You probably don't need one in sunny Los Angeles, but that isn't going to stop Honda from introducing its latest crossover there, the new Honda Passport. We know what you're thinking, and no, this one isn't a rebadged Isuzu like the Passport name would have you believe.
The plan is for this SUV to slot in between the CR-V and Pilot. Like the Pilot, it has a unibody frame (Honda actually says the Passport and Pilot are pretty much the same underneath) and comes with Honda's 3.5-liter V6 engine making 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This will be paired exclusively with Honda's nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive will be standard, but all-wheel drive with Honda's i-VTM4 torque vectoring is available on all trims. This system is pulled from the Pilot and Ridgeline. Honda claims this gives the Passport greater off-road ability, akin to more off-road-focused body-on-frame SUVs (we'll be the judge of that). Since it shares so much with the larger trucks it's based off of, the Passport also gets respectable towing ratings. If you opt for all-wheel drive, you're able to tow up to 5,000 pounds. The Passport rides an inch higher than the Pilot too, giving even more credence to its utilitarian slant.
What the new Passport resembles is a stubbier and sharper Pilot. There's no doubt the two share a similar design language, but the Passport looks far more off-road oriented. A floating roof design, spoiler and black strip along the tailgate might be the most distinctive design choices on Honda's latest SUV. A matte black grille and 20-inch wheels adorn all Passports as well. It all combines to make for what looks like a pretty normal SUV that doesn't take many chances in styling.