2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite Review by David Colman +VIDEO - It's E15 Approved
Official Honda Passport Build and Price
Honda at its best
By David Colman
Special Correspondent to THE AUTO CHANNEL
Auto Channel Exclusive (ACE)
![]() 2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite |
Aside from such practicality, there are myriad performance reasons for selecting the Passport AWD Elite over Honda's other SUV offerings. The main incentive lies under the hood, where a very well endowed V6 feeds 280hp through all 4 wheels. Negotiating the transfer of power is a 9-speed automatic gearbox which can be manually shifted via paddles. With such a comprehensive array of gears, the V6 is never hard put to offer immediate punch. Thanks to its 262lb.-ft. of torque, the 3.5 liter V6 is capable of hauling a 5000 lb. trailer, and Honda equips the Elite with a receiver hitch, plug receptacles and trailer harness wiring. The Elite also boasts a complete suite of Honda Sensing watchdogs like Adaptive Cruise Control, Collision mitigation braking System, Forward Collision Warning, and Lane Departure Warning. Lane Keeping assist can be manually chosen or deleted at will as can Road Departure Mitigation.
For a relatively tall vehicle (72 in.), the Passport proved surprisingly agile in backroad driving situations thanks largely to its standard 20 inch black finished alloy rims mounting sizeable 265/45R20 Michelin mud and snow rated radials. The Honda Passport responds to steering wheel input like a sports car. The amount of effort required to buy more wheel turn-in is precisely metered. Each inch of steering wheel travel translates into the expected change in directional travel. there is no slop or surprise awaiting you in maneuvering the Passport. Ride over bad pavement is somewhat rough - a small price to pay for the precision handling this Honda offers overall.
![]() 2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite |
The Honda Passport, unlike almost all its competitors in the compact SUV range, is actually fun to drive. You can surely buy a cheaper version of the Passport than the one we tested. For example, a base price model retails for just $33,085 with 2 wheel drive. Add $1,900 for all-wheel-drive. Or bump up to the top of the line AWD Elite for $43,680. This one is so fully quipped there's not so much as a single addition to thee bottom line except "Destination and handling"($1,045).
![]() 2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite |
2019 HONDA PASSPORT AWD ELITE
-
ENGINE: 3.5 liter V6 with VTEC and Variable Cylinder Management
HORSEPOWER: 280hp
TORQUE: 262lb.-ft.
FUEL CONSUMPTION: 19MPG City/24MPG Highway
PRICE AS TESTED: $44,725
HYPES: V6 Punch, AWD Traction, Honda Reliability
GRIPES: Touchscreen Dust Magnet
STAR RATING: 10 Stars out of 10