Are any Hondas body on frame?
Yes, historically the Honda Passport (1993–1998) used a traditional body-on-frame chassis. In today’s lineup, Honda does not produce body-on-frame vehicles; its SUVs and trucks rely on unibody construction.
Background: body-on-frame vs. unibody
Body-on-frame construction uses a separate chassis (the frame) that supports the engine, suspension, and body. Unibody combines the body and frame into a single integrated structure. Most modern mainstream SUVs and pickups use unibody or unitized bodies for improved efficiency, safety, and handling. A few older or niche models in the broader market used body-on-frame designs, but they are increasingly rare today.
Honda models that used body-on-frame construction
Below is a concise look at a Honda model that used true body-on-frame construction in the U.S. market. This reflects a historical example rather than current production.
- Passport (1993–1998) — a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo; built on a traditional ladder-frame chassis (body-on-frame).
In contemporary Honda lineup, no mainstream models use a true body-on-frame design. The Ridgeline (current generation) uses a unibody structure with an integrated bed, and other Hondas such as CR-V, HR-V, Pilot, and Odyssey use unibody platforms.
Notes on the modern lineup
The Ridgeline is often described as unibody with a reinforced chassis rather than a traditional body-on-frame setup. The Passport remains the notable historical exception. For buyers seeking a true body-on-frame Honda today, new options do not exist; only older models (like the 1990s Passport) would qualify.
Summary
Today’s Hondas are built on unibody platforms, but the one clear exception in the U.S. market’s recent history is the Passport from the 1990s, which was body-on-frame. This highlights how Honda’s approach to construction has shifted toward integrated bodies for most current models.
