2023 Honda Passport Review, Pricing, and Specs

The Passport EX-L is our pick as the best value since it’s reasonably priced and includes desirable features such as leather upholstery, a sunroof, and a large touchscreen with smartphone-mirroring functionality. All-wheel drive has been made standard on the base EX-L for 2023, another reason to opt for it.

Engine, Transmission, and Performance

Under the hood is the same 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 and nine-speed automatic transmission found in the Pilot. The Passport was zippy in our testing, its ride is comfortable on most roads, and the steering pleasingly direct, which makes the it feel nimble. It also has 8.1 inches of ground clearance, enough to get you across a fair amount of rough terrain without tearing up the underside—but this is by no means a serious off-roader. It’s not a bad tow vehicle, though, able to pull to 5000 pounds.

Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG

Now that Honda has made the Passport V6’s pairing with its all-wheel drivetrain monogamous–having axed the front-wheel drive configuration for the 2023 model year–we expect it to receive a single EPA-rating identical to that of a 2022 all-wheel drive model since they are mechanically identical. The 2022 Passport was rated at 19 in the city and 24 on the highway for a combined rating of 21 miles per gallon. We averaged only 17 mpg over a couple of weeks with a 2022 TrailSsport. It averaged 23 mpg on our 75-mph fuel-economy route—which is part of our extensive testing regimen—1 mpg short of its EPA highway rating. For more information about the Passport’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.

Interior, Comfort, and Cargo

Anyone who has experienced the interior of the Honda Ridgeline will be instantly familiar with the Passport’s cabin. Despite an unremarkable design, the materials are attractive enough and the controls are nicely organized—although we’d like more knobs and buttons instead of touchscreen controls. The front seats are wide and comfortable, with a handy armrest that can be adjusted for optimal comfort. The back seat is also roomy and allows the Passport to transport up to five people. There’s 41 cubic feet of storage space behind the rear seat, which held 15 of our carry-on suitcases. Folding that row unlocks 78 cubes of room and the capacity to carry 33 bags total. Interior cubby storage in general is great thanks to useful bins throughout the cabin and a huge center-console bin.

Infotainment and Connectivity

Every Passport sports an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It also includes Bluetooth and a wireless smartphone charging pad. A seven-speaker audio system is offered on EX-L and TrailSport models, while an upgraded ten-speaker audio system comes on the range-topping Passport Elite. A 115-volt outlet is also standard for TrailSport and Elite models. Buyers looking for Wi-Fi hotspot availability will have to opt for the Elite, though, as it is not offered on the lower EX-L and TrailSport models.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Features

The Honda Passport offers the automaker’s suite of safety and driver-assistance technology as standard content, which includes forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and more. For more information about the Passport’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:

• Standard lane-departure warning and lane-keeping assist
• Standard adaptive cruise control
• Standard blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert

Warranty and Maintenance Coverage

Honda provides a competitive limited warranty, but its powertrain coverage doesn’t match the levels of rivals such as the Hyundai Santa Fe and the Kia Sorento. The Passport also lacks complimentary scheduled maintenance.

• Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles
• No complimentary scheduled maintenance

More Features and Specs