The 2025 Honda Passport is a mid-size SUV built for off-road driving
The 2025 Honda Passport is a rugged, body-on-frame SUV designed for people who want serious off-road capability without the size of a full-size truck. It sits between Honda's smaller CR-V and larger Pilot in the lineup. The Passport shares its platform with the Ridgeline pickup truck, which means it has genuine truck-based engineering underneath rather than a car-based frame.
Honda positions the Passport as an adventure vehicle. It comes standard with all-wheel drive, an independent double-wishbone front suspension, and a multi-mode all-terrain drive system that lets you adjust how the engine, transmission, and traction control respond to different surfaces — pavement, gravel, mud, or snow. The body is boxy and upright, which maximizes interior space and gives you better visibility than more rounded SUVs.
Key Takeaways
- The 2025 Passport uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and comes standard with a nine-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
- Honda offers the Passport in four trim levels — Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring — with prices starting around $48,000 before destination charges and taxes.
- The Passport can tow up to 5,000 pounds and has a ground clearance of 8.6 inches, making it capable on unpaved roads and light trails.
- Standard safety features include Honda Sensing, which bundles adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping information, and collision mitigation into one system across all trims.
- Fuel economy is approximately 21 miles per gallon in the city and 26 on the highway, though real-world numbers vary based on driving conditions and terrain.
Engine, transmission, and fuel economy
Every 2025 Passport uses the same 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6 is the same engine Honda uses in the Ridgeline and Pilot, so parts and service are widely available at Honda dealerships.
The EPA estimates fuel economy at 21 city and 26 highway miles per gallon for two-wheel drive models, though the Passport only comes in all-wheel drive. Real-world mileage depends heavily on how much time you spend on pavement versus rough terrain, how much weight you carry, and your driving habits. Off-road driving and towing will lower fuel economy noticeably.
The Passport has a 21-gallon fuel tank, which gives you a driving range of roughly 400 to 500 miles per tank under normal highway conditions. Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds with a proper hitch setup, which is moderate for this class — enough for a small trailer or jet skis, but not a large boat or enclosed cargo trailer.
Trim levels and what each one includes
Honda sells the 2025 Passport in four trim levels: Sport, EX, EX-L, and Touring. The Sport is the base model and starts around $48,000 before destination and taxes. It includes all-wheel drive, the V6 engine, Honda Sensing safety features, an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a backup camera.
The EX trim adds heated front seats, a power liftgate, and a larger 9-inch touchscreen. The EX-L includes leather upholstery, a power-adjustable driver's seat, a sunroof, and a 12-speaker audio system. The Touring, the highest trim, adds a panoramic sunroof, a head-up display that projects speed and navigation onto the windshield, and premium leather with heating and cooling for the front seats.
Each step up in trim adds comfort and convenience features rather than mechanical changes. The engine, transmission, and all-wheel drive system are identical across all four trims. Your choice between trims depends on how much interior comfort and technology you want, not on capability.
Off-road features and terrain management
The Passport's off-road strength comes from its body-on-frame construction, which means the body bolts to a separate steel frame underneath. This design is stiffer and more durable on rough terrain than a unibody design, where the body and frame are welded together as one unit. The Passport also has an independent double-wishbone front suspension, which allows each front wheel to move independently and maintain traction better than a solid axle on uneven ground.
The multi-mode all-terrain drive system is the Passport's signature off-road tool. You can select from Comfort, Normal, Gravel, Mud, and Snow modes using a dial on the dashboard. Each mode adjusts throttle response, transmission shift points, and traction control settings to match the surface. In Mud mode, for example, the system reduces traction control intervention so the wheels can spin slightly and dig through soft ground. In Snow mode, it prioritizes smooth power delivery to avoid wheel spin on slippery surfaces.
Ground clearance is 8.6 inches, which is respectable for a mid-size SUV and enough to clear most unpaved roads and light trails. The Passport is not designed for extreme rock crawling or deep water fording — it is built for backcountry roads, camping trips, and weekend adventures on terrain that would challenge a regular car or crossover.
