The Honda Passport has always been one of the more muscular 2-row midsize SUVs, thanks to its standard V6 engine. But it’s never looked the part. Until now.
For 2022, Honda has refreshed the Passport with a bold new look that gives the vehicle a new presence. Buyers also get the option of a new, off-road-oriented Trailsport trim.
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A Bold Reskin
Like a lot of vehicles, the Passport wears a new look for the 2022 model year. But this makeover has a more dramatic impact than most reskins. A big new grille with an oversized chain link mesh pattern transforms a once-timid-looking vehicle into something much more self-confident. A new power bulge in the hood adds to the effect. In the back, a reshaped rear bumper makes room for larger exhausts.
Inside, the transformation is less dramatic. But new contrast-color stitching on the seats of the EX-L model is a nice touch.
TrailSport Off-Road Model
Earlier this month, Honda announced that it would kick off a new TrailSport sub-brand aimed at bringing more off-road credibility to its truck and SUV lineup. The 2022 Passport ushers it in with the new TrailSport trim.
It’s mostly a matter of appearance. Honda says the TrailSport is “packed with exclusive styling and unique interior touches.” They include restyled bumpers “with skid garnish designs prominently painted silver,” 18-inch pewter-finished wheels, and gloss-black badges in place of the chrome logos on standard Passports. Inside, TrailSport Passports gets orange-contrast stitching on the seats and dash and amber ambient lighting.
Mechanical changes for the TrailSport are minimal, but a few tweaks help the Passport make its way onto the trail. They include a slightly wider track, a more rugged set of tires, and “a heated windshield wiper parking area to keep them from getting stuck in frigid conditions.” Torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive and an intelligent traction management system (which allows the driver to select from several driving modes for different surface types) are standard on the TrailSport and optional on other trims.
Future TrailSport models are likely to get more mechanical upgrades that enable them to compete better with Subaru’s new Wilderness lineup. Even the Passport may. Honda says, “Over the next few model years, the off-road capability of the Passport TrailSport will increase further with possible future upgrades such as more aggressive tires and off-road-tuned suspension.”
Class of 2022: All the New and Redesigned Cars, Trucks, and SUVs
