There isn’t a good reason to choose the Honda Passport over the two better SUVs that Honda already makes—the smaller CR-V and the larger, three-row Pilot. We enjoyed the Passport’s plentiful power and roomy, two-row interior, but we were put off by its stiff ride, ponderous handling, and overall bland demeanor.
One of the Passport’s highlights is its potent-yet-refined V6 that churns out 280 horsepower. It makes the Passport a quick ticket, sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.4 seconds. Although the nine-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, it can hesitate before downshifting at low speeds—particularly annoying when trying to jump into a gap in traffic. Its 21 mpg overall in our testing is typical for the class.
Unlike the slightly larger Pilot, the Passport’s ride is overly stiff, transmitting a bit too many bumps and pavement irregularities to passengers. But the Passport is a relatively clumsy handler, in spite of its stiffer suspension. The steering feels vague, telegraphing little in the way of front-tire grip to the driver, and handling lacks the agility of competitors such as the Ford Edge.
Entering the Passport requires a hearty step up since it sits slightly taller than the Pilot. The cabin is wide and roomy, and thin windshield pillars and tall side glass make for mostly unobstructed views out. We like the generously padded door armrests and height-adjustable front-seat inner armrests. Handy storage nooks abound, including two front trays and a very large bin between the seats.
The front seats are flat and short on side bolstering, but are comfortable enough. The rear seat is similarly flat-yet-comfy, with the ability to slide fore and aft and recline the seatback. Although roomy, there isn’t actually all that much more space back there than in Honda’s smaller and less expensive CR-V.
Most controls are user-friendly enough, but we found the touch-screen infotainment system slow to start up when we turned on the Passport; the system is also bogged down by clumsy menus. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay—with their streamlined interfaces—help to overcome that problem. The push-button gear selector is awkward to operate until owners get used to it.
We like that all Passports come standard with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety systems that includes forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assistance, lane departure warning, blind spot warning and a multi-angle backup camera.
The Passport may not be exciting but it’s functional and comes with a lot of desirable features. It undercuts the pricing of comparably equipped competitors, particularly when factoring in how much it costs to get key advanced safety equipment.