2024 Honda Passport TrailSport Ventures Further from Mere Cosplay

Honda’s TrailSport badge started as pure cowboy cosplay, adding visual flair but little else to the automaker’s two-row mid-size SUV. In our test of a 2022 Passport TrailSport, we felt it fell short of the mark and could stand to pack some true off-road credentials. Honda decided to remedy that for 2024 with some hardware changes, namely to the suspension and tires, and the results show that Honda was able to make these changes without sullying the Passport’s primary mission of reliable family drayage.

That 2022 Passport TrailSport we tested rode on 18-inch 245/60R-18 Firestone Destination LE2 all-season tires—fine shoes for mall-crawling, sure, but not exactly built for whipping down muddy ruts. Now, the TrailSport comes standard with same-sized General Grabber A/T Sport all-terrain tires, sporting some chunky treads. A brief foray into the dirt reveals plenty of traction, but how do they fare in more commonly occurring scenarios?

Quite well, actually. Our ears pick up some extra tire noise at low speeds, and we can hear a little extra slap over expansion joints and the like, but the Generals don’t exhibit tramlining on grooved pavement, and the noise level at highway speeds sounds about even with the 2022 model. But you can’t have it all, folks; when we get the Passport onto our 300-foot skidpad, we expect grip levels to decrease compared to the all-seasons. Something’s gotta give.

While the tires will be a big help in the dirt, they aren’t alone. Honda also made tweaks to the Passport TrailSport’s suspension. Specifically, both the springs and passive dampers have been retuned for the dirt, and the anti-roll bars promise more articulation. We weren’t able to spend much time off-road, but the time that was spent there revealed more capability than before. Softening everything up and adding articulation can help when you’re off the beaten path, but it has the possibility of turning the on-road ride quality into Victorian orphan gruel. That is thankfully not the case here, as the Passport retains good body control in daily driving scenarios, leaning more cushy than mushy.

Since its inception, the Passport has offered gobs of cargo space and a very livable cabin, but Honda decided to throw a little love in that direction as well. The old center console has been swapped out for a larger one. A big armrest hinges upward to reveal enough space to throw a purse or a small shopping bag, while the wireless device charger ahead of the shift buttons changes orientations, making room for another small tchotchke tray. A front USB-C port will make for zippier charging too. The display scheme doesn’t change: The TrailSport’s partial-digital gauge cluster and 8.0-inch center touchscreen are still tilted toward the sunroof for some reason.

We regret to inform you that Honda’s slick new dual-overhead-cam V-6 has not made its way down from the Pilot (yet). The Passport makes do with the same 3.5-liter single-cam VTEC V-6 as before, making the same 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, which gets routed to all four wheels via a nine-speed automatic transmission. There isn’t a whole lot of oomph in the lower half of the tachometer, but if you wring it out, you’ll get treated to some fun VTEC cam-profile crossover sounds. The 2022 Passport TrailSport required 6.0 seconds to reach 60 mph in our hands, and the 2024 model should perform similarly.

The 2024 Honda Passport TrailSport starts at $45,875, and its $900 year-over-year price bump seems appropriate given all the new kit thrown in. But if you still want to ramp up the window dressing, Honda will oblige. Honda Performance Development packages will add black 18-inch alloy wheels, black lug nuts, taillight accents, and a different grille for $2250—or $2800 if you also want fender flares. Our example included a dealer-installed oil-pan protector, but we still wish a suspension lift was offered for even more capability.

Whether you want to play dress up or not, the TrailSport’s honest-to-goodness off-road-friendly additions should give owners the confidence to venture a little farther from the parking lot without feeling like the daily experience has been compromised in the process.

Source: Reviews - aranddriver.com