The 2024 Honda Passport (Finally) Ups Its Off-Road Game
And it goes dark with a new Black Edition, which is exactly what you’d imagine.
Honda has released the details on the 2024 Passport SUV—essentially, the shortened, two-row Pilot, for those who don't know—and the main focus of the updates mainly revolve around two versions: the Black Edition, and the TrailSport. The former is an aesthetic package which includes darkened accents and other special details, and is in line with a lot of Black/Night/Dark versions from other automakers. The TrailSport, previously a rugged-looking but soft-road-only appearance package, evolves into something that actually improves performance for admittedly mild off-roading, and that's the meat of the update.
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The TrailSport's Soft Opening
Honda's TrailSport strategy has been a little confusing. Launched as an "off-road" sub-brand on the 2022 Passport TrailSport, it was more about appearance than substance. The downsized 18-inch wheels were wrapped in "rugged-style" tires, with an on-road tread embellished with some chunky looking blocks on the sidewalls. Instead of skid plates, it featured "skid garnish." And while the Passport's competent 3.5-liter V-6 and capable all-wheel-drive system can surely provide the grunt and traction needed for mild off-roading duties, the initial Trailsport didn't offer much beyond some additional sidewall over the regular Passport. Not a great start for a would-be off-road sub-brand, no?
Yet even when it launched, Honda indicated that a more serious "off-road" TrailSport package was in the works, previewed by the TrailSport Rugged Roads concept. That featured a 1.5-inch lift, real (prototype) underbody armor, and Firestone all-terrain tires. That's more like it.
The 2024 Passport TrailSport Gets Tough(er)
Setting aside the confounding launch strategy, the 2024 Passport's TrailSport trim now offers some real meat, more in line with the first actual TrailSport model to enhance capability, the larger Pilot TrailSport. For one, we have "off-road tuned suspension" with new springs and damper valve tuning. Honda says this improves the off-road ride without degrading on-road comfort, and we'll be eager to put that to the test.
Next, real tires: General Grabber A/Tx, a genuine all-terrain tire, in 245/60R18 size. These will provide a real boost in traction when the going gets scrambly compared to the all-seasons on the older TrailSports. Incidentally, there's a 10mm increase in track width with this wheel and tire package.
And there are some nice aesthetic bits, as well. The new Diffused Sky Blue paint is exclusive to the 2024 TrailSport models. Inside, there's contrasting orange stitching, all-season rubber floor mats, and (of course) some logos lest you forget you're in a TrailSport.
2024 TrailSport: What's Unchanged
The basic hardware of the powertrain is unchanged. There's still a relatively thirsty V-6, displacing 3.5 liters and making 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. The i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system is unchanged, as well, but gains a "Trail" drive mode that enhances the brake-based virtual LSD system to improve traction off-road. And it can still tow 5,000 pounds.
There also still isn't any underbody protection, sort of. A stock Passport TrailSport won't have any under-armor, but a set—the specifics aren't clear, yet—will be available as a dealer-installed accessory.
2024 Honda Passport Goes Dark
As far as automotive appearance packages go, black is the new black (still). Blacked-out and darkened special editions are all the rage. There's nothing revolutionary here, but the Black Edition is now the top dog in the lineup, taking over from the Elite trim. It features lots of black/dark elements: 20-inch wheels, grille, headlight trim, side trim, door handles, window trim, fog light accents, and a sprinkling of badges. Inside, the leather seats get red accents and red contrast stitching on the wheel, seats, and door cards. Red accent lighting glows from underneath the dash, doors, and center console.
What Will the 2024 Passport Cost?
We don't know yet. Expect the same moderate price increases we generally see from model year to model year. Provided Honda doesn't drop a base trim, which we don't anticipate, the pricing shouldn't change too much beyond that. A current 2023 TrailSport starts at $44,975; with its additional equipment like all-terrain tires, may add a little extra to the bottom line beyond any typical year-to-year price increases.
Like a lot of the other staffers here, Alex Kierstein took the hard way to get to car writing. Although he always loved cars, he wasn’t sure a career in automotive media could possibly pan out. So, after an undergraduate degree in English at the University of Washington, he headed to law school. To be clear, it sucked. After a lot of false starts, and with little else to lose, he got a job at Turn 10 Studios supporting the Forza 4 and Forza Horizon 1 launches. The friendships made there led to a job at a major automotive publication in Michigan, and after a few years to MotorTrend. He lives in the Seattle area with a small but scruffy fleet of great vehicles, including a V-8 4Runner and a C5 Corvette, and he also dabbles in scruffy vintage watches and film cameras.
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