2022 Honda Passport Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?

Honda just seems to keep improving the Passport - their answer to the rising demand for mid-size SUV. The Passport slates between the smaller CR-V and the third-row Pilot. It has more off-roading capabilities than the Pilot and is somewhat shorter due to not having that third row. So, if you do need a third row of seats, you might want to look at the Pilot instead. But for those who just need two rows, the 2022 Honda Passport might pique your interest.

Some of the driver aids lack refinement, but Honda has made some important changes to the 2022 Passport that should make it more enjoyable. It has a rugged appeal that is backed by a powerful V6 engine. While front-wheel drive is standard, you can opt for an all-wheel drive (AWD) system with torque-vectoring. And the interior? Why, it is downright spacious for a vehicle in its segment. Honda knows how to make the most of its interiors, and the Passport is no exception.

Could the Passport be the right vehicle for you? What's new for this year's line-up? We'll go over that as well as letting you know some things we like about the Passport, a few areas that could use improvement, and how the Passport stacks up against a couple of rivals.

What's New for 2022?

There have been a few changes made to the 2022 Honda Passport line-up. First and foremost, the vehicle's styling looks a lot more athletic and outdoorsy than it ever has before. This updated styling keeps up appearances with what is going on in the SUV world right now. While the Sport and Touring trims have been axed from this year's line-up, you can opt for the brand-new TrailSport trim level, which brings with it an even more rugged aesthetic and performance.

 

Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2022 Honda Passport – The Pros

1. A Spirited Standard V6 Engine

The 2022 Honda Passport derives much of its character from the standard 3.5-L V6 engine. Paired up with a nine-speed automatic transmission, this engine delivers a solid and steady 280 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The nine-speed produces some smooth shifts, which helps get the power to the wheels without interruption. This SUV can get from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 6.8 seconds, which is one of the fastest times for this class.

2. Skilled at Handling and Steering

Nimble in its handling, the Passport exhibits an athletic prowess that matches its newly rugged appearance. Its ability to corner and handle overall is better than the average two-row SUV. And, with the steering being so well weighted, the Passport feels light while rounding through turns and responsive to your inputs. All in all, this should inspire a lot of driver confidence.

3. A Well-tuned Suspension

Although slightly firmer than the suspension on the Pilot, the Passport's suspension comes off as being well-tuned for comfort. The suspension keeps small bumps from making their way into their cabin, and it is just as adept at controlling bigger body motions. This should offer plenty of comfort for the vehicle's occupants.

4. Comfortable Seats With Reclining Abilities

The Passport's front seats might not have a lot of side bolstering, but they are still sculpted and padded pretty well. They have a lot of width, so those with wider hips and thighs should feel like they have enough room on either side of their outer thighs. The rear seats are cozy too, and their reclining function can provide even more comfort. It is easy to enjoy a long road-trip in this SUV.

5. Effective Climate Control

Further enhancing occupants' comfort is the tri-zone climate control system. It gets the zone to the set temperature and holds it there. Heated front seats are standard across the line-up, and the line-topping Elite trim level adds ventilation to those seats. Rear seat climate controls are also equipped on the Elite and can really come in handy.

6. Plenty of Cabin Space

The Passport is a sizable two-row SUV, and Honda makes the most of the space it offers. No matter which row you are in, you will get plenty of head and leg space. This bodes well for taller folks who need those precious inches of space in order to feel comfortable. You can fit two full sized adults and a smaller adult or child in the center of the second row and still have a little space left over.

7. A User-friendly Touchscreen

The Passport's touchscreen infotainment system is user-friendly and downright attractive to look at. The screen won't blind you with glare, and the menus are all easy enough to follow. You should experience a rather short learning curve on this system. The features function pretty seamlessly on it, and you can simply sync your smartphone in order to use your favorite apps on the system.

8. A Superb Premium Sound System Option

While the standard sound system works just fine, the 10-speaker premium sound system is nothing short of impressive. Music buffs should enjoy cranking up their favorite tunes and crooning along as they cruise along on the highway. It can be clearly heard from anywhere in the cabin, and there isn't any road or wind noise that will try to drown it out.

9. Plenty of Cargo Space

There is a rather generous 41.2 cubic feet behind the second row of seats. If you need more space for bulky cargo, you can fold the rear seats down. This nabs you a grand total of 77.9 cubic feet of cargo space, which is above average for an SUV of this size. Despite the high load height, you can get quite a lot in the cargo area without too much hassle.

10. An Abundance of Small Item Storage Areas

The cabin is versatile when it comes to small item storage areas. The center console has a spacious cubby hole built into it, and there are massive door pockets on each door. In fact, the entirety of the cabin is outfitted with sizable cubby holes and pockets. You'll easily find a place to stash your tablet, cell phone, or purse.

Reasons Not to Buy a 2022 Honda Passport – The Cons

1. Squishy Brakes and Some Nosedive

The Passport's brakes are its one sour spot. All of our other gripes are pretty minor, but the squishy brakes detract from an otherwise flawless driving performance. And, if you brake rather quickly, you will notice a good amount of nosedive. Some firmer brakes would help prevent these issues.

2. Adaptive Cruise Control Could Work Better

While most of the advanced driver aids work alright, the adaptive cruise control could do better. It only works at 20 miles per hour and above, so you cannot get it down to 0 mph like you can in other vehicles. This would be much more helpful for slow speed roads and traffic jams. Tweaking it to get the system to work down to 0 mph would bode well for Honda.

3. A High Load Height

This won't be a problem for too many people, but if you're on the shorter side, the Passport's high load height might be kind of a problem. If you have to lift a big, heavy item into the cargo area, you're going to have quite the distance to lift up.

4. Fuel Economy is Just Average

Fuel economy is usually a highlight for a Honda, but it is merely average on the Passport. You get an EPA estimated 21 mpg combined (from 19 city mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway) from the AWD-equipped versions, and the FWD models only fare slightly better. This is extremely average for a mid-size SUV.

 

How It Stacks Up to the Competition:

2022 Honda Passport vs. 2022 Chevrolet Blazer

The 2022 Chevy Blazer is similar in price point and size to the Passport. It also has a powerful V6 engine available, and the ride quality is totally on point for this segment. For an SUV of its size, the handling feels remarkably agile. However, the Blazer struggles with head space in the rear. Taller occupants will feel the need to scrunch themselves down into their seats. Also, the Blazer's max cargo capacity is sub par for the segment.

2022 Honda Passport vs. 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe is a top contender this year thanks to its swift turbo 2.5-L engine and plethora of standard driver aids and infotainment features. Along with some lengthy warranty coverage, the Santa Fe packs in a ton of value. But this SUV has a too-soft suspension that takes away from its ride quality. It also has a 10.25-inch touchscreen display that casts way too much glare.

Conclusion

The 2022 Honda Passport has a few minor things that keep it from being best-in-class, but it sure does come close. It does best the competition in many ways, especially in how athletic it looks and feels. The Passport is also comfortable and quiet, providing you with a practical and feature-rich SUV suited to single folks and small families alike.