New 2-row, 5-passenger midsize SUV
280-horsepower V6 engine, available all-wheel drive
Honda says best-in-class interior space
Honda Sensing safety features standard on all trims
Competes with Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and similar
Pricing expected to start around $30,000
Scheduled to go on sale in early 2019

UPDATE: You can now read our first review of the 2019 Honda Passport

As SUV sales continue to grow, automakers continue to introduce more SUVs. The all-new 2019 Honda Passport is a 2-row midsize SUV based on the same foundation as the popular 3-row Honda Pilot.

While the overall look is familiar, the Passport is six inches shorter than the Pilot with the same wheelbase and rides almost an inch higher. A black matte grille, floating roof design and standard 20-inch wheels give the Passport a sportier, more rugged, go-anywhere mien.

Powered by a 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, the new Passport also boasts robust off-road capabilities thanks in part to Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and a 4-mode Intelligent Traction Management system that optimizes for snow, mud or sand.

2019 Honda Passport Rating

An informal rating to be sure, but the new Passport counts as one of our favorite new vehicles for the 2019 model year. See the entire top-10 list of our favorite cars, trucks, and SUVs of 2019.

2019 Honda Passport Interior

Inside, the 2019 Honda Passport feels capacious; second row leg and headroom are luxurious. While the 5-passenger Passport is shorter than the 8-passenger Pilot, it offers generous cargo capacity: 41.2 cu. ft. behind the second row or a total 77.9 cu. ft. behind the first row. The 60/40 split rear seats fold down flat, and there’s a large underfloor storage area with optional washable plastic bins for muddy stuff.

2019 Honda Passport Features and Trims

The Passport will be offered in four trims: Sport, EX-L, high-tech Touring trim, and the fully equipped Elite. All models except the line-topping Pilot Elite can be configured with two- or all-wheel drive, and that’s because all-wheel drive comes standard on the Elite.

Available feature highlights on the newest Honda include a power tailgate with available handsfree operation, moonroof, heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, navigation, built-in Wi-Fi, premium audio and HondaLink cloud-based services.

2019 Honda Passport Engine

The Passport is powered by the same 3.5-liter V6 in the Pilot. It makes the same 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. torque as in the Pilot, but the smaller Passport should be a bit quicker.

Speaking of hauling, the Passport has a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, but that’s upgradable to 5,000 pounds with an optional towing package and all-wheel drive.

2019 Honda Passport Safety

Official safety ratings aren’t yet available, but the related Honda Pilot earned a 5-Star overall safety rating from NHTSA, and we expect the Passport will perform similarly. The automaker’s Honda Sensing suite of advanced safety features comes standard in every Passport sold.

How much does the 2019 Honda Passport cost?

Official pricing has yet to be announced, but we expect the 2019 Honda Passport to start around $30,000. That’s a bit less than its 3-row big brother Honda Pilot, and similar to key competitors like the Ford Edge and Nissan Murano. Expect a fully loaded 2019 Honda Passport Elite to top out in the mid-$40,000 range.

When will the 2019 Honda Passport go on sale?

The 2019 Honda Passport is scheduled to go on sale in early 2019.

2019 Honda Passport vs. 2019 Ford Edge

2019 Honda Passport vs. 2019 Nissan Murano

2019 Honda Passport Interior and Exterior Photos