Honda has introduced the refreshed 2022 Honda Passport with a new, more rugged exterior design and improved off-road capability, the automaker announced.
Design updates for the adventure-ready Passport include a new, more aggressive front end and a new rear bumper with larger exhaust outlets.
Taking Passport’s new rugged styling even further is the first-ever Passport TrailSport, the company said. Created for active buyers focused on adventure, the new Passport TrailSport combines Passport’s unibody construction, independent front and rear suspension, and torque-vectoring AWD system with TrailSport exclusive exterior and interior styling.
Passport’s cabin has also been refreshed and the entire Passport lineup has been enhanced with new Rear Seat Reminder and rear seatbelt reminder technology for additional peace of mind.
“Honda’s light trucks are truly rugged although some aren’t familiar with their excellent off-road capabilities,” said Dave Gardner, executive vice president of National Operations, American Honda Motor Co. “Passport now gets the tough and rugged looks to match its off-road competence and TrailSport will further enhance the off-road capabilities of our vehicles.”
Passport’s new front and rear styling better reflect its rugged capabilities. New sheet metal from the A-pillars forward includes a new hood with a pronounced power bulge, a new squared-off nose and upright grille design unique to Passport, and new front fenders. Atop the grille is a crossbar that bisects the headlight lenses, finished in chrome on Sport, and painted gloss black on TrailSport and Touring.
A new more aggressive rear bumper features cutouts for larger twin exhaust outlets, plus a tow hitch cover and skid garnish design that matches the more rugged front-end styling.
All Passport grades also feature new alloy wheel designs. Sport and TrailSport are equipped with new 18-inch diameter wheels, while Touring receives newly designed 20-inch wheels.
A new HPD Edition has been created in collaboration with Honda Performance Development (HPD). The HPD Edition adds a unique grille treatment, black fender flares, aggressive wheels and special HPD graphics on the rear quarter panel.
Every 2022 Passport is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and is backed by a 9-speed automatic transmission. Standard on all Passport trims is Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system.
In addition, Passport’s four-mode Intelligent Traction Management allows drivers to customize the i-VTM4 system for different terrains, including sand, snow, mud and paved roads. The SUV also has 8.1-inches of ground clearance and a 5,000-pound towing capacity.
Passport seats five comfortably, and its class-leading 50.5 cu.-ft. of cargo space.
The first in what will be a new series of Honda TrailSport vehicles, the 2022 Passport TrailSport is packed with exclusive styling and unique interior touches. The new Passport TrailSport features a unique grille treatment, and more aggressive front and rear bumpers with skid garnish designs painted silver.
Orange TrailSport badges are applied on the grille and tailgate, while the Passport and AWD badges are painted gloss black instead of the chrome used on the rest of the lineup.
New machined 18-inch wheels with Pewter painted highlights are also unique to TrailSport, and its front and rear track widths are increased 10 mm to improve stance and stability. The design of its 245/60R18 tires includes sidewall tread.
Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and Intelligent Traction Management systems are standard. TrailSport also includes a heated windshield wiper parking area to keep them from getting stuck in frigid conditions.
In the cabin, TrailSport features orange contrast stitching on the steering wheel, door panels and seats, with the TrailSport logo embroidered on the front seat headrests and molded onto the available all-season rubber floor mats. TrailSport’s gauge cluster features the same new grey lighting and white needles as the rest of the Passport lineup, but with a grade-specific black chrome gauge surround. At night, the interior features exclusive amber ambient lighting in the footwells, overhead console, door handle pocket, door tray and cupholders.
Over the next few model years, the off-road capability of the Passport TrailSport will increase further with future upgrades such as more aggressive tires and off-road-tuned suspension, Honda said.
