Honda Passport

From Honda Wiki

Honda Passport

Automotive industry	Isuzu Motors
Parent company	Honda
Production	1994-2002
Assembly	Lafayette, Indiana, USA
Successor	Honda Pilot
Car classification	Compact SUV
Car body style	4-door Station wagon
Automobile layout	Front-engine design, Rear-wheel drive / Four-wheel drive
Transmission (mechanics)	4-speed Automatic transmission 5-speed Manual transmission

First generation

Production	1993–1997
Internal combustion engine	2.6L Convert/hp Straight-4 3.2L Convert/hp V6
Wheelbase	108.5 in (2756 mm)
Length	176.5 in (4483 mm)
Width	66.5 in (1689 mm) 68.5 in (1740 mm) (EX)
Height	65.5 in (1664 mm) 66.3 in (1684 mm) (EX)
Fuel capacity	Convert/usgal
Related	Isuzu Rodeo

Second generation

Production	1998–2002
Internal combustion engine	3.2L Convert/hp V6
Wheelbase	106.4 in (2703 mm)
Length	178.2 in (2000-02) 177.4 in (4506 mm) (1998-99) 184.1 in (4676 mm) (1998-99 EX) 184.2 in (4679 mm) (2000-02 EX)
Width	70.4 in (1788 mm) 71.1 in (1806 mm) (2000-02 EX)
Height	68.5 in (1740 mm) (1998-99 LX) 68.8 in (1748 mm) (2000-02)
Fuel capacity	Convert/usgal
Related	Isuzu Rodeo Isuzu Axiom

The Honda Passport was a Compact SUV produced by Isuzu, released in 1994, as Honda's first entry in the truck market for the United States. Built and designed solely by Isuzu, who sold it as the Isuzu Rodeo, it was seen as a "quick fix" entry into the growing SUV market in the United States. It was essentially an SUV wagon version of the Isuzu pickup truck, similar to the Jeep Cherokee (XJ) and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. It was nicely appointed, but reviews called the design a bit behind the times, as crossover and more refined trucks had evolved (such as the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee, which were not directly based on pickup truck platforms).

The Passport was part of a growing partnership between Isuzu and Honda in the 1990s, in which Isuzu supplied Honda with SUVs (in addition to producing Passports, Isuzu also provided Honda with Isuzu Trooper SUVs to be sold as the Acura SLX) and Honda supplied Isuzu with cars - in particular the Isuzu Gemini (Honda Civic; Japan-market only) and Isuzu Oasis (Honda Odyssey). It sold quite well in the regions of the US such as the Pacific Northwest against competitors such as the truck-based Nissan Pathfinder. However Honda dealers today exclude the Passport from guaranteed trade-in value promotions, implying that the resale value is weaker than most other Hondas as many buyers recognize that it is a rebadged Isuzu.

The Honda version was discontinued after 2002, replaced by the Accord-based Pilot. The Pilot also replaced the Isuzu Rodeo as part of Isuzu's withdrawal from Canada at the time. This loss of market would factor into Isuzu discontinuing not only the Rodeo, but also the Isuzu Axiom and sales of all Isuzu-designed passenger vehicles in the US.

External links

• Honda Passport Review
• IIHS Crash Test