Interior space and cargo capacity
The Passport seats five people across two rows. The front seats are spacious, and the second row has decent legroom for adults on shorter trips, though it is not as roomy as the larger Pilot. The boxy shape means headroom is generous throughout the cabin.
Cargo space behind the second row is 76.5 cubic feet with the seats up. If you fold the rear seats flat, you get 153.6 cubic feet of total cargo volume. That is enough for camping gear, sports equipment, or a week's worth of luggage for a family trip. The cargo floor is relatively flat and straightforward to load, and the power liftgate on EX and higher trims makes closing the hatch easier when your hands are full.
The interior design emphasizes durability. Surfaces are hard plastic rather than soft-touch materials, which means they are easier to clean after muddy adventures. Cup holders, door pockets, and storage cubbies are placed throughout the cabin for practical storage of phones, sunglasses, and small gear.
Safety features and crash test ratings
Honda Sensing is standard on every 2025 Passport trim. This safety package includes adaptive cruise control, which maintains a set distance from the car ahead; lane-keeping information, which gently steers you back into your lane if you drift; collision mitigation braking, which can explore the brakes if a crash is imminent; and road departure mitigation, which alerts you if you are drifting toward the edge of the road.
The Passport also comes with a backup camera, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert on all trims. Higher trims add a 360-degree camera system that shows a bird's-eye view of the vehicle, which is useful when navigating tight trails or parking in crowded spaces.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has not yet published crash test ratings for the 2025 Passport model year. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has not published ratings either. If crash test data is important to your decision, you can review the ratings for the 2024 Passport, which shares the same platform and safety systems, though ratings do not transfer automatically between model years.
Pricing and available options
The 2025 Passport starts at approximately $48,000 for the Sport trim before destination charges and taxes. The EX trim is around $51,000, the EX-L around $56,000, and the Touring around $61,000. These are manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRP), and actual prices vary by dealer, location, and current incentives.
Popular options and packages include the all-terrain tire package, which swaps the standard all-season tires for more aggressive off-road tires; the roof rack system for carrying extra gear; and the towing package, which includes a hitch receiver and wiring harness. Some dealers bundle options into packages, so the total cost of adding features may be less than buying them individually.
Honda occasionally offers incentives on the Passport, such as cash rebates or low-interest financing. These change throughout the year and vary by region. Checking with local Honda dealerships or Honda's official website will show you current pricing and any active promotions in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Passport compare to the Toyota 4Runner?
The Passport is smaller, lighter, and more fuel-efficient than the 4Runner, which makes it better for daily driving and lighter off-road use. The 4Runner is larger, heavier, and more capable on extreme terrain, but it costs more and gets worse fuel economy. The Passport is the better choice if you want a vehicle that works well on pavement and occasional trails; the 4Runner is better if you plan serious backcountry expeditions.
Can I use the Passport for towing a travel trailer?
The Passport can tow up to 5,000 pounds, which limits you to small travel trailers or lightweight cargo trailers. Most mid-size travel trailers weigh 5,000 to 8,000 pounds, so you would need to check the specific trailer's weight before purchasing. Larger trailers require a truck or full-size SUV.
What is the difference between the all-terrain drive modes?
Comfort and Normal modes are for pavement and normal driving. Gravel mode adjusts traction control for loose surfaces like gravel roads. Mud mode reduces traction control so wheels can spin slightly and dig through soft ground. Snow mode prioritizes smooth power delivery to avoid wheel spin on ice and snow. You select the mode that matches your current terrain using a dial on the dashboard.
Does the Passport come with a spare tire?
Yes, the 2025 Passport comes with a full-size spare tire mounted on the rear door, not a temporary donut. This is practical for off-road driving, where a full-size spare gives you better peace of mind if you get a flat far from help.
What kind of maintenance does the Passport require?
The Passport follows Honda's standard maintenance schedule: oil changes every 10,000 miles, tire rotation every 7,500 miles, and transmission fluid checks at regular intervals. Off-road driving may require more frequent air filter changes and undercarriage inspections. Your Honda dealership can provide a detailed maintenance schedule specific to your driving conditions.