Honda Launches new Honda Passport, Expands Light-Truck Lineup

In an expansion of its award-winning light-truck lineup Honda is launching the new Honda Passport in early 2019.This is per an official company press release. The new model’s big reveal took place November 27─via YouTube─ with Henio Arcangeli Jr., Senior Vice President of American Honda, touting the model’s versatility.

What is Honda Passport?

So what is it exactly that the new Passport brings to the table?

We’re glad you asked.

Arcangeli described how the Passport will “attack a segment that Honda doesn’t currently compete in.” He then went on to describe the Passport as being bigger and more rugged than the CR-V and more personal and sporty than the family-focused Pilot.

“We believe that the new Passport delivers something unique, more off-road capable than soft-roaders in the segment, but with much better on-road dynamics than the off-road centric vehicles in the class, while still delivering a high level of rugged terrain and all-weather capability,” Arcangeli said.

Jay Joseph, Head of Honda’s Automobile Product Planning Team, added to Arcangeli’s introduction by stating that: “(Honda sees) Passport customers as people who are at a life stage where a more personal sized SUV suits their needs and they want the confidence of off-road and all-weather capability with the style, comfort, and refinement to handle their daily commute effortlessly.”

New Honda Passport Features

Honda is slated to offer the 2019 Passport in EX-L, Sport, Touring, and Elite trims (Car And Driver).

Here’s how the model’s key features break down.

Tech.

Some of the Passport’s Tech features include available Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and available Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System.

Interior

The Passport has plenty of room for adventure, including seating for five, ample cargo space w/ underfloor storage, and one-touch fold-down 60/40 Split Rear Seatback.

Exterior

Enthusiasts will relish the Passport’s athletic design + utility. These touchpoints are reflected in the model’s available Roof Rails and Gloss-Black Wheels as well as the wide range of Honda Genuine Accessories it puts at your disposal. Full-LED exterior lighting comes standard across all trims and there’s an interesting (exterior) color pallet that includes options like Deep Scarlet Pearl.

Performance + Engine:

Under the hood, the engine is a 3.5L V6 with 280 hp. AWD models use i-VTM4 Torque Vectoring which actively sends torque to the wheel or wheels that need it the most.

Intelligent Traction Management System offers snow, sand, and mud modes for optimal off-road handling.

Wondering how much can a Honda Passport tow? Its standard towing capacity is 3,500 lbs.; if you add the Accessory Tow Package to the Passport’s Touring trim you get a 5,000 lb. towing capacity. This means that you’ll be able to bring items like jet skis, dirt bikes, and certain types of trailers along for the ride.

What is Honda Sensing?

Have you heard about Honda Sensing? Standard on every Passport, Honda Sensing facilitates vigilance by alerting you to dangerous conditions that you might have otherwise overlooked.

With Honda Sensing, you can rest assured that smart tech is keeping an eye out for you.

This exclusive safety suite consists of:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS)
• Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM)
• Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC)
• Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS)
• Lane Departure Warning
• Forward Collision Warning

When will Honda Passport be available?

The 2019 Honda Passport is scheduled to become available in early 2019.

Be sure to keep in touch with Rairdon’s Honda of Marysville regarding your chance to get behind the wheel of a new Honda Passport.