2019 Honda Passport SUV
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2019 Honda Passport SUV
Honda revives the Passport name for its new SUV
The plan is for this SUV to slot in between the CR-V and Pilot. Like the Pilot, it has a unibody frame (Honda actually says the Passport and Pilot are pretty much the same underneath) and comes with Honda's 3.5-liter V6 engine making 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This will be paired exclusively with Honda's nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive will be standard, but all-wheel drive with Honda's i-VTM4 torque vectoring is available on all trims. This system is pulled from the Pilot and Ridgeline. Honda claims this gives the Passport greater off-road ability, akin to more off-road-focused body-on-frame SUVs (we'll be the judge of that). Since it shares so much with the larger trucks it's based off of, the Passport also gets respectable towing ratings. If you opt for all-wheel drive, you're able to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Passport rides an inch higher than the Pilot too, giving even more credence to its utilitarian slant.
What the new Passport resembles is a stubbier and sharper Pilot. There's no doubt the two share a similar design language, but the Passport looks far more off-road oriented. A floating roof design, spoiler and black strip along the tailgate might be the most distinctive design choices on Honda's latest SUV. A matte black grille and 20-inch wheels adorn all Passports as well. It all combines to make for what looks like a pretty normal SUV that doesn't take many chances in styling.
Honda claims it has more passenger space than any other vehicle in its class, and it has a pretty large underfloor storage spot, too. Everything is par for the course on the interior as far as tech goes. The center stack looks like it was ripped straight from a Ridgeline with only a few differences. An eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comes standard with every trim EX-L and above. Touring and Elite models get a 590-watt 10-speaker audio system, too. If you were wondering about the presence of a volume ****, don't worry. Honda decided to stick one on the dash. Like the new Accord, the full suite of Honda Sensing driver assistance systems is standard. Also standard is a top-view camera for trailer hookups, since Honda seems to want people to use this car for adventuring purposes.
A bunch of Honda accessories are going to be released alongside the Passport, including roof boxes, roof racks, a colored graphics package and undercarriage welcome lights. Depending on how you plan to use your Passport, Honda is offering both an Adventure and Urban package. For Adventure you'll get running boards and a trailer hitch, while the Urban gets front and rear underbody spoilers, unique 20-inch wheels and special roof rails for what Honda calls an "in-town look."
Four trim levels will be available at launch, with the top being Elite. The high-zoot Passport comes equipped like a luxury car, with plenty of add-ons such as heated/cooled front seats, a wireless phone charger and a blacked-out appearance package. We don't have pricing, but the Passport is set to go on sale as a 2019 model early next year.
What the new Passport resembles is a stubbier and sharper Pilot. There's no doubt the two share a similar design language, but the Passport looks far more off-road oriented. A floating roof design, spoiler and black strip along the tailgate might be the most distinctive design choices on Honda's latest SUV. A matte black grille and 20-inch wheels adorn all Passports as well. It all combines to make for what looks like a pretty normal SUV that doesn't take many chances in styling.
Honda claims it has more passenger space than any other vehicle in its class, and it has a pretty large underfloor storage spot, too. Everything is par for the course on the interior as far as tech goes. The center stack looks like it was ripped straight from a Ridgeline with only a few differences. An eight-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto comes standard with every trim EX-L and above. Touring and Elite models get a 590-watt 10-speaker audio system, too. If you were wondering about the presence of a volume ****, don't worry. Honda decided to stick one on the dash. Like the new Accord, the full suite of Honda Sensing driver assistance systems is standard. Also standard is a top-view camera for trailer hookups, since Honda seems to want people to use this car for adventuring purposes.
A bunch of Honda accessories are going to be released alongside the Passport, including roof boxes, roof racks, a colored graphics package and undercarriage welcome lights. Depending on how you plan to use your Passport, Honda is offering both an Adventure and Urban package. For Adventure you'll get running boards and a trailer hitch, while the Urban gets front and rear underbody spoilers, unique 20-inch wheels and special roof rails for what Honda calls an "in-town look."
Four trim levels will be available at launch, with the top being Elite. The high-zoot Passport comes equipped like a luxury car, with plenty of add-ons such as heated/cooled front seats, a wireless phone charger and a blacked-out appearance package. We don't have pricing, but the Passport is set to go on sale as a 2019 model early next year.
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Why dig up an old name from the 1990s?....especially since that Passport was, in fact, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. Honda did not design and sell any SUVs of its own design until the 1997 CR-V. This is the old Passport:
Chevy's doing the same thing with the Blazer.....digging up a 25-year-old name and slapping it on what is a totally different type of SUV.
Chevy's doing the same thing with the Blazer.....digging up a 25-year-old name and slapping it on what is a totally different type of SUV.
Last edited by bitkahuna; Nov 30, 2018 at 09:30 AM.
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Why dig up an old name from the 1990s?....especially since that Passport was, in fact, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. Honda did not design and sell any SUVs of its own design until the 1997 CR-V. This is the old Passport:
Chevy's doing the same thing with the Blazer.....digging up a 25-year-old name and slapping it on what is a totally different type of SUV.
Chevy's doing the same thing with the Blazer.....digging up a 25-year-old name and slapping it on what is a totally different type of SUV.
Last edited by bitkahuna; Nov 30, 2018 at 09:31 AM.
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As to why Honda dragged out the old name... The cynical answer is that Honda still owns the rights to the name, and automakers have a habit of digging in the vaults to bring back old names, like Aspen, Zephyr. I myself am waiting for the return of Volare.
Last edited by bitkahuna; Nov 30, 2018 at 09:31 AM.
