2024 Honda Passport

To those buyers who want a midsize SUV but don’t need three rows of seating, we say check out the Passport. It provides safe and efficient family transport, while offering a lot of passenger and cargo space. Our consumer reviews have similar positive observations.

Just one thing to bear in mind — although the Passport is based on a Pilot platform, it’s not the latest generation of Pilot. Honda launched a new wave of the ever-popular 3-row SUV last year. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Traffic Jam Assist are available on most Honda models at this point, and we missed them when testing the 2024 Passport. Even so, there are still plenty of pages left in the current Passport for travelers to stamp, whether those journeys are suburban sorties, longer road trips, or even excursions onto unpaved trails.

We’ve spent hundreds of hours driving and evaluating this generation of midsize SUVs, including the Honda Passport.

Honda brings the TrailSport trim closer to that of its Pilot stablemate, with a more specialized off-road suspension, all-terrain tires, and extra body protection. A new Black Edition becomes the top trim level, replacing last year’s Elite version. The center console has been redesigned to create more storage space. And Honda now offers aftermarket packages to enhance the Passport’s off-road abilities.

Most midsize SUVs come with three rows of seating, like the Honda Pilot, so the Passport competes in a smaller arena. This includes the Jeep Grand Cherokee (starting in the low 40s) and the Chevrolet Blazer (priced from the low 40s with comparable equipment). The updated-for-2024 Toyota 4Runner has two rows of seating in its basic form and starts at $40,445. A little more food for thought, the Pilot starts in the high 30s and the compact Honda CR-V comes in at $29.5K.

Before buying a new Passport midsize SUV, check the Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price to know what you should be paying. Like every other Honda vehicle, the Passport’s resale values are above average.

A standard 3.5-liter V6 propels the Honda Passport with 280 horsepower. That makes it capable of accelerating from standstill to 60 mph in just over six seconds. Acceptably fast for the class and probably better than the Hyundai Santa Fe (277 horsepower) and Toyota 4Runner (270 horsepower).

We enjoy driving the Honda Passport. Chances are most people will feel the same. Honda’s V6 engines are smooth yet strong, the steering is light yet precise, and the ride quality is comfortable yet contained. Honda does this efficient and effective stuff extremely well. This is everything anyone could reasonably demand from a midsize SUV.

Ground clearance is 8.1 inches — almost an inch higher than the Pilot and about the same as its rivals. Improvements to the TrailSport version make the Passport more capable over tricky terrain than last year.

Fuel Economy

Regardless of trim level, the 2024 Passport achieves 21 mpg in combined city/highway driving. For comparison, the 4Runner manages 17 mpg combined.

At just under 16 feet long, the 2-row Passport is 10 inches shorter than the 3-row Pilot, yet it still has plenty of room for occupants and cargo. Some people may be happy to forgo seating for seven to gain the luxury of space.

It’s a Honda, so build quality is good and the materials are all perfectly acceptable. The doors open nice and wide, and there are plenty of stowage areas, including a large cubby in the redesigned center console that can take a full-size tablet. This unit also has integrated armrests, plus a larger wireless charging tray that can accommodate two large phones alongside each other. The revised-for-2024 TrailSport has orange contrast stitching. The new Black Edition sports red contrast stitching.

With 39.6 inches of rear legroom, adults can sit in the back and not feel cramped. Cargo space runs from a massive 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats to 77.7 cubic feet when those seats are folded — pretty much as good as it gets for this class. The Passport easily swallowed one editor’s mountain bike, a feat made even easier with buttons in the cargo area that collapse the rear seatbacks.

We like the endearingly chunky styling of the Passport. It certainly looks like it can handle rugged terrain, and the newly improved TrailSport trim boasts raised suspension, all-terrain tires, body cladding, and real steel skid plates to protect the underbody. The Passport TrailSport also gains the trim-exclusive color option of Diffused Sky Blue. The Black Edition is available in Sonic Gray, Platinum White, Radiant Red, and (of course) Crystal Black Pearl.

Infotainment system
Every new Passport SUV comes with an 8-inch touchscreen, satellite radio, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto phone integration. Wi-Fi is only available in the top Black Edition trim, however.

All-wheel drive
Standard across the Passport lineup, this system includes settings for Snow, Sand, and Mud — adjusting things like traction control, throttle response and gear change points to suit the conditions.

Leather
The L in EX-L means leather seating surfaces, plus a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It’s uncommon for the most affordable trim to be so well appointed. Equip a rival to the same specs and the differences in pricing are minimal.

Wireless charging
Yet another standard feature in the Passport 2-row midsize SUV, allowing occupants to charge their phones without having to plug in a cable.

Smart Entry with Walk Away Auto Lock
This system detects the key’s proximity and unlocks or locks the Passport automatically, great for those “I can’t remember clicking the button” moments. It’s standard throughout.

Powered tailgate
Hands-free operation doesn’t come in until the top Black Edition version, but just having a powered tailgate feels quite luxurious for the two lower trims.

The 2024 Passport’s 3.5-liter V6 produces 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This goes to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission. Maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds, which is typical for midsize SUVs and strong enough to pull a trailer carrying a couple of dirt bikes.

3-Year/36,000-Mile Warranty

Honda’s new-vehicle warranty lasts three years or 36,000 miles, whichever happens first. Powertrains are covered for five years or 60,000 miles. These arrangements are usual for the class, although Hyundai and Kia have better terms. Honda also includes free scheduled maintenance for the first two years or 24,000 miles.

Safety Ratings

This generation of Passport has earned a maximum 5-Star overall score from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Its scores from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are a mixed bag of Good, Marginal, and Acceptable. Standard safety features include forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, plus blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert.