2020 Honda Passport

The 2020 Passport is the second model year of the 2019-launched second generation and carries over the 3.5L naturally aspirated V6 rated at 280 hp on every trim (Sport, EX-L, Touring, Elite).

Peak torque of the only engine offered for 2020; it arrives high in the rev range, as is typical of Honda's J35 V6.

Instrumented 2020 tests range from 5.8 s (Car and Driver) to 6.8 s (Edmunds); Consumer Reports' 6.4 s is used as the representative midpoint. That is quick for a mid-size SUV without a turbo.

Reviewers praise the V6 as smooth, linear and eager to rev, which gives it a refinement edge over the coarse turbo-fours in many rivals. Low-end torque is modest, and the cylinder deactivation and auto start/stop are occasionally perceptible.

The ZF-sourced 9-speed automatic shifts smoothly once under way. It is widely criticized for hesitant low-speed engagement, occasional clunky shifts and slow kickdown, and the push-button shifter is fussy to use.

AWD 2020 Passports are rated to tow 5,000 lbs when properly equipped; the front-drive Sport, EX-L and Touring are limited to 3,500 lbs.

i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD, with Intelligent Traction Management modes (Normal/Snow/Mud/Sand), is available on every 2020 trim and standard on Elite. FWD remained the base drivetrain on Sport, EX-L and Touring until the lineup went AWD-only for 2022. There is no low range.

About 8 in of ground clearance (AWD), torque-vectoring AWD and terrain modes make it more capable than most crossovers on dirt and snow. There is no dedicated off-road trim for 2020: the TrailSport arrived only for 2022. It also has no skid plates, all-terrain tires or low range.

Only one engine and gearbox are offered (3.5L V6, 9-speed automatic); FWD or AWD is the only choice, with no turbo, hybrid, PHEV or EV alternative.

EPA rates the volume AWD configuration (3.5L V6, 9-speed) at 21 MPG combined, below the mid-size SUV norm. The FWD version manages 22 MPG.

This is the EPA city figure for the AWD V6. Cylinder deactivation and idle stop help only modestly.

This is the EPA highway figure for the AWD V6. The boxy two-row body and the AWD hardware keep it well short of the segment's best.

The 19.5-gallon tank at 21 MPG combined gives about 410 miles of range: adequate but unremarkable for the class.

This is EPA's current annual fuel-cost estimate at 15,000 mi/yr. EPA projects $4,000 more in fuel over five years than for the average new vehicle.

Every trim runs on regular 87-octane unleaded, with no premium recommendation.

The 2020 Passport, the second model year of the third generation that began in 2019 and a carry-over year, holds a 5-star NHTSA overall rating in both FWD and AWD form.

The 2020 model still carries the IIHS Top Safety Pick, but only under the 2019 criteria, and some results are weak: Acceptable in passenger small overlap and Marginal in the updated side test. Driver small overlap, moderate overlap, original side, roof and head restraints are all Good.

Honda Sensing comes on every 2020 trim: CMBS automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise, lane keeping, road departure mitigation and auto high beams. Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Monitor are left off the base Sport trim and only arrive at EX-L, the volume trim, and above.

The standard CMBS system earned an Advanced vehicle-to-vehicle rating from IIHS. It avoided a collision at 12 mph and cut impact speed by 12 mph in the 25 mph test. IIHS published no pedestrian or nighttime rating for it.

Blind Spot Information and Cross Traffic Monitor are standard from the volume EX-L trim upward but missing on the base Sport. Both systems only warn: there is no active braking or steering intervention and no safe-exit alert.

LKAS and Road Departure Mitigation are standard, but this first-generation Honda Sensing system works only at highway speeds, about 45 mph and up. It nudges the car back into its lane rather than holding it centred.

Adaptive cruise is standard on every trim but does not work across the full speed range: it engages from about 25 mph and cancels below about 22 mph. There is no Low-Speed Follow or traffic-jam assist, so it trails rivals that offer stop-and-go cruise.

No 2020 Passport trim offers hands-free driving or traffic-jam assist.

IIHS rates the headlights Acceptable on every trim, with no Good-rated option. Auto high-beam is standard on all trims.

The upright seating position gives a good view forward. Thick rear pillars leave blind zones over the shoulder, and only a multi-angle rear camera is fitted, with no 360-degree view on any trim. The base Sport also lacks blind-spot monitoring to make up for this.

All three rear seats have complete LATCH hardware and the two-row cabin is wide, but IIHS rates LATCH ease of use only Acceptable.

The 2020 Passport (second model year of the 2019-launched generation) is a two-row, five-passenger SUV on every trim.

Volume EX-L trim has a standard moonroof, which trims front headroom to 39.5 in versus 40.1 in on the Sport.

Front legroom is modest for the mid-size class.

