. In addition, the robust off-road capability offered by the available Honda i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and its four-mode Intelligent Traction Management system means Passport can tackle the kind of tough terrain normally reserved for less refined body-on-frame or off-road focused SUVs.
“The all-new 2019 Honda Passport provides the on-road comfort and nimble handling buyers will appreciate on their daily commute with the robust off-road and all-weather capability that make for a great weekend adventure vehicle,” said Henio Arcangeli, Jr., senior vice president of American Honda Motor Co., Inc. and general manager, Honda Division. “We saw an opportunity to deliver something that Honda is uniquely capable of making and the new Passport is in a great position to capture buyers looking for a more personal, powerful and capable Honda SUV.”
Designed and developed exclusively by Honda’s North America R&D teams in Torrance, California, and Raymond, Ohio, the Passport and its V6 engine will be manufactured at the company’s Lincoln, Alabama plant
Additional key product highlights include:
- Standard 280-horsepower, 3.5-liter, direct-injected V6 engine with i-VTEC® valvetrain mated to latest-generation 9-speed automatic transmission
- Available Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4™) torque-vectoring all-wheel drive enhances on- and off-road performance
- Intelligent Traction Management system with available Snow, Sand and Mud modes help optimize performance for varying surface conditions
- Standard Honda Sensing® safety and driver-assistive technology
- Standard 20-inch alloy wheels and tires on all trims
- Reversible cargo floor and best-in-class underfloor cargo storage
- Wide range of Honda accessories for active lifestyles, including Adventure and Urban accessory packages
The all-new 2019 Honda Passport’s rugged exterior design and stance is highlighted by standard 20-inch wheels, a matte-black grille, floating roof design, aggressive wheel arches, increased ride height and a tailgate design that emphasizes width.
Inside, Passport offers best-in-class passenger space (115.9 cu.-ft.) and total interior volume (157.1 cu.-ft.) for carrying family, friends and weekend adventure gear. Passport features an easy-to-clean reversible cargo floor and a large (best-in-class 2.5 cu.-ft.) segmented underfloor cargo compartment for carrying dirty gear or keeping valuables out of sight.
Passport will be offered in four trims: the well-appointed Sport, upgraded
EX-L, high-tech Touring, and the fully equipped Elite. All models except the line-topping Elite can be configured with 2- or all-wheel drive – all Elite trims come standard with all-wheel drive. All trims will feature 20-inch alloy wheels and tires, the Honda Sensing® suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technology, LED headlights, fog lights, taillights and DRLs, Smart Start and Smart Entry and three-zone automatic climate control. EX-L and higher trims utilize Honda’s latest Display Audio interface with an 8-inch touchscreen, a physical volume knob and Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration.
Additional exterior upgrades, depending on trim, include a power tailgate with available handsfree operation, a one-touch tilt/slide moonroof and heated auto-dimming and power folding side mirrors. Furthermore, the blind spot information system, rear cross traffic monitor, and front and rear parking sensors are available driver assistive technologies. Available premium features include second-row sunshades, wireless phone charging, embedded Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System, 4G LTE in-vehicle Wi-Fi[ii], premium audio, and HondaLink® cloud-based services, including remote unlocking, concierge services, stolen vehicle tracking and more.
Powertrain
All 2019 Honda Passport trims are powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 280 peak horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque (SAE net), placing Passport in the top of its class for standard horsepower in a segment where some competitors offer less powerful 4-cylinder engines as standard equipment. The Honda i-VTEC® V6 is mated to the latest-generation of Honda’s 9-speed automatic transmission (9AT) that is among the most advanced in the class, offering smooth and responsive power delivery.
