Should You Take the Honda Passport Off Road?

The Honda Passport was built with off-road adventures in mind and performs brilliantly on rough terrain.
Written by Cameron Thiessen
Reviewed by Jessica Barrett
The
Honda Passport’s
off-road rating is “Rough and Ready” by Jerry’s standards. The Passport is more than capable of casual off-road adventures, thanks to its V6 engine, 7.5- to 8.1-inch ground clearance, and Intelligent Traction Management System, which lets you switch driving modes for different types of terrain.
Honda has suggested that the
Passport’s TrailSport trim
—the first of its kind—is geared toward off-roading. However, similarly advertised vehicles from other carmakers incorporate lifted suspension, all-terrain tires, and/or enforced skid shields—and the 2022 Honda Passport TrailSport doesn’t come with any such upgrades. 
If you’re wondering if you should take the Honda Passport off road,
Jerry
, the No. 1-rated
car insurance app
and
comparison shopping tool
, is here with everything you need to know. Keep reading to find out more about the Honda Passport off-road rating. 
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Can the 2022 Honda Passport go off road?

It certainly can! But you probably want to stick to easy-going terrain unless you plan on getting a suspension lift upgrade to raise your Passport’s ground clearance.
A 2022 Honda Passport base model EX-L starts at an MSRP of $38,370, and opting for all-wheel drive (AWD) adds $2,000. The upgraded TrailSport comes with AWD—and more rugged, off-road-ready tires—however, it starts at $42,970.  
This is a fair price for what you’re getting, but you may want to find something cheaper if you plan on taking it on rough, muddy trails.
So what are the traits of the Honda Passport that make it good for off-roading? Let’s break it down.

Ground clearance

The Honda Passport’s minimum ground clearance of 7.5 inches isn’t quite enough to warrant it being used as a consistent off-road sport driver. However, it’ll certainly be able to tackle most challenges you face on hiking, camping, fishing, or hunting trips.
The EX-L AWD model and both of the Passport’s higher trims (the TrailSport and the Elite) enjoy a slightly higher ground clearance of 8.1 inches. 
What do we mean when we say “ground clearance”? We’re talking about the minimum distance between the chassis and the ground. Lower ground clearance means a higher risk of damaging your undercarriage on uneven ground.
Somewhere between 8.8 and 10.8 inches of ground clearance is recommended for consistent off-roading, according to driving experts. For example, a
Jeep Wrangler
has a ground clearance of 9.7, right in the sweet spot.

Torque

The 2022 Honda Passport’s 3.5-liter V6 engine can send a quality amount of low-end torque to its tires. Its 262 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm is more than enough for the sorts of situations most casual adventurers will find themselves in and is plenty to get you out of tricky spots—like mud or ice. 

Tires

The 2022 Honda Passport base model is equipped with 18-inch P265/45HR20 tires, perfectly good for getting solid traction on dirt and gravel. And the TrailSport boasts upgraded, ruggedly designed P245/60R18 treads.
Remember to change tires according to the sorts of terrain you’ll be expecting—specifically, use winter tires when needed!

Drivetrain

The 2022 Honda Passport comes standard with a front-wheel-drive drivetrain, but for an additional $2,000, you can better equip yourself for off-roading with all-wheel drive.
As far as the engine’s performance is concerned, you should have lots of power at your disposal with 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm.

Angles

Where the Passport isn’t ideal is in its approach angle, but it has a higher-than-average departure angle. Here’s what we mean we mention those specs:
  • Approach angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can climb without interference 
  • Departure angle: The maximum angle at which a vehicle can descend without interference
A 2022 Honda Passport has an approach angle of only 20.1 degrees (somewhere around 30 degrees or higher would be better), whereas its departure angle is 23.4 degrees. The departure angle will suffice, but there’s still room for improvement.

Off-road rating: Rough and Ready

This brings us to our final evaluation of the 2022 Honda Passport’s off-road worthiness. Here’s
Jerry’s
super-technical DIRT rating system:
Rating
Meaning
Description
D
Don’t Try It
Vehicles better suited to highway conditions
I
In a Pinch
Vehicles that can handle off-road conditions in certain circumstances
R
Rough and Ready
Vehicles designed for casual off-roading
T
Trail Boss
True off-road vehicles capable of tackling a range of terrain
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Jerry gives the 2022 Honda Passport a beyond-acceptable R rating because it’s rough enough and ready enough to tackle a fair amount of off-road challenges!
If you’re nervous about driving through the wilderness, you can rest assured that you’re in quite good hands with Honda’s robust suite of safety features, including Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control. 
And if you really want to turn your all-wheel-drive Honda Passport into an off-roading hero, you could always raise its suspension by an inch or two.

The best off-road alternatives to the 2022 Honda Passport

Questioning whether the Passport is the best option for you? Here’s how other great off-roaders compare to the 2022 Honda Passport.
Alternative
Model
Price
Description
Best affordable alternative
2005 Nissan Frontier 4x4
$2,000
Great if you can find one
Best eco-friendly alternative
2022 Hyundai Santa Fe
$27,400
Future-friendly, energy-saving drivetrains available
Best alternative for serious off-roading
2022 Ram 1500 Rebel
$47,850
The ultimate new off-roading truck
MORE: Cheap off-road trucks
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How to find affordable car insurance for off-road vehicles

If you’re looking forward to some off-road excitement with your new SUV, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a good insurance plan. Don’t get caught between a rock and a hard place!
The best way to find great coverage without breaking the bank is the
Jerry
app. Jerry scans quotes from over 50 top insurers and delivers the best deals straight to you. Compare plans side-by-side to make a well-informed decision—and save money in the process.
In fact, Jerry users save an average of more than $800a year on car insurance!
“I thought my previous insurance rate was the best I could get, since I have a luxury SUV. After
Jerry
found me quotes, I ended up paying only $80 a month for the same exact coverage. I’ll be shopping for auto insurance through Jerry from now on!” —Petra S.
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