2024 Honda Passport EX-L Redesign, Dimensions, AWD – The 2024 Honda Passport is highly functional due to its spacious cabin and accommodating luggage area. The Passport is delightfully adequate in many places, yet those who need more than two rows of seats may wish to consider the three-row Honda Pilot, the Passport’s first cousin. Every one of our models comes standard with advanced driver aid features, including cruise control with stop and go functionality and lane departure warnings. The sole source of propulsion is a robust V-6 engine, which is not very efficient but delivers measured acceleration. The 2024 Passport isn’t the most fun car to drive, and the ride may be bumpy at times, but it does an excellent job of transporting a family and their belongings, so it made our Editors’ Choice list.
This year (2024), Honda will fix one of our major gripes with the Passport: its bland exterior. With its new chunkier grille and more squared-off profile, as well as its more rugged-looking front and rear bumpers, the vehicle’s front fascia is much more assertive. When equipped with its unique 18-inch wheel and tire set, the new TrailSport model gives off an even more rugged, off-road impression. Honda claims the vehicle’s enhanced stability results from its slightly broader front and rear tracks. Subtle changes were made to the remainder of the range, such as making a rear-seat reminder standard and adding contrast stitching to the leather upholstery in the EX-L model. The Honda Performance Development (HDP) package, previously only available for the Ridgeline, is now available for the Passport. It has a unique grille, black fender flares, specific wheels, and an HDP graphic on the back fenders.
2024 Honda Passport Redesign
The exterior design of the Passport SUV has always been understated, but that hasn’t stopped it from being competitive with other SUVs in its class and is mostly unremarkable. The redesigned aggressive front end, revised grille, bumpers, and power-bulge hood seen on this year’s models are well-appreciated upgrades. The bumpers have been modified as well as a giant exhaust finisher. Even the most basic trim includes automatic LED headlights, rear privacy glass, a dual-exit exhaust, LED brake lights, and an intelligent programmable remote. Except for the new TrailSport, which has off-road-oriented two-tone 18-inch alloy wheels with beefy 245/60R18 tires, all versions ride on a pair of 20-inch split-spoke alloy wheels. “Passport” and “AWD” are black, whereas “TrailSport” is orange on the TrailSport. All models have a power moonroof that can be opened at a button, automatic locking doors when you step away, memory-linked side mirrors, and a power liftgate. In particular, the Elite model benefits from a hands-free tailgate. TrailSport and the Elite include roof rails; all models come standard with parking sensors.
The Honda Passport is a midsize sport utility vehicle (SUV) that, at first glance, appears even more significant than rivals like the Chevrolet Blazer and Subaru Outback. The Passport’s overall length is 190.5 inches, and its wheelbase is 111 inches. It has a commanding appearance owing to its width of 78.6 inches and height of 71.6 inches; in AWD form, this is accentuated by an additional 0.6 inches. Except for the TrailSport AWD, which has 67.1-inch front and rear tracks, all other models’ front and back channels measure 67 inches. Its starting weight ranges from 4,057 to 4,236 pounds (FWD/AWD). The Elite, the largest and heaviest of the bunch, is available solely with all-wheel drive and has a curb weight of 4,262 pounds. The FWD and AWD vehicles have decent ground clearance of 7.5 and 8.1 inches, respectively. Approach and departure angles for FWD vehicles are 20 and 23.4 degrees, while those for AWD vehicles are 21 and 24.3 degrees, respectively.
The 2024 Honda Passport offers a gentle variety of exterior color options to complement its appearance. Crystal Black Pearl, Lunar Silver Metallic, Obsidian Blue Pearl, and the three $395 premium colors—Radiant Red Metallic, Sonic Gray Pearl, and Platinum White Pearl—are available on the primary and Elite versions. While Lunar Silver Metallic is a safe option for daily commuting, the bolder among you can choose the Radiant Red. Unfortunately, Obsidian Blue is no longer available for the TrailSport.
Interior
To bridge the gap between the compact CR-V and the roomier three-row Pilot, Honda offers the midsize Passport. The Passport has proven to be a popular option for customers shopping for a newer SUV with a sleek exterior and a comfortable interior. At long last, in 2024, Honda decided to update the Passport with critical improvements. The 2024 Passport has a new look on the outside, a standard 8-inch multimedia display that comes in more colors, redesigned leather seats with contrast stitching, and a new exterior trim called Off-Road TrailSport.
There is a leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel and an adaptable digital instrument cluster in the driver’s compartment. Seating for five is included in the 2024 Passport. There are heated front bucket seats in the front row. The driver’s seat has ten power adjustments, including lumbar. Leather seats are standard on the EX-L, with orange stitching on the more expensive TrailSport. Seats in the premium Elite trim level are upholstered in perforated leather. There is plenty of space and comfort in both the front and back seats. The inside is pleasant for the most part, but the firmer suspension may cause some jolts now and again. The cabin is quiet, and all models have standard automatic temperature control for three zones.
Engine
The same 3.5-liter V-6 engine producing 280 horsepower and the same nine-speed automated transmission is under the hood as in the Pilot. The Passport comes standard with front-wheel drive, but all-wheel drive is an upgrade for those who need it. The Passport has a towing capacity of 5000 pounds and a ground clearance of 7.5 inches (or 8.1 inches for all-wheel-drive variants). Even when driven on paved roads, the two-row Honda’s ride quality is poor, and its high ride height gives it a top-heavy appearance. The Passport provides a pleasant driving experience on most highways, and its straight-ahead steering contributes to its agile character. Our testing revealed a rapid 0-60 mph time of 6.0 seconds for the Passport, which continues to accelerate reliably when driving on the open road.
The Passport has one engine option and two EPA ratings because of its availability with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The front-wheel drive version can achieve up to 20 mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the interstate. The EPA estimates 19 cities and 24 highway mpg for a Passport with all-wheel drive. In our comprehensive testing program, we used a fuel-economy route at 75 mph and found that the latter vehicle achieved three mpg better than its highway rating. See the EPA’s website for more information about the Passport’s fuel economy.
2024 Honda Passport Release Date and Price
The price of the Honda Passport differs widely between trim levels, and there’s certainly something to fit every budget. Starting with the FWD 2024 Honda Passport EX-L, its MSRP is $37,870, without tax, registration, and a destination cost of $1,225. Adding all-wheel drive will cost an additional $2,100. Next comes the $42,470 TrailSport, 4WD exclusively, and then the $45,430 Elite. When fully loaded, the Elite will be very close to $50k. The good news is that a gently used 2021 model may be found for sale at a price that is far lower than the base price of a brand new Honda Passport. In May of 2024, Honda will unveil the next-generation 2024 Passport.