2024 Honda Passport: The Complete Buyer's Guide

The 2024 Honda Passport sits in an interesting position in the SUV market — larger than a CR-V, more car-like than a Pilot, and genuinely capable off the pavement in a way that most two-row family SUVs aren't. If you're shopping in this segment, understanding exactly what the Passport is and what it isn't will save you from buying the wrong vehicle or overpaying for the right one.

This guide covers how the 2024 Passport is built, what makes it different from its competitors and siblings, what to watch for across trim levels, and what variables will shape your actual ownership costs — including factors that depend entirely on where you live and how you drive.

What the 2024 Passport Is (and What It Isn't)

The Passport is a two-row, five-seat midsize SUV — a segment sometimes called the "mid-size two-row" category to distinguish it from three-row vehicles like the Pilot or Explorer. Honda redesigned the Passport for the 2022 model year, and the 2024 continues that generation with a more rugged exterior stance, a revised interior, and a powertrain tuned for both highway comfort and moderate trail use.

This isn't a body-on-frame truck-based SUV like a 4Runner or Bronco. The Passport rides on a unibody platform shared with the Pilot, which means it handles more like a car than a truck — more comfortable on daily commutes, but with less raw off-road durability than purpose-built trail rigs. That trade-off defines the vehicle's personality: genuinely capable in mud, gravel, snow, and light trails, without sacrificing the ride quality and fuel economy most buyers expect from a family hauler.

Powertrain and Drivetrain: What's Under the Hood

Every 2024 Passport comes with the same engine: a 3.5-liter V6 producing approximately 285 horsepower, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Honda doesn't offer a four-cylinder, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid variant in this model year — if powertrain efficiency is your priority over power, that's a meaningful consideration.

Buyers choose between front-wheel drive (FWD) and Honda's i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system. The AWD system is torque-vectoring, meaning it can distribute power not just between the front and rear axles but between the rear wheels individually — a real-world advantage in cornering, loose surfaces, and low-traction conditions. FWD models cost less and return slightly better fuel economy; AWD models add capability at the expense of efficiency and purchase price.

The Passport also includes selectable drive modes — Normal, Eco, Sport, Snow, Mud, and Sand — which adjust throttle response and AWD torque distribution. Snow, Mud, and Sand modes are only available on AWD trims.

Fuel economy figures are EPA-estimated and vary by trim and drivetrain configuration; FWD models generally return a few more miles per gallon than AWD equivalents. Actual fuel costs depend on local gas prices, your driving mix (highway versus city), and driving habits.

Trim Levels and What They Actually Affect

🔎 The 2024 Passport is offered in four trims: Sport, EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite. Understanding what changes across trims — not just what features are added, but what's structurally or mechanically different — matters for both pricing and long-term ownership.

The TrailSport deserves particular attention. It isn't just a cosmetic package — it includes a specially tuned AWD system, all-terrain tires as standard equipment, underbody skid plates, and additional ground clearance. If off-road or winter capability is a genuine priority, this trim is mechanically different from the Sport or EX-L, not just dressed differently.

The Elite represents the opposite end: maximum features, AWD standard, but oriented toward comfort and technology rather than trail readiness.

Safety and Driver-Assistance Technology

The 2024 Passport includes Honda Sensing as standard equipment across all trims. This suite covers adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, collision mitigation braking, and road departure mitigation. Higher trims add features like a surround-view camera system and blind-spot monitoring.

Advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) like these require periodic attention — camera calibration after windshield replacement, for example, and potential sensor issues if a vehicle is in a collision. These systems add safety value but also add repair complexity and cost compared to vehicles without them. Any buyer purchasing a used or CPO Passport should verify that all sensors and cameras are functioning correctly.

🛠️ What to Inspect Before You Buy

Whether you're buying new or used, a few areas deserve particular attention on any 2024 Passport:

Tires and alignment — TrailSport models come with all-terrain tires that have different wear patterns than standard highway tires. Check remaining tread depth and whether the tires are appropriate for your intended use. Replacing a full set of all-terrain tires costs significantly more than standard touring tires.

Technology systems — The infotainment system includes a large touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and multiple connected services. These are worth testing thoroughly during any test drive or pre-purchase inspection, as software issues in modern vehicles are common and not always resolved easily.

Roof rack and tow hitch condition (used vehicles) — If the vehicle has been used for hauling or overlanding, inspect attachment points for stress or corrosion. The Passport is rated to tow up to approximately 5,000 pounds when properly equipped, and a used vehicle that's been used near that capacity warrants closer mechanical inspection.

For used Passports, a pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly advisable. Honda has a generally strong reliability reputation in this segment, but individual vehicle history matters more than brand averages.

Financing, Pricing, and What Shapes Your Actual Cost

The Passport's MSRP spans a meaningful range across trims, and the gap between base and fully loaded can be substantial. As with any new vehicle purchase, the sticker price is the starting point — not the final number.

Financing rates depend on your credit profile, the lender, and whether you're using manufacturer financing, a bank, or a credit union. Honda Financial Services periodically offers promotional APR rates on new vehicles, but these offers vary by region and change frequently — verifying current offers directly with a dealer or Honda's website is the only way to know what's available at the time of purchase.

Sales tax, title fees, registration fees, and dealer documentation fees vary significantly by state and sometimes by county. In some states, trade-in vehicles reduce your taxable purchase amount; in others, they don't. These variables can add or subtract thousands of dollars from your out-of-pocket cost on the same vehicle purchased in different locations.

Insurance premiums depend on your driving history, age, location, coverage choices, and the specific trim you purchase. Higher trims with more technology and features generally cost more to insure and repair. Requesting insurance quotes before finalizing a trim choice is a straightforward way to avoid surprises.

Ownership Costs Beyond the Purchase Price

🔧 Honda recommends Maintenance Minder intervals rather than fixed mileage schedules — the onboard system monitors oil life, driving conditions, and other factors to determine when service is due. Oil change intervals on the V6 with full-synthetic oil typically fall in the 5,000–7,500 mile range under normal conditions, but your specific driving pattern affects this.

The 10-speed automatic transmission and i-VTM4 AWD system both require periodic fluid service — intervals and costs vary by shop and region. Budgeting for routine maintenance is straightforward; budgeting for repairs is harder without knowing your vehicle's history and condition.

The Passport's factory warranty follows Honda's standard structure: a bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and a powertrain warranty, with separate coverage for certain emissions components. New vehicle buyers may also encounter dealer offers for extended service contracts — these are separate from factory coverage and vary widely in terms, exclusions, and value.

If you're considering a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) 2024 Passport, Honda's CPO program has its own inspection and warranty requirements that differ from standard used vehicle sales. What's covered, for how long, and under what conditions is spelled out in the CPO agreement — reading it carefully matters.

The Questions That Define Your Decision

The 2024 Passport answers some needs very well: a powerful V6, genuine AWD capability, strong safety tech, and a practical two-row layout with more cargo space than many competitors. It doesn't answer others: no hybrid option, no third row, and a price that climbs quickly as you move up the trim ladder.

Whether it's the right choice depends on variables no guide can resolve for you — your state's registration and tax structure, your insurance situation, your financing options, your driving environment, and how you weight off-road capability against fuel economy. The Passport is a specific tool. Understanding exactly what kind of tool it is, and whether that matches your actual driving life, is the work that makes a vehicle purchase go well.