After the comeback in 2019, the Passport SUV was unchanged for the current season. The company didn’t unveil it, but we can expect first updates next year. The 2021 Honda Passport is a very close sibling to the Pilot SUV. The flagship model goes through a serious upgrade for 2021, and its relative could get similar modifications when the time for the first facelift comes. It will be in 2022 or 2023.
Fans are curious to find out if the new 2021 Honda Passport is getting the hybrid engine. Well, Pilot is not offering this type of powerplant yet. But, the new system is close to production, sources say. Again, these are only speculations, and we cannot take them as official info. We expect Pilot Hybrid from 2018-19 season, and so far, fans see only delays. The new model was spotted with interesting details, finally confirming the rumors.
The exterior and interior are not going to suffer big changes. Shuffling the options within existing trim levels will be the biggest thing we will see on the 2021 Passport. The Japanese carmaker also has some interesting options in other segments, which could be used for the newest SUV to boost its popularity.
2021 Honda Passport Engines
Under the bonnet of the 2021 Honda Passport is the most reliable unit the company has to offer. A 3.5-liter drivetrain is not the most powerful, most torquier, nor the most efficient in the segment. But the combination of all elements made it so popular and launched the popularity of Pilot to the orbit. The company is using this engine for all its large models, including the Ridgeline truck.
The powerplant can deliver 280 horsepower. Toyota’s 3.5-liter unit makes 290, Nissan’s 3.6-l mill 295, and similar outputs we see from FCA’s Pentastar powertrain. Honda’s engineers tuned the engine to create 262 lb-ft of torque, which is again less than the competition. The power goes through a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The 2021 Honda Passport is not using a six-pace transmission as its closest sibling.
The transfer case forwards energy to front wheels, while the AWD is optional. Lower outputs and a new gearbox make the Passport pretty efficient. Interestingly, 20/26 mpg in city/highway drive is worse than Pilot can do with the same setup (20/27). Still, the all-wheel drive returns the same mileage for both Honda’s mid-size SUVs.
2021 Honda Passport Hybrid
This is a hot topic. Well, Passport has not as many fans as Pilot, but it is obvious that two siblings will share the future regarding hybrid technology. Honda Pilot was spied with something we believe is going to be a plug-in system. However, the Japanese company is not confirming it yet. The 2021 Honda Passport Hybrid would make a strong impact on the market with a better fuel economy. We still don’t have precise numbers and the gas mileage will heavily depend on the type of hybrid system. In case the company delivers the plug-in version, the Passport SUV will be able to run by using only an electric motor.
Exterior and Interior
Without big changes, we will see the same trim levels on the new 2021 Passport. There are four packages available for this SUV. The base model is Sport and it comes with 20-inch wheels, push-button start, automatic climate control, and Honda sensing safety system. The EX-L makes the most popular smartphone services available for the SUV. Besides Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the Passport EX-L also comes with leather seats and a 10-way power driver’s bucket and heated front row. Touring is already delivering some premium features, such as a 10-speaker audio system, or hands-free power liftgate. Navigation becomes standard. The top of the line is the 2021 Honda Passport Elite. If you are wondering what’s left for this one, we will mention a few things: wireless charging spot, ventilated seats, automatic vipers…
2021 Honda Passport vs Pilot
The two largest SUVs by the Japanese carmaker are very similar, not only mechanically, but also visually. It is hard to recognize which model is on the streets if you are not a true fan. Upfront, everything is pretty much the same. The tail of the Passport is different. Larger Pilot offers more cargo space (84 cubic feet to 78 cu.ft.). The extra room is enough for the third row of seats. Well, the rear bench is suitable for children only and it cuts some space for passengers in the middle row. Still, the captain’s chairs will fix the situation.
Pricing
The base Passport was more expensive than its largest sibling. This was strange. But, the offer of features and accessories was wider. Reshuffling will make the new model cheaper, but it will cut some of the options at the entry-levels. The new Passport is going to cost around $32,000. With a $44,000 price tag, Elite is a premium offer. Honda offers Acura MDX for slightly more.
