With a little over five years on the road and having brought back the Passport name in Honda’s lineup, the current Honda Passport is set to undergo a complete overhaul in 2025.
This revamp mirrors the one received by its three-row sibling, the Pilot, back in 2023. Although the current Passport’s lifespan isn’t exceptionally long by Honda’s standards, it has surpassed the typical duration for a Honda model.
Couple that with the significant updates bestowed upon the closely linked Pilot for the 2024 model year, and it’s reasonable to anticipate substantial changes for the Passport. Here’s an overview of everything we know and anticipate for the 2025 Honda Passport, essentially the two-row iteration of the three-row Pilot SUV:
Enhanced Chassis and Reinforced Body
The current Passport could benefit from some enhancements, not just because of its age. Expect improved styling akin to the latest Pilot – once again, the Passport is projected to closely resemble the Pilot from the rear wheels onwards.
Similarly, it should maintain the same wheelbase but with a shortened length; after all, without the need to accommodate a third-row seat (which is the Pilot’s responsibility), the two-row Passport will be more compact overall.
Following Honda’s approach with the Pilot, comparable enhancements in road and wind noise suppression, cabin technology, and chassis refinement are anticipated for the Passport.
Off-Road Abilities
A more focused and capable off-road-oriented TrailSport trim level is another anticipated Pilot improvement set to transition to the Passport. However, a more comprehensive off-road upgrade has always been in the plans for the next-generation Passport, mirroring the trajectory of the Pilot.
The current iteration of the Passport TrailSport serves as little more than a temporary design package, featuring improved tires for off-road driving, a slight suspension lift, and minimal additional enhancements.
While it may not undergo a sudden transformation into a direct competitor to the Jeep Wrangler on rugged trails, it is poised to compete head-to-head with other two-row SUVs and wagons boasting above-average off-road capabilities, such as the Grand Cherokee, Kia Sorento X-Pro, and Subaru Outback Wilderness.
Indeed, it appears to be the case—with a fresh chassis and updated electronics package, the 2025 Passport TrailSport is likely to evolve into a significantly improved off-roader akin to the latest Pilot TrailSport.
Anticipate the introduction of new components like skid plates, TrailWatch cameras, an enhanced Trail drive mode, and an improved AWD system designed to excel on challenging terrain.
Powertrains
Don’t expect to see a hybrid version of the Passport suddenly come to fruition, just like with the Pilot—even with this redesign.
While it’d be nice to see a hybrid option with this new chassis, even an upgraded version of the Accord sedan’s 2.0-liter I-4 with more powerful motors for something closer to 290 lb-ft of torque and an all-electric drive mode, don’t hold your breath.
Instead, the most likely motivator will be the same gas-fed 3.5-liter V-6 packaged with the same 10-speed automatic that the Pilot gets. This isn’t a bad thing, as this engine and transmission work well enough in Honda’s larger three-row Pilot SUV.
It’s powerful, and its larger displacement and additional gear don’t lead to a buzzy interior. It does tend to upshift early for fuel economy, but remember, and this is fundamentally a family SUV; if you’re in a hurry, it doesn’t hesitate to downshift when you demand more torque.
Interior
The interior will also see some improvements for the 2025 model, carrying over some of the elements we’ve seen in the Prologue (minus the GM influence) and, more directly, the latest Pilot. Hopefully, Honda will add the 10.2-inch fully digital gauge cluster display from the top-shelf Pilot trims, too.
Don’t expect any real differences between the Passport’s dashboard and the Pilot’s—which, sadly, probably means Honda will port over the Pilot’s smallish 9.0-inch touchscreen.
There is room in the Pilot’s dash for a larger screen, and Honda has a 12.3-inch touchscreen available—the Accord sedan has it. Something like that will come in handy when using those TrailWatch cameras in the TrailSport model.
While it might not have the Pilot’s body length, the 2025 Honda Passport won’t skimp on cargo room since it won’t need to store a third-row seat.
We expect to see the same second-row design as the Pilot, which means a middle-row center seat that can be stowed under the cargo floor.
This will create pseudo-captain’s chairs on models so equipped, and we hope Honda finds a way to make it easier to remove and handle what’s in the Odyssey and the Pilot.
Also read: Honda Recall: Steering Gear Box Issue Affects Models