Rear headroom is generous because the Passport is a shortened Pilot body without a third row.

Rear legroom is among the best in the two-row mid-size class.

No third row is offered on any 2020 Passport trim; buyers needing one are pointed to the Pilot.

41.2 cu ft above the floor behind the second row, plus a large underfloor bin bringing the total to 50.5.

Rear seats folded, the EX-L offers 77.7 cu ft above the floor (100.8 cu ft counting the underfloor well).

The deep, configurable center console and the big underfloor cargo bin are standout everyday storage, though onboard power is limited to a 115V outlet on Touring/Elite.

Front seats are supportive for long drives and the rear bench is roomy; leather-trimmed heated seats from EX-L, though cushions are on the flat side.

Composed and controlled, but the standard 20-inch wheels make the ride firmer and busier over broken pavement than softer rivals.

Average highway noise with noticeable tire roar from the 20-inch wheels; acoustic front-door glass only on Touring/Elite.

Tri-zone automatic climate and heated front seats are standard on every trim, but heated rear seats need Touring and ventilated front seats are Elite-only.

In 2020, the second year of the revived second-generation Passport, the lineup still opened with a front-drive Sport trim. That puts the entry price about $9,000 below the AWD-only EX-L base of the 2023 lineup.

EX-L AWD is taken as the representative mid-range volume trim. The lineup spans Sport, EX-L, Touring (each with 2WD or AWD) and an AWD-only Elite.

The 2020 has the same J35 3.5L V6 and ZF 9-speed as the rest of the generation, and both are cheap and well understood to service. CarEdge projects five-year maintenance and repair costs about $1,300 below the SUV average.

This is a measured figure, not a projection, because the 2020 is now about five years old. It shows Honda-typical retention, above the mid-size SUV average but behind a 4Runner.

Honda's 3-year/36,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty is the industry baseline. It falls short of Hyundai and Kia's 5-year/60,000-mile coverage.

The 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty matches most mainstream brands. It is half the length of Hyundai and Kia's 10-year/100,000-mile coverage.

Roadside assistance runs for the 3-year/36,000-mile warranty term, and there is a HondaLink trial on upper trims. There is no factory-paid scheduled maintenance, unlike ToyotaCare.

$39,505 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (55% retained, or about $21,728) leaves about $17,777 in depreciation. Add the projected $2,519 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $20,296 in total.

2020 is the second model year of the 2019-introduced second generation and a carry-over year, on a platform proven in the Pilot. J.D. Power rates its quality & reliability 'Average' (75/100; U.S. News cites 79 as predicted reliability). Consumer Reports gives the generation generally favorable reliability marks.

Honda sits in the upper half of Consumer Reports' brand reliability rankings and around or above the industry average in J.D. Power's VDS. It is not a consistent top-5 brand behind Lexus, Toyota and Mazda.

Ten NHTSA campaigns cover the 2020 Passport, which is heavy recall activity. Several are serious: fuel-pump failure causing stalls, two front-passenger airbag occupant-sensor recalls, rear-subframe corrosion and a Continental tire defect. Others are minor software and label fixes. None involves the engine or transmission internals.

The 280-hp 3.5L J35 V6 is one of Honda's most proven high-mileage engines. The ZF 9-speed automatic shared with the Pilot drew rough-shift and hesitation complaints in this era, though software updates mostly resolved them. The fuel-pump recall is a component issue, not an engine-family flaw.

The cabin is sturdy and well assembled but uses plenty of hard plastics. Reviewers note it trails newer rivals such as the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade at similar prices.

Built in Lincoln, Alabama on the mature Pilot platform, and assembly is generally tight. J.D. Power's 'Average' quality score and early-generation software and infotainment glitches (two 2020 software recalls) hold it back.

Honda's roughly 1,000-plus US dealers give dense nationwide coverage, and J.D. Power rates Honda dealership service experience well.

The mechanicals are shared with the high-volume Pilot, Ridgeline and Odyssey, so parts are plentiful and aftermarket support for the J35 V6 is deep. Typical repair costs run below the midsize-SUV norm.

The volume EX-L gets the 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen; the base Sport makes do with a 5-inch color LCD and no touchscreen.

The 2019+ Display Audio regained a physical volume knob and is reasonably quick, but menus are dated and the Sport 5-inch unit is basic.

Wired Apple CarPlay/Android Auto only, and not offered at all on the base Sport; no wireless projection on any trim.

Native satellite navigation with voice recognition is limited to Touring and Elite; the volume EX-L relies on phone projection.

EX-L carries a 215-watt, 7-speaker system; Touring and Elite upgrade to a 540-watt, 10-speaker premium system (unbranded).

Analog gauges flank a small color Driver Information Interface; no full-digital cluster is offered on any 2020 trim.

No over-the-air vehicle software updates; Display Audio updates are dealer- or USB-based.