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In return for those two SUVs, Honda gave Isuzu permission to use the Civic sedan (rebadge) to sell as the Japanese-Home-Market Isuzu I-Mark sedan.
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The image is OK on my computer...not sure about yours.
I'll post a different one...see if you get it now.
Well, if you really want to dig into those old names, both Aspen and Zephyr have already been used twice. The original 1940 Lincoln had a Zephyr version, and the name was briefly brought back on the upmarket (Lincoln) version of the Ford Fusion, before it was changed to MKZ. The original Dodge Aspen sedan/wagon, of course, replaced the old Dodge Dart in the mid-70s, and the Aspen name was later brought back for an upmarket (Chrysler) version of the Dodge Durango SUV.
I'll post a different one...see if you get it now.
As to why Honda dragged out the old name... The cynical answer is that Honda still owns the rights to the name, and automakers have a habit of digging in the vaults to bring back old names, like Aspen, Zephyr. I myself am waiting for the return of Volare.
Well, if you really want to dig into those old names, both Aspen and Zephyr have already been used twice. The original 1940 Lincoln had a Zephyr version, and the name was briefly brought back on the upmarket (Lincoln) version of the Ford Fusion, before it was changed to MKZ. The original Dodge Aspen sedan/wagon, of course, replaced the old Dodge Dart in the mid-70s, and the Aspen name was later brought back for an upmarket (Chrysler) version of the Dodge Durango SUV.
Not sure how I feel about all the articles marketing this as some kind of offroading vehicle. If they were serious they would implement something similar to a 4Runner/Wrangler formula.
Nobody in their right mind is going to wheel that. What makes this more offroad worthy than an MDX or a CRV? A torque vectoring diff is going to do jack sht when you're still riding on what's basically a minivan chassis with IFS and IRS, rubber band tires and huge wheels.
Nobody in their right mind is going to wheel that. What makes this more offroad worthy than an MDX or a CRV? A torque vectoring diff is going to do jack sht when you're still riding on what's basically a minivan chassis with IFS and IRS, rubber band tires and huge wheels.
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Not sure how I feel about all the articles marketing this as some kind of offroading vehicle. If they were serious they would implement something similar to a 4Runner/Wrangler formula.
Nobody in their right mind is going to wheel that. What makes this more offroad worthy than an MDX or a CRV? A torque vectoring diff is going to do jack sht when you're still riding on what's basically a minivan chassis with IFS and IRS, rubber band tires and huge wheels.
Nobody in their right mind is going to wheel that. What makes this more offroad worthy than an MDX or a CRV? A torque vectoring diff is going to do jack sht when you're still riding on what's basically a minivan chassis with IFS and IRS, rubber band tires and huge wheels.
Also, while it is not mandatory, the best off-roaders have generally had body-on-frame design, not unibody, though a few unibody designs have also been successful.
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99.9999% of the buying population will have no idea Honda once had a vehicle named Passport. The original one sold so poorly, it never made a name for itself nor left any sort of impression. It was also a long time ago, not like three years ago. Only a car person will know there was once a Passport, which is a tiny tiny % of Americana. Fine move by Honda, and a name that fits in well with the rest of the Honda family of SUV's.
As far as this new SUV, I'd call it a medium to weak offering. Styling is quite dated all around and nothing too interesting. All the black trim is cheap and unoriginal. Front is right off the Passport/Odyssey, so no points there. Dash is from the Pilot, which is clean and modern. Lack of gear shift lever and a place to rest one's hand is a negative.
I'm sure this will sell well. Main reason will be because it is a Honda, not because it over-achieves or stands up or out.
As far as this new SUV, I'd call it a medium to weak offering. Styling is quite dated all around and nothing too interesting. All the black trim is cheap and unoriginal. Front is right off the Passport/Odyssey, so no points there. Dash is from the Pilot, which is clean and modern. Lack of gear shift lever and a place to rest one's hand is a negative.
I'm sure this will sell well. Main reason will be because it is a Honda, not because it over-achieves or stands up or out.
Lead Lap
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Names like Passport, Aviator and Blazer are fine to use, as Fizzboy stated, enough time has passed that most people likely don't recall specifics about the old product and how competitive (or not) they might have been. Yet, there is some familiarity and awareness, and that's great to start from, rather than trying to have to establish a whole new name.
Of course, then they forgo the ability to call something "The first ever __________" Like Cadillac seems to be milking. The First Ever XT5, even though all car people knew it was essentially the new SRX.
Of course, then they forgo the ability to call something "The first ever __________" Like Cadillac seems to be milking. The First Ever XT5, even though all car people knew it was essentially the new SRX.
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Honda, at that time, actually sold two rebadged body-on-frame Isuzu products, the Rodeo (Passport) and the Acura SLX (Isuzu Trooper). The SLX was one of those SUVs panned by Consumer Reports for a bad case of the tipsies.
In return for those two SUVs, Honda gave Isuzu permission to use the Civic sedan (rebadge) to sell as the Japanese-Home-Market Isuzu I-Mark sedan.
99.9999% of the buying population will have no idea Honda once had a vehicle named Passport. The original one sold so poorly, it never made a name for itself nor left any sort of impression. It was also a long time ago, not like three years ago. Only a car person will know there was once a Passport, which is a tiny tiny % of Americana. Fine move by Honda, and a name that fits in well with the rest of the Honda family of SUV's.
Ok--since we are walking down Memory Lane, if anyone watched the "reality" show Parking Wars, there was an episode where someone was at the Philadelphia Parking Authority impound lot to pick up his Honda Passport, and the PPA could not locate it, and kept saying it wasn't there. Spoiler alert--the PPA listed it in their records as an Isuzu Rodeo.
Reruns are on FYI Network. Set your DVR....