2024 Honda Passport TrailSport Review: Passport for Adventure

The next vehicle in the TrailSport family for me to review was the 2024 Passport. The Radiant Red Metallic was such a pop of color with black and gray pewter accents. The Passport has a mix of angular and rounded styling that gives it a soften aggressive style to it. The thick 5-spoke wheel design gives it a strong design but I was wishing the Passport sat about an inch higher.
Getting in, the Passport was a simple but effective design. I did start to miss some of the things that the bigger and updated Pilot had to offer. One of the first things I missed were the double and larger Pilot cup holder compared to the single smaller Passport cup holders. The infotainment screen’s angle was something I didn’t like since it pointed straight up to the sunroof causing a glare. The lack of wireless Apple CarPlay required that I had 3 different cables for my wife and I to connect and charge simultaneously. Don’t get me wrong, these are minor nitpicks since the Passport is otherwise perfect for my needs. I point these out since I’ve experienced what Honda is capable of doing when the Passport gets a refresh or new generation based on the Pilot’s changes.
Under the hood, the naturally aspirated 3.5L V6 outputs 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque. I was surprised to learn that the Passport had a 5,000 lb. towing capacity which should be enough for me to tow my personal Miata. Of course the winner of the drivetrain is the i-VTM4 AWD system that is more proactive than reactive to power distribution. It made driving on unpaved roads extremely stable and distributed the power when I drove on muddy roads.
Will this be my next vehicle? My answer would be yes but not now. That’s because I was able to see what Honda did with the Pilot refresh and if the upgrades trickle down to the Passport, I will be adding that to my driveway.

[@ak4939]

I have this 2024 Passport Trailsport, and one of the other cars you reviewed, which is the Mercedes E450 All-Terrain Wagon. I love the Passport for its boxy rear hatch area, which is *considerably* taller than the new Pilot, making the rear hatch area more practical than the new Pilot, for taller articles. For instance, a 30" tall full-size dog crate, will not. fit in the new Pilot, but can easily be accomodated in this 2024 Passport. Love that.

[@Revmatchmedia]

Two great vehicle choices! We were thinking of getting a passport ourselves and the rear space was nice with use having a big dog.

[@ak4939]

@@Revmatchmedia absolutely. I took a tape measure to the Honda dealership, and noticed that the new Pilot, has around 28" of height in the sides of the rear hatch area, and barely 30" in the center of the hatch area. That's several inches shallower that the current Passport. It also means, the same 30" dog crate will NOT fit in the new Pilot, a fact that none of the reviewers of the new Pilot seemed to have pointed out, and carrying a full-size dog crate behind the 2nd row seats, is a very common use case in such SUVs.

[@mikespies786]

My wife and I, both in our mid-50s, particularly appreciate the "old-school" layout of the Passport, which was a key factor in our decision to purchase this vehicle. In an era where distracted driving, such as texting while driving, is a major concern, we find it counterintuitive to see many manufacturers increasing vehicle settings via touchscreen, like the VW Atlas Cross Sport. Being able to adjust settings such as temperature using well-placed, familiar knobs or buttons not only makes it easy to use but, in our opinion, safer and far more functional. Touchscreens can be fickle to operate, causing drivers to take their eyes off the road, and the cost of a replacement screen, post-warranty, can be prohibitive. Additionally, the engine, albeit an old design, provides a level of reliability and predictability to ownership, giving us peace of mind in our purchase. Choosing to buy a 2024 model ahead of the much-anticipated redesign in 2025 was also a very intentional choice on our part. I appreciate your easy-going, candid approach, production quality, and the wealth of accurate information you provide in each video. Looking forward to seeing more!

[@Revmatchmedia]

Thanks for watching. I completely understand. I haven’t heard any issues with Honda electronics unlike other brands that I know I will experience an electrical issue in the short time they’re loaned to me. I can tell you that if Honda upgrades the Passport to match the new Pilot, it’ll get better in the sense of wireless connectivity that’s still simple to use and there’s still buttons for things like climate control.

[@famousangel]

Thanks for the detailed review of this Honda Passport. Definitely a good dad car to bring the fam but gun it when you gotta put run these cars on the highway. Can’t wait to check out some future reviews. 🙌