At the heart of the robust all-weather and off-road driving capabilities is Honda’s available i-VTM4™ all-wheel drive system. Unlike most competing systems, i-VTM4™ uses active torque vectoring to send up to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear axle and 100 percent of that torque to either the left or right rear wheels. This capability gives Passport excellent handling in all conditions, such as rain-slicked or snowy roads or sandy trails, while also contributing to more responsive performance by overdriving the outside rear wheel in turns. In addition, the Intelligent Traction Management (ITM) is standard on both the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive Passport. In all-wheel drive applications, the four-mode ITM systems works in conjunction with i-VTM4™, allowing drivers to customize powertrain performance for different weather and terrain, including sand, snow and mud. In front-wheel drive models, the system has two modes for normal and snow conditions.
Tested in the world’s harshest environments, including the sands of Dubai, muddy country roads of Russia, and snowbound trails in Minnesota, the combination of i-VTM4™ and Intelligent Traction Management make Passport more capable off road than many unibody SUVs, giving drivers the confidence to tackle not just wet or rainy conditions, but a variety of harsh off-road terrains.
Passport is well equipped for towing, with 3,500-pound capacity on front-wheel drive models and 5,000 pounds on all-wheel drive models when both are equipped with the optional towing package. Passport is the gateway to adventure being able to tow camping trailers, boats, or “toy” haulers, over more rugged terrain. The standard multi-view rear-view camera makes connecting to a trailer easier than ever with its “overhead” option giving the driver a bird’s eye view of the hitch and trailer.
Exterior Design and Platform
Honda’s most rugged light truck yet, Passport’s expressive design leaves no doubt of its adventure-seeking mission and is highlighted by its higher ride height, standard 20-inch wheels, 245/50R all-weather tires and sporty styling cues, including a matte black grille and bumper, blackout headlights and black wheels. LED headlight accents, gloss black trim, a “floating” C-pillar, and chrome exhaust finishers hint at Passport’s around-town sophistication. Trim-exclusive wheel designs are available across the lineup, and Touring and Elite trims offer upsized 265/45R20 tires as standard equipment.
Beyond good looks, Passport’s design offers superior functionality as well. Ground clearance is up 0.8 inches on front-wheel drive models and 1.1 inches on all-wheel drive models compared to Passport’s three-row sibling, Pilot, while its shorter overall length and shortened rear overhang offer improved approach, departure and breakover angles, suitable for more rugged terrain.
Passport’s wider wheels and tires complement its athletic and sporty stance and support both responsive around-town handling and increased grip off-road. A ruggedly styled front end stands out on the road with its scratch-resistant matte finish grill suited to the off-road adventures Passport is designed for.
Passport is based on Honda’s Global Light Truck platform and shares much of its underlying structure with the three-row Pilot SUV and Ridgeline pickup, including its highly rigid unibody construction. This platform has a fully boxed floor that is sophisticated yet strong with a four-wheel independent suspension, with MacPherson struts in front and a multilink independent rear. The latest generation of Honda’s proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, provides outstanding frontal collision protection and collision compatibility with larger and smaller vehicles.
Interior Design and Packaging
Passport’s modern and sophisticated interior design offers ample space for five people and provides class-leading passenger volume of 115.9 cu.-ft and best-in-class total interior volume of 157.1 cu.-ft. From Sport to Elite trims, Passport features high-quality interior appointments including attractive and durable cloth on Sport or perforated leather on EX-L, Touring and Elite trims, a blackout headliner, and generous use of soft-touch surfaces on the dash and doors.
Passport’s interior also offers class-leading utility. Behind the second row of seats is a cargo area generously sized for weekend camping trips or excursions to the home improvement store, with 41.2 cu. ft. of space, expandable to 77.9 cu. ft. with the second row folded, which is more than enough to accommodate mountain bikes or a week’s worth of camping gear. From the cargo area, the second-row seatbacks fold with the push of a button, and Passport’s main cargo floor is reversible between carpeted and easy-to-clean hard plastic surfaces. Passport features class-leading underfloor storage, with 2.5 cu. ft. of easily accessible compartmented storage, which can be accessorized with removable washable bins, including a custom bin for storing the available accessory trailer hitch receiver.
