Flash Drive

2019 Honda Passport

July 23, 2019 - Behind The Wheel - Comments: 

Model Tested: 2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite

The 2019 Honda Passport is an excellent highway cruiser with versatile off-road capabilities. Styling is conservative, but nice.

Engine:3.5-liter V-6, 280-horsepower 262 lb-ft torque

Transmission: 9-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel-drive

EPA Rating: 19-mpg city, 24-mpg highway, 21-mpg combined

Base Price: $43,680

As Tested: $44,725

Performance:

Strong V-6 engine

Peppy acceleration

Smooth transmission

The 2019 Honda Passport alloy wheels are handsome but hard to see with their black finish.

Pretty good fuel economy—our best was 23.4-mpg in mixed driving

Up to 5,000 pound towing capacity

Good on dirt trails, snow, and rainy roads

4×4 selector for Normal, Snow, Mud, Sand

No heavy-duty off-road features (e.g. locking differentials)

Very smooth highway ride

Excellent safety features

Comfort:

Very good front row legroom

Front row comfort, space, and features are excellent.

Under dashboard shoe space tight for passenger

Great headroom

Quality interior materials

Heated and cooled front seats with Elite trim

Heated outboard rear seats with Elite option

Driver power lumbar support

Medium thick leather steering wheel

Lots of good auxiliary controls on wheel

The rear seat is big enough for three adults although the center cushion is quite firm.

Excellent rear seat room

Adult can fit in middle position although cushion is semi-firm

Utility:

Ample cargo capacity

Full-length flat floor even over folded seats

Wide hatch opening

Outstanding under floor storage

Power tailgate, but opens a little low for tall people

Medium size locking glovebox

The 2019 Honda Passport’s cargo capacity is very good and enhanced by a totally flat floor.

Medium size front door bins

Large console bin with sliding cover

Big, sliding sun visors

Available rain sensing wipers

WOW Factors:

Totally flat cargo deck

Excellent, multi-bin under floor storage

Spacious seating front and rear

Very well balanced, multi-purpose SUV

Whines:

Still not crazy about odd multi-button gear shifter

The 2019 Honda Passport has a lot of bonus storage underneath the cargo deck.

Didn’t like the black finish on the otherwise handsome wheels

Bottom Line:

Honda brought back the Passport name as a 2019 model after a long absence. The 5-passenger midsize SUV is very well designed and executed. It’s essentially a 2-row Honda Pilot. We liked the Passport more and more every time we drove it. It’s new, but it quickly felt like an old friend.