The 2024 Honda Passport Trailsport is off-road lite

Honda heard your comments on the 2022 Passport TrailSport and gave its off-road, trimmed adventurer a decent shot of steroids for 2024. The result? A more capable version of an already great vehicle. 

We reviewed the 2022 Passport TrailSport about a year and a half ago and walked away pretty impressed, even if the TrailSport designation felt more style over substance. It was a simple, low-drama offering from Honda, with tons of space and an abundance of everyday livability.

Its proportions have always just looked right, and it feels more light on its feet than its big brother, the Pilot. Thankfully it’s only gotten better, and Honda has remedied most of our complaints from our time with the original model. If you don’t need a third row, and like the prospect of a little adventure in your lifestyle, the Passport TrailSport is a sensible and enjoyable option that shouldn’t be overlooked.

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Photo credit: Honda Auto News

Upgraded suspension and tires

The 2022 Passport TrailSport we tested rode on Firestone Destination tires and honestly, until that test, we had forgotten that Firestone was still around. They performed decently well but were certainly a curious choice for a two-row SUV marketed for dusting up trails and fire roads. The new General Grabber tires perform much better, and they don’t seem much louder than standard all-season tires found on most two-row SUVs such as the Passport.

Honda also revised the Passport TrailSport’s suspension. The dampers have been retuned and are now softer, and the rear anti-roll bar is now solid instead of hollow. The result is a very comfortable ride on- and off-road, with a certain cushiness we especially appreciated on our road trip to Moab. Even if you never take the Passport TrailSport off-road, you’ll love driving it daily. 

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Photo credit: Honda Auto News

A spacious, comfortable and supremely practical interior

As is the case in all modern Hondas, the cabin is extremely comfortable, livable and practical. The front seats are wide and softly cushioned. The revised center console is a huge improvement and offers tons of storage — and it’s perfect for resting your arm on. The same goes for the door pockets. There are more pockets and cubbies in the Passport’s doors than in any other vehicle we’ve tested. The rear seat is likewise very comfortable with tons of legroom; it’s spacious enough for three adults to be comfortable for short drives.

Photo credit: Honda Auto News

A small complaint: The gear selector buttons take up an unnecessary amount of space on the center console. There could easily be another storage cubby if they were relocated to the dashboard or somewhere else.

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Being essentially a shortened, two-row version of the Pilot means there is a lot of cargo space in the rear. If you have a small family, you’ll have plenty of room for all your gear for a weekend adventure — or at least some very large Costco runs. 

Efficient motor, excellent road manners

After driving a string of electric vehicles, hybrids and turbocharged 4-cylinders, it was refreshing getting into something with a good ol’ naturally aspirated V6. The Passport retains its familiar 3.5-liter single-cam VTEC V6 engine, and it delivers good power — especially in its higher RPMs — with its 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. 

Photo credit: Honda Auto News

Power is distributed to all four wheels through a traditional 9-speed automatic transmission, which, like the engine, was refreshing in its simplicity. While lacking in lower RPM punch, push the accelerator deep and you’re rewarded with exhilarating VTEC cam-profile crossover sounds, which adds a little excitement to the Passport’s otherwise docile demeanor. As a daily driver, the Passport TrailSport excels in comfort and livability.

It’s also pretty efficient. We drove the Passport TrailSport in some combined highway and city driving for about 200 miles and averaged just over 20 mpg. We also took it on a 500-mile road trip and averaged a surprisingly frugal 28 mpg — not bad from a naturally aspirated single overhead cam V6. 

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Odyssey in the blood

As much as we enjoyed the Passport TrailSport, there is something about it we need to mention — the Odyssey of it all. Don’t get us wrong, Honda has done an excellent job at making the Passport TrailSport feel like its own thing. But there’s no denying its occasional and inherent minivan-esque mannerisms, especially with its outward front view and dash layout. 

We want to stress, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Minivans provide a comfortable and super user-friendly approach to their transportation. But if you’re truly wanting something a little more rugged looking and feeling, and ultimately more off-road capable, you may want to look elsewhere. That said, the Passport TrailSport is an excellent option for 90% of buyers. It does most things you want off-road and is exceptional on-road. 

Photo credit: Honda Auto News

Final thoughts

The 2024 Honda Passport TrailSport kicks off at $45,875, which seems reasonable for what you’re getting. Cosplay comments aside, the TrailSport's genuine off-road enhancements instill confidence for exploring beyond the parking lot, all without sacrificing the everyday driving experience. Between the ruggedized looks and pleasing off-road bits, it’s the Passport we’d buy.

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Highs: 

• Light off-roading prowess

• Exceptional everyday comfort, livability and practicality

• Durable, efficient V6

• Loads of space for passengers and cargo

• A better daily driver than most off-road-oriented vehicles on the market

Lows: 

• Could be too soft for some

• Very docile demeanor

• Upward-tilted, minivan-like dashboard layout

Photo credit: Honda Auto News

FAQs 

Is the Passport TrailSport fun to drive? 

We wouldn’t go so far as to call the TrailSport exciting, but it is very enjoyable. It’s easy to drive, non-threatening and gives off a dependable, predictable vibe that we found comforting for daily driving. 

Is it good for families? 

Definitely. If you have two kids, or maybe even three, this is a great choice for family hauling and weekend adventures. There’s plenty of cargo space in the rear for your family’s gear, and there are more cubbies and storage compartments than you could ever need. Honda has always prided itself on interior space and storage, and the Passport TrailSport continues that tradition.

*KSL Cars does not endorse any vehicles. The views or opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not reflect the views or opinions of KSL.com or its employees.