There’s also plenty of space for small stuff. Passport offers generous storage space for front seat passengers, including a huge center console bin between the front seats with a rolling cover that serves as a tray when closed. Additional storage is found in the doors and ahead of the push-button gear selector.
Technology
Packed with available modern amenities such as an audio and connectivity system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration and a digital driver’s meter, Passport delivers all the modern technology that today’s SUV buyers demand.
Passport Sport trim comes standard with a 215-watt audio system with a 5-inch display monitor and 6 speakers, plus a subwoofer. Passport EX-L, Touring and Elite trims feature Honda’s 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen system with Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ smartphone integration and manual power/volume knob. The Display Audio system uses gestures common to smartphones and tablets, such as swipe, tap and pinch, to control the vehicle’s audio system, display settings and other advanced features. Intuitive and easy to use, with a simplified menu structure, it also offers customizable shortcuts for commonly used features and customizable app locations. Passport Touring and Elite trims come with a 590-watt 10-speaker premium audio system.
Passport’s instrument cluster uses a 7-inch Thin Film Transistor (TFT) screen with a wide range of information content. In addition to displaying typical vehicle functions such as vehicle speed and RPM, the full-color digital meter includes a Multi-Information Display (MID) with customizable features, such as audio system information, a detailed trip computer, phone information, and turn-by-turn route guidance on Passport models equipped with navigation. Drivers navigate the new TFT using steering wheel controls designed for intuitive operation, such as Bluetooth® phone buttons that are more easily distinguished by touch.
Touring and Elite trims of Passport provide 4G LTE in-vehicle Wi-Fi TCU that can supporting up to seven devices and a free 90-day/3GB trial period AT&T data plan. The TCU is key to Passport’s support of numerous HondaLink® cloud-based services. Using an app, owners can keep track of maintenance and even book appointments, remember their Passport’s location, remotely start their Passport, and numerous other functions.
Safety and Driver Assistance Technology
The Honda Sensing® suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies is standard on all 2019 Passport trims. Honda Sensing® helps provide greater awareness of driving conditions around the vehicle, in some cases helps drivers maintain lane position and, under certain conditions slowing or even stopping the vehicle if it detects a potential front collision. Honda Sensing® includes Collision Mitigation Braking System™ (CMBS™) featuring Forward Collison Warning (FCW), Road Departure Mitigation (RDM) including Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Lane Keeping Assistance System (LKAS) and Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC). The new Passport was designed to provide a high level of active and passive safety performance and targets an NCAP 5-Star Overall Vehicle Score safety rating and an IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK rating. All tested 2019 model-year Honda vehicles achieve an NCAP 5-star Overall Vehicle Score safety rating.
All Passport trims come equipped with a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera with overhead “bird’s eye” view, ideal for trailer hookups. Additional available driver-assistive technologies include dynamic guidelines for the rearview camera, blind spot Information system (EX-L, Touring and Elite) with Rear Cross-Traffic Detection, and front and rear parking sensors (Touring and Elite).
Accessories
A wide variety of Honda Genuine Accessories are designed for Passport, including roof boxes of various sizes, a roof basket, and roof-mounted bike, kayak and ski or snowboard racks. Inside, Passport owners can weatherproof their cargo area with hard plastic covers for the floor, sides, and seatbacks. The underfloor storage can be divided with separate, removable and washable bins.
For those seeking a more sophisticated urban look, a variety of cosmetic exterior items are available, such as a colored graphics package, undercarriage welcome lights, and lighted door sills. From the outset, Passport will be available with two accessory packages. The Adventure Package adds running boards, a trailer hitch, a roof bin and more for outdoor weekend getaways. The Urban Package adds front and rear underbody spoilers, unique 20-inch wheels, cargo storage bins and roof rails and crossbars for a sophisticated in-town look.
