1,500 Miles in a Honda Passport: A Real-World Road Trip Review

So, you’re thinking about a road trip. Not just a weekend jaunt, but a serious, multi-state, "are-we-there-yet" kind of adventure. You need a vehicle that’s part pack mule, part mobile living room, & part trusty steed that won’t leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere. Enter the Honda Passport. I recently took one on a 1,500-mile journey, & I’ve got some thoughts. A lot of thoughts, actually.

Here's the thing about the Passport: it’s not the flashiest SUV on the block. It doesn't have the rugged, rock-crawling reputation of a Jeep Wrangler or the sleek, futuristic vibe of some of the newer electric SUVs. But what it does have, in spades, is a quiet confidence that it can handle just about anything you throw at it on a long-haul drive. And honestly, that’s exactly what you want when you’re hundreds of miles from home.

Our trip was a classic American road trip: a mix of wide-open interstates, winding back roads, & even a few city detours. We had two adults, a mountain of luggage, & a healthy dose of skepticism about whether the Passport would live up to the hype. Here’s how it went.

Let's just get this out of the way: the Passport is a FANTASTIC road trip vehicle. But it's not perfect. No car is. Here's a breakdown of what I loved, what I didn't, & what genuinely surprised me.

When you’re staring down the barrel of a 10-hour driving day, seat comfort is EVERYTHING. And this is where the Passport really shines. The front seats are wide, supportive, & have just the right amount of cushioning. I’m talking about the kind of seats that you can sink into for hours on end without feeling like you need a chiropractor at every rest stop. One of the best features is the adjustable armrest. It’s a small thing, but being able to get it in that perfect position makes a huge difference over a long drive.

The back seat is just as impressive. I had a full-grown adult in the back for a good portion of the trip, & they had more than enough legroom & headroom. The rear seats are also surprisingly comfortable, even the middle one. The only real complaint I have is the lack of a recline function for the rear seats. It’s a strange omission in a vehicle that’s otherwise so well-suited for long journeys.

The cabin is also impressively quiet. Honda has done a great job of soundproofing the Passport, so you don’t get a lot of road or wind noise, even at highway speeds. This makes it a really relaxing place to be, whether you're listening to a podcast, an audiobook, or just enjoying the relative silence.

The Passport comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, & it’s a gem. It’s smooth, powerful, & never feels strained, even when you’re loaded down with gear & climbing a steep mountain pass. Merging onto the highway is a breeze, & there’s always plenty of power on tap for passing.

Now, let’s talk about fuel economy. This is where the V6 shows its age a little. The EPA estimates for the Passport are around 21 mpg combined, with 19 in the city & 25 on the highway. On our trip, we averaged around 24 mpg, which is pretty much what I expected. It’s not going to win any awards for fuel efficiency, but for a vehicle of this size with a V6 engine, it’s not terrible. I've seen some owners report getting as high as 29 mpg on long, flat stretches of highway, but I think that would require a very light foot.

The bottom line is this: if you’re looking for a fuel-sipper, the Passport probably isn’t it. But if you value a smooth, powerful engine that can handle anything you throw at it, the V6 is a worthy trade-off.

Okay, maybe it’s not a black hole, but the Passport’s cargo space is seriously impressive. We’re talking 41 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, which is more than enough for a couple of large suitcases, a cooler, & a whole bunch of other gear. With the rear seats folded down, that expands to a cavernous 78 cubic feet. To put that in perspective, you could easily fit a couple of mountain bikes back there with room to spare.

One of my favorite features is the underfloor storage compartment in the cargo area. It’s a great place to stash valuables, dirty shoes, or anything else you want to keep out of sight. It’s also removable, so you can take it out & clean it easily.

This is where things get a little more complicated. The Passport’s infotainment system is...fine. It’s not the best system I’ve ever used, but it’s not the worst either. The touchscreen is a decent size, & it comes with Apple CarPlay & Android Auto, which is a must-have for any road trip.

The biggest issue I had was with the built-in navigation system. On more than one occasion, it got completely lost & had us driving in circles. After a while, we just gave up & used Waze on our phones. It’s a small thing, but it’s frustrating when you’re in an unfamiliar area & you’re relying on your car to get you where you need to go.

On the plus side, the driver-assist features are excellent. The adaptive cruise control is smooth & works well in a variety of situations. The lane-keeping assist is also a great feature, although I did find that it struggled a bit in heavy rain.

One of the challenges of any road trip is dealing with parking, especially when you’re visiting a new city. We spent a day exploring a bustling downtown area, & finding a parking spot was a nightmare. That’s where a service like Prked comes in handy. It’s a pretty cool app that connects you with people who are renting out their driveways & garages. We were able to find a secure, affordable spot just a few blocks from where we wanted to be, which was a HUGE stress-saver. It’s a great option to keep in mind if you’re planning a road trip that includes any city stops.

Our test vehicle was the TrailSport trim, which is Honda’s attempt to give the Passport a more rugged, off-road-ready vibe. It comes with all-terrain tires, a slightly different suspension tuning, & some unique styling cues.

Here’s the thing: the TrailSport is a perfectly capable SUV. It can handle dirt roads, snowy conditions, & the occasional trip to a remote campsite with no problem. But it’s not a hardcore off-roader. It doesn’t have the ground clearance or the suspension travel of a Jeep or a Toyota 4Runner.

So, do you really need the TrailSport trim? For most people, the answer is probably no. The standard Passport is more than capable of handling the vast majority of driving conditions you’re likely to encounter on a road trip. The all-terrain tires on the TrailSport are also a bit noisier on the highway & they do hurt your fuel economy a little.

That being said, if you’re someone who regularly ventures off the beaten path, or if you just like the look of the TrailSport, then it’s a great option. It’s a well-rounded package that adds a little bit of extra capability without sacrificing too much in the way of on-road comfort.

After 1,500 miles behind the wheel, I can confidently say that the Honda Passport is one of the best road trip vehicles on the market today. It’s not the most exciting SUV you can buy, but it’s one of the most practical. It’s comfortable, spacious, & has a powerful engine that can handle anything you throw at it.

It’s the kind of vehicle that you can load up with all your gear, point it at the horizon, & just drive. It’s a trusty companion that will get you where you’re going in comfort & style. And at the end of a long day of driving, that’s really all you can ask for.

If you’re in the market for a new SUV & you’ve got a long road trip on your mind, do yourself a favor & take a look at the Honda Passport. You might be surprised at just how much you like it.

Hope this was helpful! Let me know what you think.