The new Honda Passport, powered by a 285hp, 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine, gets a proper SUV look with its rugged off-road Trailsport variant.
16 Nov 2024 | 11419 Views | By Akbar Merchant, Autocar India
Honda has taken the wraps off the all-new fourth-generation Passport SUV globally. The new Honda Passport is slightly bigger with a more upright and tougher look compared to its predecessor. It even gets an off-road focused TrailSport variant which is indicative of Honda positioning it as a rugged go-anywhere SUV.
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Honda has taken the wraps off the all-new fourth-generation Passport SUV globally. The new Honda Passport is slightly bigger with a more upright and tougher look compared to its predecessor. It even gets an off-road focused TrailSport variant which is indicative of Honda positioning it as a rugged go-anywhere SUV.
The new Passport SUV ditches the crossover-like look of its predecessor for a more chiseled, upright design that gives it a proper SUV identity. The front-end looks boxy with large, rectangular-shaped headlamps, a flat clamshell hood with a wide hood scoop finished in contrasting black, and an upright grille with two slats, along with a large Honda logo in the center. There’s a wide air dam at the top of the front bumper, with a large skid plate below it, finished in faux aluminum.
On the sides, the simple yet rugged SUV look is carried over with slightly flared fenders, plastic cladding around the wheels arches and contrasting black door handles. Honda says the new Passport’s ground clearance is higher than that of the outgoing model, and thanks to a shorter front overhang, it has better approach angles for off-road capability. It has 18-inch alloy wheels with chunky 31-inch tyres. At the rear, it sports a wraparound windscreen, a black contrasting trim above the registration plate housing and a chunky bumper with a faux silver skid plate.
Honda Passport interior and features
The interior of the Passport is typically Honda with well laid out controls, physical dials and buttons and good ergonomics. The 5-seater SUV sports an all-black theme for the dashboard, while the seat upholstery and door pads get contrasting shades and stitching, depending on the variant.
Taking the centre stage on the dashboard is a 12.4-inch infotainment screen which even gets off-road specific information, and there's also an a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. Other features include dual-zone climate control, 360-degree camera and an ADAS suite.
Honda Passport powertrain and off-road gear
Under the hood, the Honda Passport comes with a 3.5-litre V6 petrol petrol engine, delivering a healthy 285hp, mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. This engine has been used in multiple Honda models globally and does not get any electrification. The rugged Trailsport off-road focused variant of the SUV gets a unique suspension setup tuned for off-road sorties.
The Passport SUV is aimed at the North American market only, which means it will not make it to India. For the Indian market, Honda is preparing to launch the new Amaze sedan on December 4, 2024.