2019 Honda Passport Is Here To Fill The Gap Between The CR-V And Pilot

Consumers can’t seem to get enough crossovers and Honda is happy to oblige as it has resurrected the Passport moniker on an all-new model which will slot in between the CR-V and Pilot.

Set to go on sale early next year, the 2019 Passport is larger and more rugged than the CR-V but sportier and more compact than the Pilot. As a result, the model promises to provide a unique blend of “on-road driving refinement and off-road adventure capability.”

Sporting a matte black grille that the echoes the Ridgeline, the Passport features a rugged exterior with black plastic body cladding, an increased ride height and standard 20-inch alloy wheels. The model also comes equipped with LED lighting units and a dual exhaust system with chrome tips.

Moving into the cabin, drivers will find a Pilot-like interior with a four-spoke steering wheel and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster. The Passport also features a tri-zone automatic climate control system and a six-speaker audio system with a 5-inch display.

Higher-end variants pack on the features as the mid-level Passport EX-L has heated leather seats, a moonroof and an 8-inch Display Audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility. The model also boasts power front seats, HomeLink and a rearview camera with dynamic guidelines.

Touring and Elite variants go even further as they have GPS navigation, ambient interior lighting and a ten-speaker premium audio system.  Other highlights include heated rear seats, gloss black interior trim and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot.

In terms of practicality, the Passport has best-in-class passenger room and total interior space. There’s 41.2 cubic feet (1,166 liters) of room behind the rear seats, but that can be expanded to 77.9 cubic feet (2,205 liters) when the seats are folded down at the push of a button. If that’s not enough room, there’s an additional 2.5 cubic feet (70.8 liters) of storage space underneath the rear floor.

Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 hp (208 kW / 283 PS) and 262 lb-ft (354 Nm) of torque. It is connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission which can be paired to an optional torque vectoring all-wheel drive system.

Since the Passport was designed to venture off-road, all models are equipped with an Intelligent Traction Management system which has normal, sand, snow and mud modes on all-wheel drive variants. Honda says the system helps to make the Passport “more capable off-road” than many other competing crossovers.

Speaking of capability, the Passport rides on Honda’s Global Light Truck platform and shares much of its underlying structure with the Pilot and Ridgeline. Thanks in part to this rugged construction, the Passport can tow up to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) when properly equipped.