The Honda Passport is a line of sport utility vehicles from the Japanese manufacturer Honda. Originally, it was a badge engineered version of the Isuzu Rodeo, a mid-size SUV sold between 1993 and 2002. It was introduced in 1993 for the 1994 model year as Honda's first entry into the growing SUV market of the 1990s in the United States. The first and second generation Passport was manufactured by Subaru Isuzu Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana. The Passport was a part of a partnership between Isuzu and Honda in the 1990s, which saw an exchange of passenger vehicles from Honda to Isuzu, such as the Isuzu Oasis, and trucks from Isuzu to Honda, such as the Passport and Acura SLX. This arrangement was convenient for both companies, as Isuzu discontinued passenger car production in 1993 after a corporate restructuring, and Honda was in desperate need of an SUV, a segment that was growing in popularity in North America as well as Japan during the 1990s. The partnership ended in 2002 with the discontinuation of the Passport in favor of the Honda-engineered Pilot. In November 2018, Honda announced that the Passport nameplate will return as a two-row mid-size crossover SUV slotted between the CR-V and Pilot. The third-generation Passport was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 27, 2018. It is built at their factory in Lincoln, Alabama, and available for the 2019 model year.
The first generation Passport was offered in three trims, the base model DX, mid-range LX, and upscale EX. DX models had a 5-speed manual transmission, rear-wheel-drive layout and a 2.6 L four-cylinder engine producing. LX models could be had with an optional 4-speed automatic transmission, optional four-wheel-drive and a 3.2 L V6 engine producing as standard. The upscale EX offered the 3.2 L V6 engine and four-wheel-drive as standard. Some first generation Passports were equipped with a rear axle built by General Motors. Others had a Dana built "Spicer 44" rear axle.
Model year changes
For 1995 MY, the Passport received driver and front passenger airbags. EX trims gained extra equipment and features.
For 1996 MY, the 3.2 L V6 was upgraded from to. A shift-on-the-fly four-wheel-drive system became available.
For 1997 MY, the DX trim was dropped. The 2.6 L engine option was also dropped. All models now had the V6 engine.
Second generation (CK58/CM58/DM58; 1997)
For the second generation model, two trim levels were offered: LX and upscale EX. EX had the spare tire below the cargo area and LX mounted in a swing carrier at rear. Minor changes for the 2000 model year included 2-tone exterior colors, and optional wheels for the LX trim. An optional CD changer was provided by the dealer. In 2010, a recall was issued for affected 1998-2002 Rodeo and Passport for frames with severe rust issues. On September 22, 2010, NHTSA campaign number 10V436000 was issued to recall 149,992 vehicles because of excessive corrosion near the forward bracket for the left or right rear suspension lower link. If the rust damage was severe, Honda bought back the vehicles from their owners. Under U.S. federal regulations, automakers are not required to correct problems on vehicles that are ten or more years old.
Third generation (YF7/8; 2018)
The third generation Passport was unveiled at the Los Angeles Auto Show on November 27, 2018, with retail sales starting in February 2019. Unlike previous generations, it was designed in the US and is manufactured in Lincoln, Alabama. It is based on the 3rd-generation Honda Pilot and is slotted between the smaller CR-V and longer 3-row Pilot to compete with the 2-row Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Edge, Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, and Nissan Murano crossovers. Trim levels include the base "Sport", mid-level "EX-L", "Touring", and top-of-the-line "Elite”.. All trim levels include Front Wheel Drive as standard equipment, with All-Wheel-Drive as an option, except for the "Elite," where it is standard equipment. All trim levels includes Bluetooth for both hands-free calling and wireless audio streaming via A2DP, the suite of driver assistance technologies, the Honda LaneWatch camera system, keyless access with push-button start, air conditioning, alloy wheels, and power windows, door locks, and mirrors. Most trim levels also include remote start, a HondaLink touchscreen infotainment system with SiriusXM Satellite Radio, HD Radio, with Apple CarPlay and Android Autosmartphone integration, leather-trimmed seating surfaces with heated front seats, power front seats, a power sunroof, dual-zone electronic climate controls, and an audio system with a subwoofer. The engine is the and 3.5-liter V-6 and nine-speed, pushbutton-controlled automatic transmission as found in the Pilot. Front-wheel drive is standard; Honda's all-wheel-drive system, dubbed i-VTM4, is optional, and features drive settings for Normal, Sand, Snow, and Mud. A two-speed transfer case is not available. Ground clearance is 7.5 inches and the Passport can tow up to 5000 pounds. Two rows of seats have room for five passenger. There is 41 cubic feet of storage and 78 with the rear seat folded.
Marketing
On April Fool's Day, April 1, 2019, Honda released a YouTube advertisement for the all-new 2019 Passport. The advertisement featured a 2019 Passport, called the "Past-Port", with a first-generation Passport's interior, touting features that were popular in the mid-to-late-1990s, including automatic power windows, an audio system with cassette player and cassette adapter and pager holder. The advertisement features an actor wearing 1990s-era clothing, and holding a Motorolacellular phone. Viewers of the advertisement could also call a special toll free number, 1-833-PAST-PORT, where they would be greeted by a voice message from Fred Savage, and could then leave a voicemail on Honda's microcassetteanswering machine explaining why they would like to own a 2019 Past-Port. The advertisement is no longer viewable on Honda's YouTube channel as of May 2019, and the toll free number is no longer in service.
