[Auto/Moto] HONDA GIVES PASSPORT RUGGED TRAILSPORT EDITION, OTHER UPDATES FOR 2022

[JOYBOY]

Honda has shared details regarding changes coming to the Passport SUV for 2022, along with pricing for the range. That range now includes a new more-rugged TrailSport edition, which is hardly a surprise given that every carmaker from Subaru to Toyota and most everyone in between is rushing to give consumers what they want: a practical SUV able to take on bigger challenges come the weekend.

In fact the Passport was pitched from the outset as a tougher sibling to the Pilot and the CR-V, and so the new exterior design just pushes the boundary a little further. The new TrailSport pushes that boundary a little further still.

Honda says the Passport’s bolder exterior design will send a clear message of the model’s rough-and-ready capabilities. The SUV is redesigned from the A-pillars forward, for instance getting a sculpted, bulged hood. In back, a redesigned, more aggressive rear bumper features cutouts for larger twin exhaust outlets as well as a tow hitch cover and skid garnish design matching the new front-end styling.

Internally, the model gets the same structure as before: unibody construction, independent front and rear suspension, standard 280-hp 3.5L V6 engine, 9-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive system. Passport's 4-mode Intelligent Traction Management allows drivers to customize the i-VTM4 system for different terrains, including sand, snow, mud and paved roads. Towing capacity is 2,268 kg.

Blessed with a starting price of $45,570 for the Passport Sport, the 5-passenger SUV comes out of the box at that entry level with all-wheel drive, power moonroof, power tailgate and 18-inch alloy wheels. This and all other trims of the model are equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of safety/drive assist systems, and all now come standard with remote starter, Blind Spot Information, heated front seats and steering wheel, power adjustable driver seat and an 8-inch Display Audio system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration.