2019 Honda Passport

Pros: Comfortable ride; good off-road ability for a crossover; smooth V6

Cons: Transmission often reluctant to downshift; touchscreen controls can be finicky

CG Says: Honda launches a new midsize SUV for 2019 that revives a name from its past. The Passport is a two-row, 5-passenger SUV that slots between the compact CR-V and the three-row midsize Pilot in Honda’s model lineup. The Passport is built on the Pilot platform and has the same 111-inch wheelbase, but it’s six inches shorter overall and the Pilot’s third-row seat is deleted. Honda has also positioned the Passport as a more off-road-capable vehicle and given it a more rugged appearance than the family-oriented Pilot. A 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 9-speed automatic transmission is the sole powertrain. Front-wheel drive is standard and all-wheel drive is available on all models, except the topline Elite where it is standard. Standard on all trim levels is the Honda Sensing suite of safety features, which includes collision warning and mitigation, road-departure mitigation, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights. The new Passport inherits the Pilot’s strengths of excellent driving manners, good passenger room, and a smooth V6. In exchange for giving up the extra space and seating capacity of its larger Pilot sibling, the Passport gains a degree of off-road prowess and is a bit more maneuverable in tight quarters. If you’re in the market for a two-row SUV with a rugged-yet-refined attitude, the Passport is a must see.