2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite
All-new roomy 2019 Honda
Passport AWD Elite looks racy.
Price: $43,680
The all-new 2019 Honda Passport has nothing in common with the old
lackluster Honda Passport of the 1990s, which was just a rebadged Isuzu.
The new Passport is among the best mid-size SUVs. It’s offered in
various trim levels with front- or all-wheel drive and costs from
$31,990 for the best Sport model to $43,680 for the top-line Elite 4WD
model, which I tested.
My test Elite was a tough-looking customer. It had a black grille,
bumper and wheels and a gloss black exterior trim and a gloss black
tailgate spoiler. Wheels were 20-inch alloys that carried low-profile
45-series tires that gave the Elite a wider stance. At the rear were
twin chromed exhaust outlets about the size of classic film star Audrey
Hepburn’s throat. All very impressive, I must say.
Entering the Passport Elite calls for a rather high step up, but
occupants are rewarded with a high driving experience. There’s
plenty of room for four adults, but the center of the rear seat is too
stiff to allow comfortable seating for five. The front power heated and
ventilated front seats are supportive but the heated rear ones could
use more thigh support. Also, rear door openings are rather narrow.
The quiet, leather-trimmed interior has upscale materials and plenty of
storage areas, a start/stop button, deep console bin with a rolling
cover that can be used as a tray when closed and lots of storage
pockets. There also are easily read backlit gauges and features such as
a pushbutton start, tilt/telescopic wheel, tri-zone automatic climate
control, premium audio system with 10 speakers, Apple CarPlay and
Android Auto integration, wireless phone charger, multi-view rear
camera and conveniently placed front cupholders. Even each rear door
has dual cupholders, and there’s a latch system for child
seats.
However, the console-mounted push-button gear selector was tricky to
use if I was in a hurry, and I wasn’t crazy about using the
infotainment system.
Exterior features include a power moonroof with a tilt feature and
cover and heated power-folding door mirrors with turn
indicators,
The hands-free access power tailgate has a wide but rather high
opening. It opens automatically to show a large, fully carpeted
cargo area, which can be greatly increased by flipping the split 60/40
rear setbacks forward.
The Passport is fast (0-60 in 5.6 seconds) with its smooth 3.5-liter
V-6, which Honda has tuned for more responsiveness. It delivers 280
horsepower and has a variable cylinder management feature that lets it
run on just three cylinders when the vehicle is loafing. You’ll
probably never know it, though. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds.
However, since it weighs more than 4,000 pounds with its sophisticated
torque vectoring AWD system, the Passport Elite’s estimated fuel
economy is just so-so: an estimated 19 miles per gallon in the city and
24 on highways. However, the engine also has a fuel-saving “idle
stop” feature that shuts it off if you’re just, say,
sitting in traffic for awhile. It’s a quick-acting feature
that’s not annoying.
The engine works with a 9-speed automatic transmission that shifts
smoothly in regular Drive mode and has a quick-acting manual feature
via steering wheel paddle shifters. Putting the transmission in Sport
mode causes aggressive shift mapping that results in higher engine rpm
for greater acceleration and responsiveness.
My test Passport rode with impressive smoothness and braked with
authority during normal stops. It handled nicely, with quick, but
rather light, power steering, although it had a little too much body
sway when taking winding on-off freeway curves—despite vehicle
stability assist, “intelligent” traction management and the
big wheels and tires. It’s also no off-road champ.
Impressive safety features include adaptive cruise control, a
blind-spot information system with cross-traffic monitor, a collision
mitigation braking system, forward collision warning, lane departure
warning, lane-keeping assist system and road departure mitigation.
There also are plenty of air bags, including side curtain ones.
Despite lots of competition in a growing market segment, the new Honda
Passport should be able to more than hold its own.
