Video: 2024 Honda Passport TrailSport Review: Same Threads, New Off-Road Tread

Likewise, the Passport's TrailSport trim level offers a bit more rough terrain capability than the garden variety SUV, but it's not so extreme that its on-road driving manners are compromised. The entire Passport lineup is updated for 2024 with the TrailSport trim level coming in for some model specific upgrades. And we're driving the TrailSport for the first time today. So the Passport TrailSport has a model specific off-road tuned suspension, and it's been enhanced for 2024 to account for these new all-terrain tires. These are General Grabber Sport A/Ts. Honda says that they've got much better traction in dirt, mud, snow, rocky terrain, but that they're also nice and quiet in on-road driving. So we can test out the latter part of that claim, but not the former because we're only able to take this in on-road drives today. I will note that the sidewall of these tires looks especially rugged, giving it kind of an off-road look, but the contact patch itself is not so extreme. So these look like a good compromise between enhanced off-road traction without compromising on-road comfort. And as before, the Passport TrailSport gets some specific trim touches, grill insert, the expected badges. This radiant red metallic paint is a $455 option. The TrailSport also gets standard power folding mirrors in case you find yourself on a narrow off-road trail. Honda also offers some underbody protection as an accessory. There's an oil pan guard on this vehicle. 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and all Passports have a fairly stubby rear end that gives it a short rear overhang that helps with departure angles and off-road driving. And we're looking forward to testing out all these features when we can get a Passport TrailSport out on an off-road trail. So you can check out our 2024 Passport up close video for more details on the Passport's updates this year, but we can still hit on some of the high points. The biggest improvement is a redesigned center console. In place of the kind of funky roll top lid that the Passport had before, we now have a real flip up lid. The center console bin has been expanded as well. Honda says you can fit a full size tablet in there. And I much appreciate the padded center console lid, as opposed to the flip down from the sear armrests that were there previously. The cup holders have been upsized as well, so they can handle a big Nalgene bottle. And the stowage area in the frontier has been expanded too. You've got a wireless charging pad on one side, but the space is big enough that you can fit two smartphones side by side in that center console area. So as before, rear seat passenger space and cargo room is a big asset of the Passport. There's a lot more room back here than you'd get in any compact SUV. I myself am 6'6", and I've got the driver's seat set to a comfortable driving position for me, and I still have adequate leg room, good toe space under the seat. And even with the sunroof housing here, there is decent head room as well. So any average size adult is gonna be fine. The seat backs recline ever so slightly, but you really don't need it because of the expansive headroom, and even though there's no third row seat and hence no third row passengers to worry about, these second row seats do slide forward to benefit cargo space if you need it. So tall folks will have to watch their heads a little bit around this open lift gate. But the Passport's cargo area is excellent, wide opening level floor. It's a little bit higher than the norm but not unbearable. And there is some nice hidden space underneath the cargo load floor itself. We've got a nice deep wide bin there. I'm also a big fan of storage bins along the side. This is perfect for a milk jug. We have a shallower one on this side for smaller items you don't want rolling around back here. And if you need still more space, there are buttons at the rear of the vehicle to flip down the second row seats, which folds to create a nice level cargo floor for when you're hauling bigger items. So the biggest question we had about the Passport TrailSport's updates for 2024 is, are those new tires quiet on on-road driving like Honda says they are? And based on my drive now, the answer is absolutely yes. I haven't driven a non TrailSport Passport back to back, but these tires seem perfectly quiet in on-road driving. And, likewise, despite the suspension enhancements for off-road driving, the on-road composure of this vehicle is undisturbed, and it's pleasant and feels buttoned down. It doesn't feel tippy or wallowy in any undue way. So Honda did do a good job of making these upgrades not upset the on-road composure of the Passport. The Passport's engine doesn't change for 2024. It's still the same 280 horsepower 3.5 liter V6 paired to a 9-speed automatic transmission. And it feels good. The transmission is pretty responsive. I've not caught it stumbling or searching for a gear, but the Passport's fuel economy is not outstanding. This is a normal V6, and there is no hybrid powertrain or a more economical turbo 4-cylinder powertrain. So EPA fuel economy numbers for this vehicle are 21 miles per gallon in combined driving, which is not great, but it's pretty much par for the course for a mid-size SUV with a V6 engine. It is also worth noting that the TrailSport does not take a hit in fuel economy, at least not by EPA estimates. That's unlike some off-road trim levels. You do get diminished fuel economy, but at least by the EPA numbers, that is not the case with the Passport. Another thing that doesn't change about the Passport is its visibility. It's quite good. This cabin is fairly tall. The windows are large. The windshield pillars are relatively slim, so I've got a great view all around. The rear window is especially large, so the view at the rear view mirror is good as well. And when I was riding in the backseat, it has a very airy feel back there as well thanks to the tall roof line, and simply the fact that the rear window is a little bit closer to you because there is no third row. So very nice spacious feeling cabin all around and good visibility all around as well. So unlike the Honda Pilot, which was redesigned for 2023, the Passport's basic design goes back a little further. So the dashboard layout isn't quite the latest and greatest stuff. The new Pilot has more of an upright tablet style touchscreen. A lot of the other mid-size SUVs have a little bit bigger touchscreen than this. So the Passports dashboard layout isn't necessarily cutting edge, but there's nothing really objectionable here. You've got nice physical controls for the climate, big tiles on the infotainment system, so it's relatively easy to bring up separate functions. So nothing truly objectionable here, but it doesn't have all the latest and greatest features either. The 2024 Honda Passport, including the updated TrailSport trim level is arriving in Honda dealerships now. And if you like those off-road upgrades, but you're in the market for a mid-size pickup, you can check out our up close video of the Honda Ridgeline, which also gets a TrailSport trim level for 2024. For my full review of the Passport TrailSport, you can find it on cars.com. (gentle music)