The Car Connection Expert Review
Likes
- Big interior
- Good on the highway
- Standard AWD
- Lots of safety tech
Dislikes
- Clunky transmission
- Dated interior and tech
- Not really an off-roader
- Lousy fuel economy
Buying tip
features & specs
The 2025 Honda Passport is a solid enough choice for those willing to skip a third row, but a new model is on the horizon.
What kind of vehicle is the 2025 Honda Passport? What does it compare to?
The 2025 Honda Passport is a five-seat midsize SUV. Shop it against the Chevrolet Blazer and the Jeep Grand Cherokee, not to mention Honda’s three-row Pilot.
Is the 2025 Honda Passport a good SUV?
Honda’s biggest five-seat SUV occupies an unusual ground between its CR-V and three-row Pilot. It’s basically a last-generation Pilot with a bit chopped off the rear, which contributes to its mixed TCC Rating of 6.5 out of 10. (Read more about how we rate cars.)
What's new for the 2025 Honda Passport?
The Passport is unchanged ahead of a full redesign expected for 2026.
With its big grille and short overhangs, the Passport is sufficiently distinct from the automaker’s three-row Pilot. It stretches about 190 inches long, which affords it a pretty big cabin. However, even the off-roady TrailSport model is nothing special to look at inside or out.
Underhood, the Passport has a big 3.5-liter V-6 that puts out 280 hp to all four wheels through a 9-speed automatic transmission. The V-6 is smooth and strong, but its gearbox partner can deliver confused shifts at lower speeds. It’s better on the highway, where the smooth ride settles in nicely.
Even in semi-rugged TrailSport trim, the Passport is only a modest off-roader. It has decent ground clearance and standard all-wheel drive, but the 4Runner and Grand Cherokee it competes against are more natural mud-pluggers.
One of the Passport’s biggest assets is literal: its cavernous interior has terrific space for five adults. Behind row two, the cargo area is decent enough to accommodate larger items, too. While leather upholstery is standard, the Passport’s interior is not particularly upmarket. Rivals have more innovative designs and nicer materials.
All Passport models have a good array of standard safety tech, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, active lane control, and adaptive cruise control. The NHTSA rates the Passport at five stars overall, while the IIHS has given it more mixed reviews.
How much does the 2025 Honda Passport cost?
Figure $43,795, including a $1,395 destination fee, for a base Passport EX-L, which seems like a lot until you look at its spec sheet. It has leather seats, a decent 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, and a power tailgate.
Where is the 2025 Honda Passport made?
In Lincoln, Alabama.
2025 Honda Passport Styling
The Honda Passport is no styling powerhouse.
Is the Honda Passport a good-looking SUV?
It’s all right. The 2025 Honda Passport wears clean enough exterior styling and has a pleasantly organized cabin, but it’s nothing special. Its inoffensive lines earn it a perfectly average 5.
Stretching 190 inches long, the Passport is a fairly big SUV. It has a chunky grille flanked by big headlights, which give way to a conservative side profile. The rear end has a bit more flair with its relatively small taillights connected via a long brow spanning the width of its tailgate.
TrailSport models have some distinct touches like a faux skid plate up front, but they don’t exactly endow this big vehicle with Jeep Wrangler ruggedness.
The Passport’s cabin is simple and organized, but also dated against the rest of the Honda lineup. A big touchscreen perched high on the dash sits above a panel of climate controls. The only sour spot here is the quirky push-button transmission switches on the center console, which look like an afterthought. Honda’s a bit stingy about interior hues, too.
2025 Honda Passport Performance
The 2025 Honda Passport has a strong V-6, standard AWD, and a comfortable ride.
Honda’s biggest five-seat SUV has a peppy V-6 engine that’s unfortunately paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission that can hesitate to respond at highway speeds and dance around at low speeds. Still, it rides well enough to earn a point on the TCC scale for a 6.
Is the Honda Passport 4WD?
Yes, all-wheel drive is standard. The TrailSport has slightly different shocks and springs plus marginally beefier tires for a modest increase in capability. Various drive modes on all models tweak the traction control system for different types of terrain.
How fast is the Honda Passport?
It’s not bad. The 280-hp 3.5-liter V-6 is smooth and strong, but its 9-speed automatic transmission dance partner trips over its own feet on occasion. The gearbox simply fails to deliver smooth shifts at lower speeds.
On the bright side, the Passport has a heavy, comfortable ride that smothers big bumps below. It’s also quiet and it tracks well at highway speeds. Somewhat heavy steering gives it an almost sporty feel, even if the Passport never feels particularly nimble.
The Passport can lug a 5,000-pound trailer, which is a good rating for this segment.
2025 Honda Passport Comfort & Quality
The 2025 Honda Passport is one of the roomiest midsize crossovers.
So long as you don’t need a third row, the 2025 Honda Passport boasts a terrific cabin. Its five seats can accommodate adults in all positions, and it has a big cargo area. It’s an 8 here.
Standard leather seats deliver a somewhat upscale appearance, though the Passport’s interior materials are nothing special.
The front seats have power adjustment and heating, and they’re generally supportive enough for longer trips. Rear-seat riders have a generous 39.6 inches of legroom at their disposal, plus a well-padded bench.
Behind row two, the cargo area can accommodate 41.2 cubic feet of stuff, which expands to an impressive 77.7 cubes with the rear seat backs down. Moreover, a hidden cubby below the floor offers out-of-sight storage. Otherwise, the Passport has good small-item bins for its occupants.
2025 Honda Passport Safety
The 2025 Honda Passport has done well in most crash tests.
How safe is the Honda Passport?
Good scores from the NHTSA and plenty of crash-avoidance tech across the board help the 2025 Honda Passport earn two points above average on the TCC scale. The IIHS has mostly given the Passport “Good” scores in its testing, but a “Marginal” rating in the updated side-impact test prevents it from earning a Top Safety Pick award.
Every Passport has standard blind-spot monitors, lane-departure warnings, active lane control, and automatic emergency braking. Adaptive cruise control is included across the line, too.
2025 Honda Passport Features
The 2025 Honda Passport is a pretty good overall value.
The 2025 Honda Passport doesn’t come in too many permutations, but its overall value and its big touchscreen earn it a 7 on the TCC scale.
It’s $43,795 for a base 2025 Passport EX-L. That money seems high against some rivals, but it buys all-wheel drive, leather seats with heating and power adjustments up front, a power tailgate, a wireless charging pad, and an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
A 3-year/36,000-mile warranty includes the first two years of basic maintenance, too.
Which Honda Passport should I buy?
The EX-L is a fine buy on its own. If you want the rugged TrailSport, you’ll need $46,395, which mostly buys cosmetic and suspension changes. It does include a built-in navigation system, though.
How much is a fully loaded Honda Passport?
The top Black Edition is mostly a $50,000 appearance package, though it does add heated rear seats, 20-inch alloy wheels, and a hands-free tailgate, plus more audio speakers. It’s not worth it.
2025 Honda Passport Fuel Economy
The 2025 Honda Passport gets 21 mpg combined.
Is the Honda Passport good on gas?
It’s not great. Blame its big V-6 and its somewhat portly 4,200-pound curb weight, which result in a so-so 19 mpg city, 24 highway, 21 combined. That’s a 2.