The HondaLink app offers basic functions; Wi-Fi hotspot and telematics features are tied to Touring/Elite, with no digital key.

EX-L has front USB-A ports plus two 2.5A rear charging ports; wireless charging is Elite-only and a 115V outlet needs Touring; no USB-C.

Smart Entry with push-button start and remote engine start are standard on every trim; EX-L+ gets a power tailgate and Touring/Elite add hands-free access; no phone-as-key.

Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines from EX-L; front/rear parking sensors only on Touring/Elite; no surround view.

No head-up display is offered on any 2020 Passport trim.

Wide rear doors, 39.6 in of rear legroom and 40 in of headroom make car seats easy, and the cargo hold plus underfloor bin swallow strollers.

Honda Sensing (AEB, adaptive cruise, lane keeping) is standard on every trim and crash ratings are strong, but blind-spot monitoring is absent on the Sport.

Tri-zone climate, roomy rear seats and a big cargo hold suit trips; rear USB charging arrives on EX-L but heated rear seats and the 115V outlet need Touring, and there is no rear entertainment.

Smooth V6 and good visibility, but the 9-speed automatic can be hesitant at low speed and the ride is firm on 20-inch wheels.

Regular-fuel V6 returns 20/25/22 mpg (2WD) or 19/24/21 mpg (AWD), average-to-weak for a mid-size SUV.

Shorter than the Pilot but still a mid-size footprint with a wide 39.3-39.5 ft turning circle; parking sensors only on Touring/Elite.

5,000-lb towing with AWD (3,500 lbs 2WD) and a 280-hp V6 handle light trailers and gear hauling, but it is not a dedicated work vehicle.

Shares the proven J35 V6 and unibody platform with the Pilot and Ridgeline; leather interior on most trims is less wear-friendly.

Cargo tie-downs and roof rails help, and Touring/Elite get a 115V outlet, but there are few work-oriented provisions.

Comfortable seats and adaptive cruise help on the highway, but tire noise and the firm ride limit it; roughly 470 miles of highway range.

Torque-vectoring i-VTM4 AWD with Snow/Mud/Sand modes and 8.1 in of clearance handle dirt trails well, though front-drive is standard below Elite.

60/40 one-touch fold rear seats, a deep underfloor bin, roof rails and up to 5,000-lb towing make bulky gear easy.

Feels more agile than the Pilot thanks to its shorter wheelbase and torque-vectoring AWD, with good body control for the class.

Steering is accurate and reasonably weighted but offers little feedback.

A 181-ft 70-0 stop is average with a firm pedal, but NHTSA opened a probe into unintended automatic emergency braking on 2019-2022 Passports.

The V6 is smooth and eager, but the 9-speed automatic hunts and shifts clumsily at low speeds, and idle stop can be abrupt.

The V6 sounds smooth and refined under load, with little vibration.

Turning circle is on the wide side for a mid-size SUV.

Commanding seating position and good outward visibility, but the push-button gear selector draws criticism.

Quick for the class (roughly 6 s to 60 mph) with a sweet V6, but ultimately a sensible family SUV.

Every 2020 Passport gets the 280-hp V6, a 9-speed automatic, the Honda Sensing suite (adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, collision mitigation braking) and 20-inch wheels. The base Sport makes do with a 5-inch display without CarPlay or Android Auto and cloth seats, so the 8-inch touchscreen and leather wait for the EX-L.

A standard V6, a roomy two-row cabin and a big cargo hold for $33K–$45K make it good value against rivals like the Edge, Murano and Blazer. Middling fuel economy (21–22 mpg combined) and dated infotainment keep it out of the bargain band.

Four trims, each available with 2WD or AWD except the AWD-only Elite, give seven configurations across an $11,800 spread. There is still only one engine and no hybrid.

About 39,600 US sales in 2020, up 9% in a pandemic year, makes it a modest but rising two-row mid-size SUV. It sits far behind Honda's own CR-V and Pilot and well behind the Edge and Murano.

Honda's reputation for reliability, resale value and low running costs earns strong buyer trust. The revived Passport nameplate itself has little standalone identity.

The 2020 model year came before the 2021–2022 inventory shortage, and spring 2020 brought pandemic-era low-APR financing and deferred-payment offers from Honda Financial Services. Discounts below MSRP were negotiable on the slow-selling new nameplate.

This is the second year of a generation launched for 2019, so it was current at the time. It sits on the 2016-era Pilot platform with that vehicle's infotainment, which keeps it out of the newest-tech band, and the 2022 refresh was two years off.

Reviewers praise the strong V6, composed ride, spacious cabin and huge cargo area, and mark it down for clunky infotainment and average fuel economy. It earned an IIHS Top Safety Pick and a Best Car to Buy nomination but no class-winning awards.