Are any Hondas body-on-frame?
Yes. The Honda Passport (1993–2002) is the notable exception—a traditional body-on-frame design shared with the Isuzu Rodeo. Since then, Honda has largely used unibody construction for its cars and SUVs, and today’s Ridgeline is not body-on-frame.
Historical context
Across its history, Honda has predominantly built its cars and sport-utility vehicles on unibody architectures. However, there was a brief period in the 1990s when Honda sold an SUV that used a traditional body-on-frame chassis. The Passport is the clearest example from that era.
Passport: the body-on-frame exception
The Honda Passport, produced from 1993 to 2002 for the North American market, was essentially a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. It relied on a conventional ladder-frame, body-on-frame construction shared with its Isuzu counterpart, designed for light-truck use and rugged durability.
After the Passport, Honda’s SUV lineup shifted toward unibody construction to improve ride quality, safety, and efficiency.
Ridgeline and the current lineup
In the modern era, Honda’s pickups and SUVs are built on unibody platforms. The Ridgeline, introduced in 2006 and updated since, is widely described as a unibody pickup rather than a traditional body-on-frame truck—featuring a unitized body with reinforced chassis elements rather than a separate body-on-frame design. Other contemporary Hondas (Civic, CR-V, Pilot, Odyssey, etc.) also use unibody construction.
Current lineup construction methods
Below is a snapshot of how today’s Honda models are generally built. This helps illustrate the shift away from body-on-frame design in the brand’s range.
- Ridgeline: unibody-based pickup, not built on a conventional body-on-frame chassis.
- Other mainstream Hondas (Civic, CR-V, Pilot, Odyssey, etc.): unibody construction.
Conclusion: there are no current Honda production models built on a traditional body-on-frame chassis. The Passport remains the sole historical exception, and today’s lineup uses unibody architectures across the board.
Summary
The short takeaway is that the only widely recognized Honda with classic body-on-frame construction was the Passport (1993–2002). Since then, Honda has moved to unibody design for its cars and SUVs, including the Ridgeline, which is not a body-on-frame vehicle.
Is the Honda CR-V a body-on-frame or unibody?
Larger SUVs such as the Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Tahoe are typically built using body-on-frame construction, whereas the CR-V utilizes a unibody design. Unibody construction means that the vehicle's body and frame are integrated into one single structure, offering several advantages for a crossover like the CR-V.
Are Hondas unibody?
Rather than using separate body and frame components bolted together, every Honda features a single structure that can provide both greater rigidity and lighter weight.
Does Honda have any body-on-frame vehicles?
Currently, Honda produces several SUVs as well as the Ridgeline pickup. But the company's never produced a full-fledged body-on-frame truck or pickup (JDM-market Kei cars, and first- and second-gen Isuzu-based Passports and Acura SLX notwithstanding).
Are any cars still made with a body-on-frame?
Whereas this was the original method of building automobiles, body-on-frame construction is now used mainly for pickup trucks, large SUVs, and heavy trucks.
