Honda, as promised two years ago, has improved the capabilities of the Passport TrailSport crossover for off-road driving: the suspension has been reconfigured, “toothy” tires and bottom protection have been installed.
In the 90s of the last century, the name Passport was worn by a medium-sized Honda frame SUV, which was one of the numerous clones of the then Isuzu MU /Rodeo, and in 2018 this name was removed from the archive for a shortened 5-seater crossover based on the family Honda Pilot. The current Passport is offered exclusively in the North American market and is manufactured at the Honda plant in Lincoln (Alabama). In 2021, Passport underwent a facelift, at the same time Honda launched the TrailSport sub-brand for off-road versions of its models, it is aimed at combating Subaru’s Wilderness sub-brand with a similar purpose.
The first TrailSport nameplates and a special, off-road decor were tried on by the restyled Passport, but until now the Passport TrailSport did not differ from other versions in anything but decor, although Honda promised to supplement the model with some “iron” features later during its debut. And today, a full-fledged Passport TrailSport is presented, so to speak, relating to the 2024 model year. The main innovation is the reconfigured suspension: springs, shock absorbers and even lateral stability stabilizers are now better adapted for off—road driving. The front track is extended by 10 mm, the ground clearance is 206 mm, two—tone wheels of a special design are shod in General Grabber A/TX tires of dimension 245/60 R 18, and from the updated line of accessories, you can order extended bottom protection. In the new model year, Sky Blue Sky Blue has been added to the Passport TrailSport body color palette, like the car in the title photo.
Honda Passport TrailSport is only all-wheel drive, there is a proprietary i-VTM4 system with two individual power take-off couplings on the rear wheels. The i-VTM4 system has several off-road modes of operation, including driving on sand, snow, rocks and mud. The power unit is an uncontested 3.5—liter atmospheric V6 (284 hp, 355 Nm) paired with a 9-speed “automatic”.
All versions of the Honda Passport received a slightly updated interior by the 2024 model year, namely an expanded central tunnel with sides and a roomy central storage box-armrest (previously, each front seat had individual folding armrests). The shelf in front of the push-button selector of automatic transmission modes now accommodates two smartphones, wireless charging is integrated into it. The interior of the TrailSport version has orange stitching and all-season mats.
In addition, the top Elite configuration of the Passport crossover has been replaced by the Black Edition configuration, it is available not only in black, but also in red, gray and white, whose “blackness” in the name is justified by a darkened radiator grille, tinted headlights, black fittings, black 20-inch wheels and Black nameplates Edition.
The Honda Passport 2024 model year will go on sale before the end of the current calendar year, but prices have not yet been announced. In the first three quarters of 2023, Passport sold 33,347 copies in the United States, which is 8.5% more than it was sold in the first nine months of last year.
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