- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He Fr Ar
Honda Passport. An off-road vehicle turned into an SUV
Honda is not very fond of true SUVs, so it is not surprising that in order to expand the model range and fill this niche, the company simply borrowed the model from its partner Isuzu, which, on the contrary, does not like passenger cars. In the 1990s, Isuzu was good at making diesel body-on-frame off-road vehicles in addition to trucks, its main product. Until 2002, two Japanese companies actively ‘exchanged’ ready-made models with each other, so Isuzu borrowed sedans from Honda, and the Isuzu Rodeo with the letter H on the radiator grille played the role of a Honda vehicle quite well. In the future, for the US market, Honda Motor decided to create its own SUV, but gave it the old name, although the vehicle was completely different. Nissan has done the same with its Terrano, so it is not that strange… Why the Passport? Because Honda had such a motorcycle, the C75 Passport.
The first generation
Honda Passport (and its twin Isuzu Rodeo) was a mid-size off-road vehicle. The first generation was produced from 1993 to 2002. Honda Motor did not hesitate to enter the American SUV market during those glorious times with this model designed by the hands and minds of Isuzu engineers. In the 1990s, the segment of off-road vehicles in the United States grew steadily. The Passport was produced at the Subaru Isuzu Automotive plant located in Lafayette, Indiana.
The first generation vehicle came with three trim levels and with petrol engines with a volume of 2.6 liters (120 hp) or 3.2 liters (175 hp). The first was coupled with a 5-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive, while the second one had a 4-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive as options. In 1996, the power of the superior engine was increased to 190 hp, and it became possible to connect four-wheel drive while driving.
The second generation
It was produced from 1997 to 2002. And it was also the renamed Isuzu Rodeo. The vehicle kept its V-shaped 6-cylinder 6VD1 engine. Plus, both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions were available. The dimensions of the body grew slightly. Thus, the vehicle grew from 4,483 mm to 4,506-4,676 mm (depending on the trim level). Interestingly, the wheelbase became a little shorter, 2,703 mm instead of 2,756 mm.
The third generation
After a 12-year pause, Honda released its model with the same name, but this time in the form of an SUV. The mid-sized newcomer took a place in the model range between the CR-V and the Honda Pilot. The new Passport was unveiled at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show. In September 2021, the manufacturer announced a restyling. The restyled vehicle will appear at US dealerships at the end of the year. It is manufactured at the Honda plant in Lincoln, Alabama.
And again, you cannot call the Honda Passport an independent, brand new vehicle! Such is its fate. This time it is a shortened version of the aforementioned Pilot SUV. The vehicles have the same wheelbase, equal to 2,820 mm, and almost the entire body with some slight differences. The front end differs only by the bumper and the radiator grille, and slightly changed proportions are visible from the side: the rear overhang of the Passport is shorter, and the length of its body is 4,839 mm (the Pilot is 4,991 mm long).
Considering the shortened rear, the Passport comes without the third row of seats ‘in the trunk’ for which the Pilot is famous, but the volume of its trunk is 1,167 liters when measured ‘to the ceiling’ according to the American SAE standard. The SUV is equipped with a 3-5-liter 6-cylinder V-shaped engine with 280 hp, coupled with a 9-speed automatic transmission.
2021 restyling
The restyled SUV has acquired a new front face inspired by a Ridgeline pickup, a few new options and new trim levels. The manufacturer has decided to remove two simplest versions and to add the off-road TrailSport, which differs by the style of a dirt conqueror and new higher-profile wheels. A little later, the new 2021/2022 Honda Passport will receive a suspension with special off-road settings and increased ground clearance, as well as off-road tires. The engine of the model remains the same.
