2020 Honda Passport vs 2019 Honda Passport

In 2019, Honda’s designers crafted the Passport into a stubbier, boxier version of the Pilot. The Passport was six inches shorter than the Pilot, yet both shared identical wheelbases, doors, windshield, and hood. The Passport stood about an inch and a half taller with a nearly 1-inch lift in ride height over the Pilot, making it appear more rugged and broad-shouldered from any angle. Features like the enlarged blacked-out grille, restyled front bumper with new fog-lamp cutouts, gloss-black mirrors and window trim, and standard black 20-inch wheels contributed to its robust look. Despite these rugged aesthetics, the Passport’s proportions owed more to the era when SUVs were more truck-like.

Inside, the Passport was immediately reminiscent of the Pilot, featuring an upright dash, digital instrument panel, glossy black touchscreen, and a host of switches. Fit and finish were commendable, surpassing several entry-level luxury crossovers. The leather seats were supportive and comfortable, equipped with flip-down armrests for the driver and the front passenger. Despite certain dated aspects like the large cutouts for mirror switches and the foot parking brake, the 2019 Passport’s overall quality was high, and its style practical and attractive.

In 2020, Honda continued to follow its usual design playbook, ensuring practicality and functionality remained paramount. Although the Passport bore a resemblance to a pared-down Pilot, it also echoed a pumped-up CR-V, striking a balance in size, capability, looks, and price point. Sporting a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, black-rimmed LED headlights, chrome exhaust finishers, and gloss-black trim, the 2020 Passport projected a more rugged and athletic appearance than its counterparts.

The 2020 Passport’s sophisticated interior retained much from the Honda Pilot, with a focus on utility. The upscale Elite trim featured perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, heated rear outboard seats, an illuminated beverage holder, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with two-position memory, and a moonroof. The button-heavy shifting mechanism in the center console maximized space, and while the layout wasn't unique, it assured a sense of familiarity and comfort for Honda aficionados. The lower trims offered various packages like the Urban and Adventure packs, enhancing its versatility and appeal.

The 2019 Honda Passport came equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided robust performance comparable to many 4-cylinder competitors. The engine’s sound profile and performance were impressive, particularly in Sport mode, though manual downshifting could cause an uncomfortable delay. The Passport’s efficient torque vectoring system granted it commendable cornering grip, but the overall soft suspension and light steering made it less inclined towards sporty driving. The Passport was capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds with AWD and had EPA-estimated fuel economy of 19 mpg city, 24 highway, and 21 combined.

For 2020, the Passport retained the same 3.5-liter V6 engine, generating the same 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Mated to a similar nine-speed automatic transmission, the engine continued to deliver smooth performance across various driving conditions. The fuel economy figures remained consistent: 20 mpg city, 25 highway, and 22 combined for FWD models, while AWD versions managed 19 city, 24 highway, and 21 combined. The substantial fuel tank allowed for extensive range, enhancing its practicality on long journeys. The Passport excelled in diverse terrains, holding strong performance even at high elevations, such as through the peaks of Yosemite National Park. The torque-vectoring AWD system especially shone, providing up to 70 percent of engine torque to the rear axle and ensuring stability on challenging roads. Drive modes like Snow, Sand, and Mud further enhanced its off-road capability, making it surprisingly adept in rugged environments.

The 2019 Honda Passport offered generous cargo space—41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 77.9 cubic feet with the seats folded down. An additional under-floor storage bin accommodated the spare tire, emphasizing the vehicle’s practicality. Its three-zone climate control facilitated comfort, while features like heated outboard seats, USB ports, a household outlet, and manual window shades elevated the rear passenger experience. Control placement was logical, and the central cubby and sunglasses case provided thoughtful storage solutions. However, the infotainment screen's tendency to smudge and the unconventional push-button gear selector demanded user adjustment.

Similarly, the 2020 Passport prioritized practicality with its "right-sized" dimension—not much larger than the CR-V, but ample enough to offer significant space and visibility. The interior comfortably seated four adults, though it lacked a third-row option. Height-adjustable seatbelts and three full LATCH connections added to its family-friendly appeal. The cabin boasted well-padded and supportive seats, notably more comfortable than those in the CR-V. With 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space, extendable to include excellent under-floor storage, the Passport managed to tuck away various small items seamlessly. The tri-zone climate control and second-row sunshades emphasized passenger comfort, while the overall ride quality and ease of heating and cooling features further established its practical credentials.

In 2019, Honda’s lack of package options for lower trims led CarGurus to recommend the EX-L trim, which included a high-resolution 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and 4G WiFi. The Garmin navigation system — featured in higher trims — was user-friendly and accurate, offering live traffic data and auto-rerouting. Standard Honda Sensing provided forward emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keep assist, though more advanced features like stolen-vehicle tracking and remote unlocking required higher trims.

In 2020, the Passport’s base Sport trim featured a 5.0-inch display monitor, while EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims benefited from an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system. This larger screen supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with intuitive touchscreen functionality. Higher trims added a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The dashboard design from the Pilot, although somewhat dated, remained functional and straightforward, ensuring user-friendly operation.

In 2019, the Passport EX-L and above trims featured blind-spot monitoring in addition to the standard Honda Sensing suite. Though the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had only partially rated the Passport, giving it 4 stars for front crash tests and 5 stars for side-impact tests, it had not evaluated its rollover resistance. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) did not test the Passport, but the mechanically identical 2018 Pilot received a Top Safety Pick rating, albeit with an "Acceptable" rating for the passenger-side frontal crash test.

The 2020 Passport achieved good safety scores in IIHS and NHTSA evaluations, earning the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation. Standard safety features remained robust with the Honda Sensing suite, including forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. The model also featured a standard rearview camera with a birds-eye view. Higher trims offered dynamic gridlines for the camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.