Honda — Passport
The Honda Passport is a mid-size sport utility vehicle (SUV) manufactured by the Japanese automaker Honda. First introduced in 1993, the Passport has gone through three generations, with the current iteration launched in 2019 for the 2020 model year. Initially a badge-engineered version of another manufacturer's SUV, the Passport later transitioned to a Honda-developed platform, establishing itself as a popular choice in the competitive mid-size SUV segment. Known for its blend of comfort, capability, and safety features, the Passport continues to be a strong contender in the market.
Honda — Passport
Base MSRP by Year
All figures are $USD and US Pricing
Annual Sales (US)
All figures are x1000
Phase 1: Badge Engineering (1993-2002)
Entering the SUV Market: In the early 1990s, the SUV market was rapidly growing in the US. Honda, known for its reliable and fuel-efficient cars, wanted a piece of the pie. However, they lacked the resources and time to develop their own SUV from scratch. Partnership with Isuzu: To enter the market quickly, Honda partnered with Isuzu, a Japanese automaker known for its off-road expertise. The result was the 1994 Honda Passport, which was essentially a rebadged version of the Isuzu Rodeo. Two Generations: This partnership lasted for two generations of the Passport: • 1st Generation (1993-1997): Offered in both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) options, with a choice between a 4-cylinder and a V6 engine. • 2nd Generation (1998-2002): Saw a redesign with a slightly smaller wheelbase and a more powerful V6 engine.
Phase 2: Honda-Developed Platform (2019-Present)
Shifting Strategies: By the early 2000s, Honda had established itself in the SUV market with the CR-V and Pilot models. They decided to end the partnership with Isuzu and develop their own platform for the Passport. Hiatus and Revival: • After a 16-year hiatus, Honda revived the Passport name in 2019 for the 2020 model year. This new Passport was a completely different vehicle, built on a Honda platform specifically designed for the mid-size SUV segment. Current Generation: The current generation (5th) launched in 2022 with further refinements and a new TrailSport trim offering a more rugged appearance and off-road capabilities. Key Points • The initial development of the Passport relied on badge engineering, leveraging Isuzu's expertise. • Later generations saw Honda take the lead in developing a unique platform tailored to the mid-size SUV market. • The Passport's revival reflects Honda's continued commitment to competing in the growing SUV segment.
Comments (coming soon)
8 days ago
This is just a sample comment. If you can read this, you have probably removed the blur effect.
8 days ago
This is a sample comment. You can safely ignore this
8 days ago
This is a sample comment. It is going to be very long and at the maximum character length allowed for a comment on a page like this. It is to make sure that everyone knows that comments will not be longer than this and the maximum length is indeed the longest length of
8 days ago
This is a sample comment. It is going to be very long and at the maximum character length allowed for
8 days ago
This is a sample comment. It is going to be very long and at the maximum character length allowed for a comment on a page like this. It is to make sure that everyone knows that comments will not be longer than this and the maximum length is indeed the longest length of