2022 Honda Passport
Families love the Honda Pilot. It is an accommodating SUV that dopes a great job pulling its own weight, while making each drive a comfortable one.
Any discussion of its shorter, more agile two-row companion – the Honda Passport – cannot be told without referencing its three-row sibling. They were developed from each other and are produced in the same assembly plant in Alabama.
Which brings up the question whether you can live without the Pilot’s third row and get a Passport instead.
Before we answer that question, we have to admit that the updates on the 2022 Passport made it stand out more than its larger sibling. The new front end is from the Ridgeline pickup truck, which gives the Passport some personality. The profile remains the same: A shorter roofline that is almost upright, large opening doors, and a very large liftgate.
Our TrailSport tester adds more rugged details that invites you to go play. The 18-inch alloy wheels wear knobby tires for potential adventure. Beyond the TrailSport badges is a specific grille with additional cladding and trim.
Once inside the Passport, you are treated to a set of huge leather-trimmed front seats that are both comfortable and supportive. The orange contrast stitching also makes these seats attractive to all occupants. There is a lot of room between the two rows of seats for four adults or a family of five.
For 2022, Honda updated the instrument cluster screen with new graphics that are easier to read. On each side is the tachometer, fuel and temperature gauges. In the middle is a TFT screen for vehicle, trip and fuel economy readouts. The infotainment touchscreen, along with the climate and audio controls, command the center stack. The main center console offers a few controls, including a series of buttons for the nine-speed automatic transmission.
Cargo space is expansive. It starts with a sizeable 41,2 cubic feet behind the second row. Once you fold down the rear seats row, and that increases to a generous 77.7cubic feet.
This Passport was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 with 280 horsepower on tap. We love how relaxed this engine runs. No drama, no fuss, and no hesitation whatsoever. A nine-speed automatic is connected to it, along with a solid all-wheel drive system. The Environmental Protection Agency rates this Passport model at 19 MPG in the City, 24 MPG on the Highway.
In terms of ride quality, it is smooth on many surfaces. In wet driving, there was no noise from the knobby tires, as it handled the road nicely. Handling and cornering are on the soft side, with some controlled roll through the turns.
Steering is pretty good with solid on-center feel and decent response from the wheel. The turning radius is average, though a few more turns would be in order in tighter areas. Brakes are fine, with solid pedal action and average stops in normal and panic situations.
Pricing for the 2022 Honda Passport starts at $37,780. Our TrailSport all-wheel-drive tester came with a sticker price of $44,994.
The Honda Passport is not an outlier within the SUV genre. It competes against some two-row models that can match its tremendous space and utility – some offering up equal amount of capability as in the TrailSport. have compared the Pilot to the Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Edge, Jeep Cherokee, Toyota Venza, Nissan Murano, Mazda CX-50, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, and GMC Acadia. TrailSport customers may also want to add the Subaru Forester Wilderness to their shopping list.
Honda delivered on another wonderful SUV. The Passport offers adult room and honest cargo space made for adventure. The TrailSport model is exactly what Honda needed to raise the profile of this two-row SUV. In all, it is a great combination for future exploration!
Story Credits: CarSoup Editors
