[Kayfive]

Honda just unveiled their newly redesigned Passport a week or two ago, and its looking to be quite a competitor in the segment. It is no longer a rebadged Isuzu like it was when we last saw it back in 2002. Its expected to start in the high 20's and will be sold exclusively with Hondas 3.5l VTEC V6. Honda does seem to be orienting it around off road capability.

 

[trailblazer]

Love the fact it takes after the Pilot, just in this case we're getting something more reasonable to throw around on the trails without worry.

 

[Layne]

Who would've thought that Honda would be developing a more capable off roader. Sure has come a long way since it was last seen, but man does it look nearly identical to the Pilot.

 

[trailblazer]

Potential always existed with the Ridgeline always around, aside from that Honda had nothing remotely rugged in their line up.

 

[Rhett]

I think something like this is going to be far more desirable than the Ridgeline, because many still don't see that as a proper pickup. Looks like they have upped the ground clearance and equipped some fairly beefy tires on the higher trim levels.

 

[trailblazer]

Pickup segments are so lucrative that the Ridgeline just being a reliable pickup is enough to keep it around. Its a success in its own way.

 

[Kayfive]

I think there is a lot more practicality offered by something like the Passport and we know what the market is like with crossovers these days. Just don't know if an increased ride height and some modifications to body lines is enough to make it a proper off-roader.

 

[trailblazer]

Like the Ridgeline in such a lucrative segment, the Passport will succeed enough to sustain sales.

 

[Layne]

The Passport will also be using the acclaimed SH-AWD system, though under a different name. That alone will help to take this midsize places that many rivals could not reach.

 

[trailblazer]

The Passport will also be using the acclaimed SH-AWD system, though under a different name. That alone will help to take this midsize places that many rivals could not reach.

Reason being why I stayed away from Honda = terrible AWD system that never distributed power as you'd expect it.

The new AWD is a breath of fresh air.

 

[Rhett]

The AWD systems placed on the Ridgeline and CR-V were found to be fairly capable. Both of them feature intelligent traction management and different driving modes.