Trims and Features

The adventure-ready, rugged, and practical 2021 Honda Passport is one of those vehicles that can do it all. Not only is it built to take on a little dust with its torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system and hard-wearing construction, it’s also made for comfort with two spacious rows of seating, plenty of room for cargo, and a standard slate of connectivity technologies, such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Plus, the standard Honda Sensing suite of active driver aids will increase your peace of mind on the road. For 2021, the base Passport gets a new standard 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, an upgrade from last model year’s 5-inch unit (which lacked smartphone integration).

Power and Performance

The powertrain in the ’21 Passport is a 280 hp (262 lb.-ft. of torque) 3.5-liter V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. While front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport, EX-L, and Touring, the Elite has standard all-wheel drive, which is optional on the other trims. The FWD models are capable of pulling up to 3,500 pounds, while the AWD versions can tow up to 5,000 lb. FWD Passports are EPA-rated to achieve 20 mpg around town and 25 mpg on the highway, while the AWD ones return 19 city/24 highway.

Sport

The Sport is packed with features, especially for a base trim. For starters, it has standard low-beam LED headlights, LED fog lights and taillights. Other nice amenities on this trim are keyless entry and push-button start, tri-zone automatic climate control, rear privacy glass, a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, a one-touch fold-down 60/40-split rear seat, and cargo underfloor storage compartments. The required rearview camera is not a basic version, as it’s enhanced with guidelines and multiple angles. The Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features adds collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning. On the infotainment front, the Sport receives a revised system with an 8-inch touchscreen, smartphone integration (Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming, and a seven-speaker audio system. The center console has a USB port, and there are two 12-volt power outlets as well.

EX-L

The EX-L gets a bit more, such as heated side mirrors with turn-signal indicators, memory, and reverse tilt-down to make parallel parking easier; the multi-angle rearview camera is further enhanced with dynamic guidelines. Also standard are a moonroof, a power tailgate, a universal garage door opener, a sound-absorbing windshield, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, leather upholstery, power-adjustable heated front seats, driver’s seat memory, and second-row sunshades. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert is also issued, along with satellite radio, HD radio, hands-free SMS text messaging, and CabinControl, which lets passengers control some of the Passport’s basic functions using their smartphones.

Touring

The Touring is set up for long and comfortable road trips with sound-absorbing glass for the front and rear doors, illuminated beverage holders, ambient interior lighting, heated rear seats, and roof rails. It’s also sweetened with a hands-free liftgate, full LED headlights, front and rear parking sensors, power-folding side mirrors, a 115-volt power outlet, an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot, voice-controlled navigation, and a premium 10-speaker audio system.

Elite

The Elite has it all, from a heated steering wheel to ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a wireless smartphone charger. Those who want to deck it out even further can add all-season floor mats, illuminated door sill trim, fender flares, and front and rear underbody spoilers.

Power and Performance

The powertrain in the ’21 Passport is a 280 hp (262 lb.-ft. of torque) 3.5-liter V6 engine and a nine-speed automatic transmission. While front-wheel drive is standard on the Sport, EX-L, and Touring, the Elite has standard all-wheel drive, which is available for the other trims. The FWD models are capable of pulling up to 3,500 pounds, while the AWD versions can tow up to 5,000 lb. FWD Passports are EPA-rated to achieve 20 mpg around town and 25 mpg on the highway, while the AWD ones return 19 city/24 highway.

Safety and Technology

No matter which trim you choose, you’ll get the Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist features. On the base Sport, this includes collision mitigation braking, road departure mitigation, forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, lane keeping assist, and lane departure warning. The remaining trims also get blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert.

As mentioned above, the Sport receives a new infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth hands-free phone and audio streaming capability, a center console USB port, 12-volt power outlets for the front and center consoles, and a seven-speaker audio system. The EX-L adds satellite and HD radio and hands-free SMS text message, while the Touring is sweetened with an on-board Wi-Fi hotspot, voice-controlled navigation, a 115-volt power outlet, and a premium 10-speaker audio system.

*(NHSTA) Government 5-Star Safety Ratings are part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s New Car Assessment Program (www.safercar.gov). Model tested with standard side airbags (SAB).