Ah, yes—the SUV. With the minivan having become increasingly less common over the years, the SUV class of vehicles has only skyrocketed in popularity as the ideal transport for the modern family. These days, an overwhelming diversity of makes and models bespeckle the scope of the automotive industry, making it difficult to narrow down which SUVs are the most practical and worthwhile investments. And while Ford and Chevy are certainly the brands with the strongest and longest ties to the vehicle, America’s overseas rivals are just as adept—and sometimes even better—with their present offerings. Case in point, the 2023 Honda Passport.
The perfect alternative to the minivan if there ever was one, Honda’s sleek SUV offers up the rough and ready attributes that are commonplace with similar vehicles on the market and throws in a wide variety of safety and driving assistance features to provide peace of mind. If you’re in the market for a new family-friendly method of transportation, then tracking down a Honda Passport for sale might be the best choice you make in 2023.
Enough Porridge to Satisfy the Whole Bear Family
Just because a vehicle is ideal for the family-oriented consumer doesn’t mean it has to eliminate excitement from the equation. Case in point, the Honda Passport has just as much performance as it does practicality. As with most families, there’s a good chance that you might be planning to embark upon the rite of passage known as a family road trip. And you’ll be glad to know that there’s enough capability underneath the hood to accommodate you on such an adventure.
The Passport is equipped with a sole powertrain; many manufacturers have been following this procedure in recent years, and—believe it or not—it’s a move that benefits both manufacturers and consumers alike. A vehicle with a single engine makes parts easier to come by and, as a result, easier for technicians to work on to keep your vehicle running at its very best. Honda’s offering consists of a 3.5L V6 with the ability to propel the Passport forward at 280 hp and with the capability to generate an impressive 262 lb-ft of torque; there’s plenty here to generate excitement when en route to grandmother’s house.
Torque management and a nine-speed automatic transmission make the vehicle capable of going off-road, meaning there are many destinations you could potentially embark on. A towing capacity of 5,000 lbs means you can take along some off-roading implements—such as ATVs—with relative ease. And, with all-wheel drive standard, the Honda Passport gets an EPA-estimated 19 MPG in the city and 24 MPG on the highway—about average for the SUV class.
A Comfortable Interior Even the Fickle Will Love
Let’s be realistic for a moment. While we tend to be careful in selecting the vehicle that eventually goes into our driveway, there is no group of people more finicky than those passengers of the younger and shorter variety—also known as children. Now, while you’re making the final choice when you leave the dealership, there’s no doubt that you’ll want an interior that’s comfortable and doesn’t make the small ones whine and complain for the several hours you’re on the road. Fortunately, the Passport provides all of the comfort and amenities necessary for your family’s fun time.
Parents, rejoice! Just like the living room that you prefer to look neat and organized, the interior of the Passport is stylish yet user-friendly and has an added emphasis on practicality. Modeled similarly to the Honda Ridgeline, the front end of the interior is anchored by an infotainment screen that stretches out to eight inches and is level with the steering column. Access to Apple and Android services is included, and some of the upper trims have a high-end ten-speaker stereo system to enhance entertainment for drivers and passengers alike. And because any SUV should place storage as a priority, you’ll be pleased to know that even with all the seats occupied, you’ll have over 77 cu.ft. of rear storage space, which more than quadruples the trunk space of an average four-door sedan. And, for those moments when every available inch of space is a necessity, over 100 cu.ft. of total stowage is there to accommodate you.
As for your children, two rear USB ports will ensure that they get to keep themselves distracted with fully-charged devices, especially on those long stretches of highway where the scenery is less than enthralling. There’s plenty of storage, entertainment, and legroom to stretch out and make yourself as comfortable as possible—and that sounds like the perfect combination in our book.
Driving Assistance Features Pushing the Boundaries of Innovation
The main concern for any head of a household is in attending to the safety and well-being of the people they’re responsible for. And when it comes to safety as it relates to their chosen method of transportation, this is where it counts the most. Much like life itself, the circumstances that we face while traveling tend to be unpredictable and can change at a moment’s notice. Luckily, Honda has a very firm grasp of this and has packed the Passport full of the various implements and features necessary to provide both oversight and safety.
In this day and age, many of these same features are offered by all manufacturers; this means it becomes a matter of what comes standard and isn’t barred by upper trim levels and higher price tags. Safety isn’t a luxury at Honda, however—it’s a necessity.
Honda offers more than the competition, with such features as adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping assistance and collision mitigation. When employed with items such as forward collision warning, these features are essential in providing optimal reaction time while driving, whether on the freeway or within the city limits. These are all included as part of Honda’s inclusive safety package, known as the Honda Sensing suite. Some of the other advantages you’ll receive include blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alerts, and a rearview camera to help you keep an eye on what’s behind and beside you as you merge lanes or when you’re backing out. By giving you more than other brands, Honda extends to you a helping hand and reassurance that the choice you’re making keeps the well-being of you and your family in mind.
Editor’s Note: The features included with Honda Sensing are meant to provide additional assistance and oversight when traveling. In no way do they replace the habits and awareness of a responsible driver. Please adhere to traffic laws and maintain visuals at all times.
A Final Verdict on the 2023 Honda Passport
Few fields in the automotive industry are as competitive as the marketplace for SUVs. The 2023 Honda Passport is a masterclass in providing all that’s available to benefit drivers while adhering to their wants for performance and comfort. With many consumers wanting to have vehicles that provide them with peace of mind, confidence, convenience, and capabilities, Honda has once again proven that they are listening to the voices of the people and responding in kind. Sure, there are plenty of SUVs that are on the marketplace in 2023, but the Honda Passport offers everything today’s modern family could ever ask and hope for.
