#HONDA PASSPORT TOURING DRIVERS#

In an attempt to mitigate body roll and introduce better dynamics, Honda equipped the Passport with a clever torque vectoring system, and I don’t mean the brake-based kind.

When let go, the wheel will quickly spring back to a neutral position, much like the hydraulic steering racks of yore. The steering carries a vague on-center feel but it’s light and precise, offering a decent amount of rotational resistance. Of note, there are four driving modes to choose from: normal, snow, sand, and mud, each of which alters the throttle sensitivity, gearbox mapping, torque vectoring, and stability control for a more versatile attitude towards all-terrain driving, and the cartoonish graphics that are displayed when scrolling through the modes is an amusing Japanese touch. It’s not nearly as fun as a Mazda CX-9 when wrestling along sinuous roads, and the Passport is surprisingly not as well-damped or comfortable either, ensuring every passenger feels the larger bumps and oscillations on the road. The Passport drives as expected: a smaller Pilot with a firmer suspension to balance out the decapitated rear end. Furthermore, the Passport accelerates quicker from 0-100 km/h than the Chevrolet Blazer RS, Ford Edge Sport, and Toyota 4Runner.

#HONDA PASSPORT TOURING DRIVERS#

There’s a proportional relationship between the gas pedal and forward thrust, a welcome benefit for beginner drivers and purists alike. Lacking that low-end boost from a turbocharged unit, the tradeoff is the Passport’s more linear and predictable power delivery. There is good power from the V6 but most of it lives on the right side of the needle, so revving its lungs out will be necessary to juice out all the pulp. The Honda Passport only comes with a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated V6 delivering 280 hp and 262 lb-ft through a 9-speed automatic transmission to all four wheels. The simplistic design and polish found in the new Civic and CR-V are absent here, but the tactile buttons, clear-to-read gauges, and wealth of storage space strengthen its authenticity as a genuine SUV that isn’t playing dress up. Every time we get behind the wheel of one, we grow fonder of its minivan-like adjustable armrests, enormous center console cubby that can swallow up our SLR cameras, and spacious rear seat accommodations with a second row that can fold flat for a completely level cargo surface.īut for a 2023 model, the Passport is beginning to show its age with a litany of scratchy black plastics and inexpensive feeling leather, especially when you take a gander at what the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride are offering for the same price.

The new Pilot shows off an even more modern front fascia which mimics that of the new CR-V, which we might see on the Passport in the next year or two.įor those who need more room than a CR-V but not quite the size of a Pilot or a three-row SUV, the Passport is an ideal choice. It soldiers on into 2023 with the same facelift from 2022, which added a softer front end that falls in line with the Ridgeline. The Honda Passport has held up nicely since its debut in 2019, and is still one of our most highly recommended mid-size SUVs for its honest driving style, handsome looks, and excellent ergonomics.

Honda passport touring