Photography by ©2019 Toni Avery

I haven’t reviewed many SUVs on my website since my first car in 2014. But every once in a while I make an exception. The 2019 Honda Passport is an all-new vehicle that’s very capable as a family SUV and even an off-road vehicle.

This Passport is equipped with a 3.5 L VTEC V6 engine producing 280 HP @6000 RPM and 262 lb-ft of torque @4700 RPM mated to a 9-speed automatic transmission and all-four wheels being powered by i-VTM4 (Intelligent Variable Torque Management) All-Wheel Drive.

I was actually impressed with how quick the Passport felt under acceleration considering its 4237 lb curb weight. I especially liked pressing the “S” (Sport) button and feeling the heightened overall response. Sport gives the Passport a meaner sound, holds gears longer and higher and provides a very engaging driving experience. Even without Sport being on, the engine has a surprisingly nice note. It was also really fun to feel the Passport enter V-TEC when putting it through its paces. It felt very quick off the line and provide ample performance for this large SUV.

Thanks for the vehicles all-wheel drive system, an impromptu trip to the snow came to fruition. As we drove up Mount Baldy snow began to fall. We passed cars that had to turn back and others that were stuck because of the amount of snow. Thanks to Snow Mode, we stayed in perfect control of the Passport at all times. It is a confidence-inspiring vehicle for families that use this as a family SUV or even an all-terrain adventure vehicle.

While braking in snow usually requires more generous distance, the Passport performed as expected. Braking on non-snowy roads, the vehicle stopped as expected as well thanks to its Power-Assisted Ventilated front discs and solid rear disc brakes.

Aside from Snow Mode, the other main feature I used while driving was the Adaptive Cruise Control. For the time I spent on the highway, I let the car manage the distance and speed while in traffic. I noticed that the system would not activate under 22 MPH, so bumper to bumper traffic doesn’t mesh well with the system. And at times, when traffic would stop in front of me, the Passport took a little longer than I was comfortable with to brake. But this could just be driver preference.

Inside the Passport is a grey leather-trimmed interior. The front seats featured heating and ventilation, while the rear seats had heating. There was a ton of room behind the front seats no matter the front occupants height. And the trunk provided ample space with a convenient storage compartment. With the rear seats down, the Passport offered a ton of room for hauling.

Fit and finished on the inside was better than expected and the cabin noise was minimal while driving. The stereo system actually produced great sound.

The exterior of the Passport is finished in Obsidian Blue Pearl with 20” alloy wheels and 265/45 R20 all-season tires. The front end of the Passport is my favorite angle on the vehicle while it doesn’t look bad any way you look at it. The Passport feels larger inside than it looks on the outside, in my opinion. But the exterior appearance is both sporty and functional.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time in the 2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite. It made traffic somewhat enjoyable. It made a last minute trip to the snow possible. And it made taking friends around so easy with all the nice features and ample space.

2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite:

Base Price: $43,680

Destination Charge: $1,095

Total Price: $44,775

Fuel Economy: 19 City, 24 Highway, 21 Combined 

GirlsDriveFastToo gives the 2019 Honda Passport AWD Elite an overall rating of (out of 5 total):