2001 Honda Passport Honda Passport 2001 Honda Passport LX 4WD Sport Utility Wagon 4WD Lafayette, Indiana Honda adds a LATCH child seat-tether anchor system to Passport, and all models get a new eight-speaker audio system. Rugged good looks, roomy rear seat, Honda dealers will give one away if you push hard enough. Lousy ride quality, suspension not capable of serious boulder bashing, front seats offer all the support and comfort of a lawn chair. The Honda Passport has been quietly going about its business for the past eight years. While the bulk of attention in the mid-sized sport ute segment is directed toward the Ford Explorer, Toyota 4Runner, Dodge Durango and Nissan Pathfinder, the Passport has evolved to offer a combination of power, space and versatility that, if not compelling, at least comes in an attractive wrapper. The Passport first arrived in 1993 as a re-badged Isuzu Rodeo, an arrangement that allowed Honda to get in on the hot SUV craze without engineering its own truck. In 1998, the Passport was completely redesigned. Still built by Isuzu in its Lafayette, Ind., plant, the Honda got bigger inside, more comfortable and more powerful. The standard 205-horsepower, 3.2-liter V6 makes 214 pounds-feet of torque at a relatively low 3,000 rpm, providing enough get up and go to satisfy most weekend warriors. But with no optional V8 engine available, Passport compares poorly to other models in this class. Even the Pathfinder's V6 makes up to 250 horsepower. Content-heavy base LX, dressed-up EX and luxurious EX-L trim levels are available with two- or four-wheel drive. The 4WD transfer case is a shift-on-the-fly affair operated via a poorly located dash-mounted button. Passport feels undersprung off-road and mushy on the highway, failing to please in either environment. Isuzu's Rodeo gets a driver-selectable suspension system to help in this regard, but doesn't share that particular toy with Honda. Four-wheel drive models get disc brakes at each corner, while rear-wheel drive models get discs in front and drums in back. For safety, ABS and dual front airbags are standard on all models. Power windows, power locks, dual power mirrors, cruise, A/C, and an eight-speaker stereo with cassette are also standard. The EX trim level adds a four-speed automatic transmission, fog lights, interior woodgrain trim, leather-wrapped steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, dual heated power mirrors, power moonroof and keyless remote entry. The EX-L has all that and a four-way power driver's seat, leather upholstery and door panel trim, in-dash CD changer and two-tone paint with body side molding. Fit and finish fails to live up to Honda standards, but most materials are of decent quality. You and your passengers will also appreciate the Passport's user-friendly ergonomics. Front seat comfort is lacking, but rear seats are roomy and supportive. With the backseat folded down, 81.1 cubic feet of cargo space is available. Outside, the Passport is a handsome devil. Its square profile has the aspect of compact muscularity, making it a natural campsite companion. The elegant EX-L version with its multi-spoked alloy wheels, two-tone paint and body cladding is equally well suited to carry you to the opera. Other makes get all the attention for a reason. Considering that we've had less than stellar experience with the Passport and Isuzu Rodeo, which is borne out by J.D. Power and Associates naming the Passport one of the poorest quality vehicles sold in 2000, we recommend shopping for something else. Even if that something else is a Rodeo, which comes with a far superior warranty package. Chevrolet Blazer Jeep Cherokee Mitsubishi Montero Sport Nissan Xterra 336,000 336,000 5Unlimited NA NA NA 6 3.2 liters V6 205 hp @ 5400 rpm 214 ft-lbs. @ 3000 rpm 81 cu.ft. NA 4500 lbs. 184.2 in. 70.4 in. 68.8 in. 4013 lbs. 106.4 in. 38.4 ft. 8.2 in. 38.9 in. 38.3 in. NA NA NA NA 42.1 in. 35 in. 5 Standard Standard Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available Not Available Rating = Good Rating = Good Very Good Very Good Poor Poor 21.1 gal. 17 mpg / 20 mpg 16 mpg / 20 mpg 359 mi. / 422 mi. 338 mi. / 422 mi. Insurance costs can vary greatly for this vehicle, depending on such factors as driver age, driver gender, teenage drivers in the household, driving records, theft loss data for your particular geographic region, miles driven per year, and other widely variable factors. Additionally, some companies charge a premium for certain makes and models, while others do not. $23,356 $26,150 7.35% $440 N/A 2% of the Base MSRP LX 2WD (5M): 3.2L V6 DOHC SMPI 24-valve engine; 5-speed OD manual transmission; rear-wheel drive, 4.3 axle ratio; stainless steel exhaust; front independent double-wishbone suspension with anti-roll bar, front torsion springs, rigid rear axle multi-link suspension with anti-roll bar, rear coil springs; rack-and-pinion power steering with engine speed-sensing assist; front disc/rear drum antilock brakes; 21.1 gal. capacity fuel tank; front and rear mud flaps, skid plates, side impact bars; conventional rear cargo door; roof rack; front and rear body-colored bumpers, rear step bumper; clearcoat monotone paint; aero-composite halogen headlamps; driver's and passenger's power remote black folding outside mirrors; 16" x 7" painted styled steel wheels; P225/75SR16 BSW M&S tires; full-size steel spare wheel; air conditioning, air filter; AM/FM stereo radio, seek-scan feature feature, cassette player, 8 speakers, fixed antenna; cruise control; power door locks, child-safety rear door locks,power remote hatch release, power remote rear window release; 1 power accessory outlet; instrumentation display includes tachometer, water temperature gauge, in-dash clock, trip odometer; warning indicators include water temp, battery, lights on, key in ignition, low fuel, trunk ajar; driver's and passenger's front airbags; tinted windows, power front and rear windows with driver's 1-touch down function, fixed 1/4 vent windows; variable-speed intermittent front windshield wipers, sun visor strip, flip-up rear window, fixed-interval rear wiper, rear window defroster; seating capacity of 5, front bucket seats with adjustable headrests, center armrest with storage, driver's and front passenger's seats include 4-way adjustment; 60/40 folding rear bench seat with reclining adjustable headrests; front and rear height-adjustable seatbelts; cloth seats, cloth door trim insert, full cloth headliner, full carpet floor covering; interior lights include dome light, front reading lights, door curblights; steering wheel with tilt adjustment; driver's side illuminated vanity mirror; day/night rearview mirror; full floor console, locking glove box with light, front and rear cupholders, 1 seatback storage pocket, driver's and passenger's door bins; carpeted cargo floor, cargo cover, cargo net, cargo tie downs, cargo light; black grille, black side window moldings, black front windshield molding, black rear window molding and black door handles. EX 2WD (4A) (in addition to or instead of LX 2WD (5M) equipment): 4-speed electronic OD automatic transmission with lock-up torque converter; driver's selectable multi-mode transmission; 4.1 axle ratio; express open sliding and tilting glass sunroof with sunshade; additional exterior lights include front fog/driving lights; driver's and passenger's power remote body-colored heated folding outside mirrors; P245/70SR16 BSW M&S tires; remote keyless entry; panic alarm, security system; deep tinted windows; simulated wood dashboard insert, simulated wood door panel insert; additional interior lights include illuminated entry; leather-wrapped steering wheel; dual illuminated vanity mirrors; 2 seatback storage pockets and body-colored door handles. 4WD (4A) (in addition to or instead of 2WD equipment): Part-time 4 wheel drive, auto-locking hub control and electronic shift, viscous limited-slip differential; 4-wheel antilock disc brakes. -- Transmission: 4-Speed Automatic with OD $1,026 $1,150