The Honda Passport has two rows of seating, not three

The Honda Passport is a mid-size SUV built on a truck platform, and it seats five people across two rows. There is no third row option, whether you buy new or used. The second row has a 60/40 split-fold design, which means you can fold part of it down to expand cargo space, but the seat itself does not recline or slide to reveal a hidden third row underneath.

If you need a third row, you are looking at a different vehicle class. Honda makes the Pilot, which is a three-row SUV that seats up to eight people. The Passport is designed for buyers who want truck-like capability and a more compact footprint than a full-size three-row SUV.

Key Takeaways

  • The Honda Passport seats five people in two rows and does not offer a third row in any model year.
  • The second row folds flat to increase cargo space, but folding does not reveal additional seating.
  • If you need three rows of seating, the Honda Pilot is Honda's alternative in the SUV lineup.
  • The Passport's design prioritizes off-road capability and towing capacity over passenger volume.

How the Passport's interior layout works

The Passport's cabin is organized around the front bucket seats and a bench-style second row. The second row has a 60/40 split-fold mechanism, meaning the right side and left side fold independently. When you fold the second row completely flat, you get a nearly flat cargo floor that runs from the back of the front seats to the rear liftgate.

This design is common in mid-size SUVs and trucks. The advantage is flexibility: you can carry passengers and cargo in the same trip by folding only one side of the second row. The trade-off is that you lose the extra seating capacity that a third row would provide.

Passport versus Pilot: which Honda SUV fits your needs

Honda offers two main SUV lines for buyers who want more than a compact crossover. The Passport is the smaller, truck-based option. The Pilot is the larger, three-row family SUV. The choice depends on what you prioritize.

The Passport is better if you want a vehicle that handles off-road terrain, tows heavy loads, and has a smaller turning radius for city driving. It seats five people comfortably. The Pilot is better if you regularly need to transport more than five passengers or want a vehicle designed primarily for on-road comfort and family hauling. The Pilot seats up to eight people when all three rows are in use.

Both vehicles use Honda's reliability track record and come with similar warranty coverage. The Passport typically costs less than the Pilot, but the Pilot offers more interior space and passenger capacity for the price difference.

Cargo space with the second row folded

When you fold the Passport's second row flat, you get approximately 76 cubic feet of cargo space behind the front seats. With the second row in use, cargo space behind the second row is around 38 cubic feet. These numbers vary slightly depending on the model year and trim level, but the difference between the two configurations is significant.

The flat cargo floor is useful for hauling large items like furniture, building materials, or sports equipment. The Passport's truck-based design also means the cargo area has tie-down points and a more rugged construction than you would find in a traditional crossover SUV.

What model years of the Passport are available

The Honda Passport was reintroduced in 2019 after a long absence from the market. All Passport models from 2019 onward have the same two-row seating configuration. If you are shopping for a used Passport, any model year from 2019 to the present will have two rows only.

The original Passport, which was sold from 1994 to 2002, also had two rows of seating. There has never been a three-row version of the Passport in any generation.

Towing and payload capacity of the Passport

The Passport is designed to tow and carry heavy loads, which is one reason Honda did not add a third row. The vehicle's frame and suspension are engineered for towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds (depending on model year and configuration) and payload capacity of around 1,500 pounds. Adding a third row would reduce these capabilities and change the vehicle's center of gravity.

If you need both passenger seating and serious towing or hauling capacity, the Passport's two-row design is a deliberate choice. The Pilot, by contrast, has lower towing capacity (around 3,500 pounds) because its design prioritizes passenger comfort and interior space over truck-like capability.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a third row to a Passport after I buy it?

No. The Passport's frame, floor pan, and structural design do not support a third row. Aftermarket third-row kits do not exist for this vehicle because the engineering would be unsafe and impractical. If you need a third row, purchasing a different vehicle is your only option.

Does the Passport have more cargo space than the Pilot?

The Passport has more cargo space when the second row is folded flat (76 cubic feet versus 84 cubic feet in the Pilot with all rows folded). However, the Pilot offers more usable space for passengers because of the third row. Which vehicle is better depends on whether you prioritize passenger seating or cargo volume.

Is the Passport good for families with young children?

The Passport works well for families with up to three children, since it seats five people total. For larger families or frequent carpooling situations, the Pilot's three rows are more practical. The Passport is a good choice if your family size matches its seating capacity and you value off-road capability.

What year did Honda bring back the Passport?

Honda reintroduced the Passport in 2019 after discontinuing it in 2002. The modern Passport is built on the same platform as the Ridgeline pickup truck, which is why it has truck-like towing and payload capacity. All current Passport models have two rows of seating.