Originally Posted by mmarshall

Looked at a Passport today.











I stopped at a local Honda shop today and gave the Passport a static-checkout, on a jet-black one inside the showroom, and a couple of others parked outside, though I also had other errands to do today, and didn't have time for a formal test-drive. But, some of you here on Car Chat had gotten my curiosity up, and I wanted to at least take a cursory look at it. I'll do at least an informal write-up...not enough for an actual review (or to start a new thread), but just my general impressions.


First, on the jet-black Elite AWD (43K) model inside, the black paint job was absolutely stunning....probably the best black paint job I've seen in years. Black is a notoriously hard color to do without an orange-peel texture, but this paint was virtually as smooth as a mirror...no orange peel that my eyes, even with 20/20 corrected glasses (borderline 20/15), could detect. From what I've seen, not even Lexus and Audi, both known for smooth paint jobs, can do black this well. The other colors (at least the few I looked at) were also done quite well, but that black, especially detailed for the showroom, knocks your socks off. Not that I actually like black.....I don't, and never have, for several reasons, but, if you are going to do black, then at least do it right. Honda, on the Passport. did.

I was also impressed with the door-solidness (nice thunks upon closing), the amount of space-efficiency inside (tall roofline, front and rear, even under the sunroof, with plenty of headroom, though I may have lost a little height over the years with age and spinal-compression), front-seat comfort, and how they designed the rear cargo area. The front seats were comfortably-shaped, but the padding was too firm for my tastes.....of course, I've been spoiled by the Lacrosse's Cush-Tush seats, and almost everything else, compared to them, seems too firm. The cargo area was cleverly-designed, and well-finished with quality materials...a solid snap-lever releases the nicely-carpeted swing-up floor panel, and underneath is a nice sub-compartment for carrying things, and at least a decent temporary spare tire....no run-flats or compressed-air-bottles. There is a small cubby-compartment in the wall on the left side, with a power-outlet, but I don't remember if there was also one on the right. The rear hatch unlatches, with the fob nearby, if you kick your foot under the bumper, Ford-style.

I was not as well-impressed with the general interior layout/design and trim, which I didn't think was particularly plush or upscale-looking, even in the top-line Elite model. The materials themselves were OK (in fact, in some ways, better than average)...but, IMO, like on some other new Honda products today, not quite up to the solidness of the unbreakable Hondas of, say, the 1990s. And, for you, Jill, the power-window controls DID have plastic center-dividers for the switches.....a number of posters used up almost a whole thread in Car Chat discussing if that was considered cost-cutting or not. The exterior trim and hardware, IMO, was also not up some past Hondas, particularly the swivel-side-mirrors, which did not have as solid or smooth a feel in their swivel/snap action as Hondas once did. I also was not impressed with the underhood layout....manual prop-rod for the hood, plastic covers over notably the engine but much of the underhood itself, and the engine block buried in the center, under covers all around it. I also was not impressed with the 20" wheels/tires, which I thought ware awkwardly-large, even with the exposed wheel-well gaps, and the tires which looked a little too-low-profle for good off-road capability.

I may (?) go back for a test-drive, but, aside from the mirror-like black paint job and the nicely-designed cargo area, I've seen what IMO are nicer SUVs for the money....particularly from Kia. I also like the new GMC Acadia, which, IMO, has a nicer interior and some very handsome styling inside and out.