Honda reintroduced the Passport nameplate in 2019; for 2022, the Honda Passport gets a slight makeover and an all-new TrailSport trim. The Passport shares its underpinnings with the Pilot, which is 6 inches longer than the Passport. The Passport does look a bit more rugged in standard trim, and it has an even more off-road look on the TrailSport trim.
But don’t let that fool you; the TrailSport trim is a styling upgrade. Don’t expect it to perform serious “mudding” or rock crawling. But then again, how many of these types of SUVs ever leave the paved road? The Passport is more than capable of what the average family will throw at it in the form of “off-roading,” which would be a camping trip or a trip to the cabin on somewhat rough roads that an average sedan can do. The only difference is that the Passport (and other SUVs/CUVs) will do it comfortably and at a higher speed.
Currently, the 2023 Honda Passport is offered in three trims: The Pilot Sport ($47,900), Passport TrailSport ($51,090), and Passport Touring ($53,790). The only options on these three trims are colors and accessories.
A 3.5-liter V6 engines power all three trims of the 2023 Honda Passport. The same engine is found on the Pilot and Ridgeline, producing 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 262 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm. Power is sent to all four wheels via a 9-speed automatic transmission. The Passport is rated at 5,000 pounds of towing capacity. All trims of the 2023 Honda Passport are rated at 12.5/9.8/11.3 liters/100 kilometers in city/highway/combined driving.
The V6 engine is more than capable of motivating the Passport. The engine and the 9-speed transmission are smooth and work well together. There’s more than enough power for city driving, and highway passing isn’t an issue. The suspension is soft, typical for a vehicle like this, giving the Passport an extremely comfortable ride. The suspension should also make going on gravel or rocky roads quite comfortable. Those trips to the cabin should be enjoyable and not tire out your body.
The minor styling update received by the 2022 Passport includes the following:
- More aggressive exterior design from the A-pillars forward
- Updated rear styling featuring a new bumper and larger exhaust finishers
- TrailSport edition features unique exterior and interior styling and standard intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4®) all-wheel drive system with true torque vectoring
- Standard Rear Seat Reminder and rear seatbelt reminder systems on all models
- Available HPD Edition for a sportier appearance
The pre-facelift Passport was a good-looking SUV; with the facelift, it does look slightly more aggressive, especially in the TrailSport trim. The Passport looks like a vehicle bought by outdoors adventuring families; whether that’s the case in sales numbers, I’m not sure.
The interior of the 2023 Passport TrailSport is identical to the pre-facelift version; the only difference I saw was the use of orange stitching on the leather seats and the steering wheel, which is a TrailSport exclusive. The interior is comfortable and quiet; there’s loads of room for the front passengers. The rear seats can be moved forward and backward and feature a flat floor reminiscent of an EV. The rear seats should comfortably fit people 6’+.
The interior is quiet and features a mix of soft-touch and hard plastics. It is a comfortable place to be in; it goes well with the soft suspension, making this a perfect vehicle for running around town or going on the above-mentioned camping trips.
Overall, I enjoyed my time with the 2023 Honda Passport. It’s a roomy vehicle, perfect for the family and all the “things” one must carry when they have kids. It’s extremely comfortable and looks quite good. It comes with a powerful, refined, and relatively fuel-efficient engine that can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Visit the Honda’s website for more information on the Passport and other Honda vehicles.
