Honda Passport Overview: Specs, Generations and Best Versions

A guide to Honda Passport generations from 1993 to present: four generations of the 5-door SUV, engines from 120 to 280 hp, and which versions stand out.

The Honda Passport is a 5-door SUV produced from 1993 to the present, with engine outputs ranging from 120 to 280 hp across four generations. It suits drivers who want a mid-size SUV with available 4x4 and, in later generations, a powerful V6 with an automatic transmission. This overview covers Honda Passport generations and specs to help you pick the right version.

Honda Passport generations

1 generation (1993–1997)

The first-generation Honda Passport was built from 1993 to 1997 as a 5-door SUV with 5 modifications, spanning 120 to 177 hp. Buyers could choose between Automatic and Manual gearboxes and between RWD and 4x4 drivetrains. The most widespread version was the 3.2 AT (177 hp) with a 3165 cc engine and rear-wheel drive; the same 3.2 AT (177 hp) with 4x4 topped the range in capability. With five modifications on offer, the first generation gave buyers the widest choice of any Honda Passport generation, from the 120 hp base versions to the 177 hp 3.2-liter flagship.

2 generation (1997–2002)

The second-generation Honda Passport ran from 1997 to 2002 with 4 modifications, all rated at 205 hp from a 3165 cc engine. Automatic and Manual transmissions were offered with RWD or 4x4. The 3.2 AT (205 hp) with 4x4 was the mass-market choice, the 3.2 AT (205 hp) with RWD was noted as the most capable, while the 3.2 MT (205 hp) 4x4 consumed 12.7 l/100km, making it the most economical version of this generation. Compared with the first generation, the second raised the output ceiling from 177 to 205 hp while keeping the same 3165 cc displacement, so every 1997–2002 Passport delivers identical power regardless of gearbox or drivetrain.

3 generation (2019–2021)

After a long break, the third-generation Honda Passport appeared in 2019 and was produced until 2021. It came only as a 5-door SUV with an Automatic gearbox, 2 modifications, and a single output of 280 hp from a 3471 cc engine. The 3.5 AT (280 hp) with 4x4 used 11.2 l/100km, while the FWD version of the 3.5 AT (280 hp) achieved 10.7 l/100km. The jump from 205 to 280 hp over the second generation came with a larger 3471 cc engine, and the drivetrain lineup changed from RWD/4x4 to FWD/4x4. Despite the 75 hp gain, fuel consumption dropped: 11.2 l/100km for the 4x4 against 12.7 l/100km for the older manual 4x4.

3 generation, restyling 1 (2021–present)

The restyled third-generation Honda Passport has been in production since 2021. It keeps the same formula: 280 hp, 3471 cc, Automatic transmission, and a choice of 4x4 or FWD across 2 modifications. Fuel consumption stands at 11.2 l/100km for the 4x4 version and 10.7 l/100km for the FWD version — identical figures to the pre-restyling cars, so the choice between 2019–2021 and 2021–present comes down to age and equipment rather than specs. The 3.5 AT (280 hp) with 4x4 remains the mass-market version of the current range.

4 generation (2024–present)

The fourth-generation Honda Passport launched in 2024 and continues the model line as a 5-door SUV. Detailed modification data for this generation is not yet listed.

Which Honda Passport to buy

When buying used, note that first- and second-generation Honda Passports (1993–2002) are simple SUVs with conventional Automatic or Manual gearboxes and RWD or 4x4 layouts, while third-generation cars (2019 onward) are much newer and offered only with an Automatic. The long gap between 2002 and 2019 means the used market splits cleanly into old and modern generations. For those researching honda passport reliability, the modern 280 hp cars share one engine and one gearbox across all four modifications, which simplifies both the choice and the search for parts.

Which Honda Passport to avoid

Within the first generation, versions below the 3.2 AT (177 hp) start at just 120 hp — the lowest output in Honda Passport history — while sharing the same 1993–1997 body. If you are choosing among 1993–1997 cars, the 177 hp versions dominate the base 120 hp ones on power within the same generation. A 57 hp gap between the base and top versions of an identical 5-door SUV body makes the weaker modifications hard to recommend when 3.2-liter cars from the same years are available.