2019 Honda Passport: Major Specifications
Powertrain
Engine Type
V-6
Displacement
3471cc
Horsepower (SAE Net)
280 @6 000 rpm
Torque (SAE Net)
262 lb-ft @ 4700 rpm
Fuel Injection
Direct
Transmission
9-speed automatic (9AT)
All-Wheel Drive System
(AWD Models)
Intelligent Variable Torque Management™ (i-VM4™) with Intelligent Traction Management with Normal, Sand, Snow and Mud modes
Chassis
Front Suspension
MacPherson strut
Rear Suspension
Multi-link
Steering
Electric power-assisted (EPS) rack-and-pinion
Wheels
20-inch alloy
All-Season Tires
245/50R 102H (Sport, EX-L);
265/50R 102H (Touring, Elite)
Towing Capacity, 2WD (AWD)
3,500 lbs (5,000 lbs) with tow package
Exterior
Wheelbase
111.0 in.
Length
190.5 in.
Height
71.6 in.
Width
78.6 in.
Track Front/Rear, 2WD (AWD)
67.0/67.0 in. (66.7/66.7 in.)
Ground Clearance, 2WD (AWD)
7.8 in. (8.4 in.)
Approach/Departure Angles, Degrees, 2WD (AWD)
20.6/26.8 (21.4/27.6)
Interior
Cargo Volume (Behind 2nd Row)
41.2 cu.-ft.
Cargo Volume (Behind 1st Row)
100.7 cu.-ft.
Passenger Volume
115.9 (114.9 w/sunroof)
2019 Honda Passport: Major Features
SPORT (2WD / AWD)
20-Inch alloy wheels
245/50R20 Tire
Honda Sensing®
9-Speed Automatic Transmission
Auto Stop-Start
Headlight – LED Projector
LED Fog Lights
LED DRL
LED Taillights
Smart Start
Smart Entry
Remote Engine Start
8-Way Power Driver’s Seat
Driver’s Power Lumbar Support
Three-Zone Automatic Climate Control
6-Speaker 215-watt Audio System
2 USB ports
Cloth Seats
3-Way Backup Camera
Dual Exposed Exhaust finishers
Black Bumper Skid Garnish
Gloss Black Grille Surround
Body-Colored Outside Mirrors
EX-L (2WD / AWD) adds or replaces Sport
Leather-Trimmed Seats
One-Touch Power Tilt and Slide Moonroof
Power Tailgate with Remote
Blind Spot Information
Cross-Traffic Alert
Heated Front Seats
4-Way Power Passenger Seat
Auto-Dimming Rear View Mirror
Driver’s Seat and Door Mirror Memory
Display Audio
CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration
Leather-Wrapped Steering Wheel
2nd Row Sun Shade
XM Satellite Radio
HomeLink®
Auto Up/Down Power Windows
Heated outside Mirrors
3 USB ports
HD Radio
Illuminated Sunvisors
3-Way Backup Camera with Dynamic Guidelines
Flat-black Bumper Skid Garnish, Grille, Door Sash Garnish, Tailgate Garnish
Body-Color Tailgate Spoiler
Body-Color Outside Mirrors
Touring (2WD / AWD) adds or replaces EXL
Navigation
4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot
Front and Rear Parking Sensors
LED Inline Hi/Lo-Beam
Heated Rear Seats
Roof Rails
Ambient Lighting
Power Tailgate with Remote and Handsfree Access
Premium Audio with 10 Speakers
Outside Mirrors with Integrated Turn Signals
AC Inverter (115V – 150W)
High Gloss Instrument Panel Trim
Acoustic Glass
265/45R20 Tires
Elite (AWD) adds or replaces Touring
Ventilated Front Seats
Auto-Dimming Side Mirrors
Heated Steering Wheel
Rain Sensing Front Wipers
Wireless Phone Charger
Power-Folding Outside Mirrors
Gloss Black Grille and Bar, Bumper Skid Garnish, Door Sash Garnish, Tailgate Garnish, Tailgate Spoiler
Body Color Outside Mirrors
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