We’re always intrigued by other vehicles, and the 2019 Honda Passport was one that got our attention. We couldn’t wait to test drive it and see how it does both as an everyday family vehicle and for family travel. This summer, we hit the road and drove to Oliver for a week of camping. Could the Passport fit everything we needed into it? How would it do on the drive through the mountains? Read on to find out!
WHAT IS THE HONDA PASSPORT?
The SUV category seems to always have room for one more. Room for something a little different. That’s exactly what Honda is presenting with the Passport. The Honda Passport is meant as a vehicle for adventure seekers who want off-roading capability in the vehicle they are driving. It fits between the 5 seater CR-V and the 7 seat Pilot. The Passport is 6.6 inches shorter than the Pilot. This equals a spacious 5 passenger vehicle!
The Passport has a 3.5-liter i-VTEC ® V6 engine. It is also a 9-speed automatic. Standard in every Passport is Honda’s torque-vectoring Intelligent
Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4™) all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Traction Management – with Snow, Mud and Sand modes. With it being summer when we test drove the Passport we didn’t have an opportunity to truly put this to the test, but we have been thankful in prior vehicles when it has this option to be able to select Snow, Mud, etc… Drivers can optimize the Passport’s performance based on terrain and weather conditions.
TECH INSIDE THE PASSPORT
Inside this vehicle includes the standard Honda Sensing ® suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies. All Passports come with a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera system. This is really appreciated when you’re trying to park in a tight space. Changing the camera angle is a huge help! There are also several premium technologies available on the Passport include in-vehicle Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay ® and Android Auto™ integration, an 8-inch Display Audio system, wireless phone charging and more.
This was the first time that we really put the Android Auto™ integration and wireless phone charging to use. Being able to connect a personal device and use different apps that you may prefer, such as different navigation apps, gives a sense of comfort and ease to the vehicle. Using a navigation option through Android Auto™ meant that I wasn’t anxious about the directions we were following. I also appreciated that I could easily charge my phone without a cable. I do however want to remind you that you should never be using your phone while driving a vehicle. You may also want to look into and have it clarified in your area if you are even allowed to use a wireless phone charging system as there have been some discrepancies about it. I digress… back to the Passport.
THE 2019 HONDA PASSPORT TOURING
There are three different trims for the Passport; Sport, EX-L, and Touring. We were test driving the Touring trim. up the ante with inline low-and high-beam LED headlights, wider 265/45R20 tires, a foot-activated hands-free access power liftgate, LED ambient lighting and embedded navigation. Touring trims also feature a premium audio system upgraded to 10 speakers (up from 7), while also gaining a handy AC power inverter (115v-150W). Additionally, Touring trims are distinguished by auto-dimming power-folding outside mirrors, acoustic glass on the front and rear doors, and unique 20-inch alloy wheels, ventilated front seats, wireless phone charger.
We were not expecting the Honda Passport to get our attention as much as it did. This is a more rugged-looking SUV from Honda and we really appreciate that. We would love to see Honda make it more sporty and in some ways less “techy”. When it comes to being on a bumpy road, we don’t want to worry about hitting the wrong button on a touch screen. More knobs and buttons would be greatly appreciated. As a family of 4, we instantly felt at home traveling in the Passport. We were able to fit the car seats in with ease and everyone had plenty of room. We could have a passenger even sit between the two car seats without being stabbed by a seat belt buckle!
ACCESSORIES TO CONSIDER
Since our road trip, we have also realized that there are a couple of accessories we will be looking at whenever we change our personal vehicle (we currently drive a Honda CRV). We fell in love with the roof box on the top of the car. This is a game-change for family travel. If you’ve ever been squished in a car on a family road trip, with stuff all around you and barely a hole to see out the back window, the roof box is a must. You can fit so much into one! I swear it was like Mary Poppin’s bag.
The utility package that is available for the Honda Passport has so many features we love. The fender flares add a unique, more rugged look to the Passport. Our kids loved the running boards which made getting in and out of the vehicle so much easier for them. We also can’t imagine having this vehicle without a protection package that contains all-season floor mats, cargo lining and more. Not having to worry about carpet getting dirty from a day out adventuring as a family is a must!
SO YOU NEED A FAMILY VEHICLE…
So you need a family vehicle, but you don’t want a large minivan and you don’t think you’ll need 7 seats like in larger SUVs. The Passport is a great, family-friendly option. It can feel luxurious and comfortable but also handle a family using it daily. A must for me in any vehicle is space. Can everyone fit comfortably and have legroom, especially if car seats are in the vehicle? This isn’t an issue in the Passport.
Fuel economy is equal to our current vehicle. We were averaging 11 L/100 KM. While this may not be considered the best out there, it would mean no change to our current fuel budget. This is, however, another area that I would appreciate Honda considering working on and seeing if it can be improved. Did I mention that there is more cargo space hidden under where the spare tire is stored? This is great to help prevent groceries from sliding everywhere. As a parent, I’m thankful for the number of safety features packed into the Honda Passport. There’s automatic emergency braking, collision warning, lane assist, back up cameras and more. Life happens, we all get it. Let Honda help, by acting as an extra set of eyes with all of these features. It even locks when you walk away from it with the fob in your hand. How many times have you walked away from your car with your keys in your pocket and your hands full leaving you unable to lock the car easily? Been there. Not an issue with the Passport.
GO CHECK OUT THE HONDA PASSPORT
If you are looking for a 5 seat SUV that could handle a little off-roading and a whole vehicle full of people and all their stuff, pop into Honda and take a look at the Passport. You just might be surprised! We sure were. Our kids keep asking “When can we get the red Passport back?”. Guess that’s a sign they approve too!
