Is the Honda Passport body-on-frame?
The modern Honda Passport is not body-on-frame; it uses unibody construction built on the same platform as the Honda Pilot. The original Passport, sold from 1993 to 1998, used a traditional body-on-frame chassis. This article explains how the Passport has evolved and what that means for ride, handling, and capability.
Current Passport: a unibody crossover
Platform and construction
To understand how today’s Passport is built, note that the 2019–present model sits on a unibody architecture, sharing its underpinnings with the Honda Pilot. This means the body and frame are designed as a single integrated structure, with a subframe attaching the engine and suspension.
- Construction: unibody (unitized body) design with a separate subframe for the engine and suspension
- Platform: shared with the Honda Pilot, aligning size, capability, and parts compatibility
- Drivetrain: primarily front-wheel-drive-based with available Real-Time All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
- Body style: two-row SUV offering ample cargo space and crossover-like ride quality
In practice, this unibody setup delivers a smoother ride, better fuel efficiency, and familiar handling for shoppers cross-shopping large crossovers.
Historical Passport: body-on-frame era (1993–1998)
Details
Before the modern model, the Honda Passport launched in 1993 as a rugged variant of Isuzu’s Rodeo and used a traditional body-on-frame chassis derived from the Rodeo’s truck-based platform.
- Construction: body-on-frame with a ladder-style chassis for truck-like rigidity
- Drivetrain: offered with four-wheel drive and, in many configurations, low-range gearing for off-road use
- Platform: based on Isuzu Rodeo components, not the Pilot platform
- Market position: positioned as a compact-to-mid-size SUV with an emphasis on rugged capability
The original Passport reflected 1990s SUV design priorities, prioritizing off-road capability and ruggedness over the refined ride of modern unibody crossovers.
Bottom line
Today’s Honda Passport is not body-on-frame. The current model is a unibody crossover built on the Pilot’s platform, prioritizing ride comfort, efficiency, and everyday practicality. The original 1993–1998 Passport, however, used a body-on-frame chassis characteristic of many truck-based SUVs of its era.
Summary
The Passport’s architecture has shifted with Honda’s SUV strategy. The modern vehicle (2019–present) is a unibody crossover tied to the Pilot family, delivering a smoother ride and better efficiency. The early Passport (1993–1998) was a body-on-frame SUV inspired by Isuzu Rodeo, offering ruggedness but with stiffer, truck-like handling. For buyers today, the Passport behaves far more like a crossover than a traditional body-on-frame SUV.
Is the 2026 Honda Passport an unibody?
The newest fourth-gen Passport is also unibody and features a fully modern interior, although you could say that its naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6 seems positively old school when most of its competitors use turbocharged four-cylinder or hybrid powertrains.
What is the most common problem with the Honda Passport?
The most common problems with the Honda Passport include infotainment system malfunctions, such as the display going blank and speakers crackling, and issues with the 9-speed automatic transmission, which can include delayed or harsh acceleration. Other frequent complaints involve body hardware issues like a rear hatch that won't open and occasional electrical problems with features like the fuel filler pipe or air bags.
Infotainment and electrical issues
- Display screen and audio: The infotainment screen may go blank, and speakers can crackle or pop.
- Fuel system: Some models have had issues with a faulty fuel filler pipe, leading to fuel leaks.
- Body and interior: Common problems include a rear hatch button that breaks, a gas smell inside the vehicle, and fading or peeling paint.
Transmission problems
- 9-speed transmission: Some owners report delayed, harsh, or erratic shifting with the 9-speed transmission, particularly in models from 2019-2022.
- Engine and related systems:
- Varnish buildup: This can cause a ticking noise from the engine.
- Oil in spark plug tubes: This can lead to misfires.
- Timing belt: Newer models have a timing belt that requires replacement, which is an expensive but necessary maintenance item to prevent engine failure.
Other potential problems
- Steering: Some 2023 models have been recalled for a risk of steering loss due to a loose ball joint.
- Brakes: Some reports mention premature brake wear and issues with the ABS light coming on.
- Vibration: Some owners have experienced vibration, particularly at highway speeds.
Is the Honda Passport unibody?
Yes, the Honda Passport is unibody, meaning its body and frame are a single structure. This design choice provides a more comfortable and car-like ride compared to traditional body-on-frame SUVs, while still offering enhanced off-road capability, especially with the redesigned 2026 model.
- Design and ride: The unibody construction is a key feature that distinguishes the Passport from competitors like the Toyota 4Runner and Ford Bronco, which use a body-on-frame design.
- Off-road capability: The Passport has gained more off-road features in recent model years, with the 2026 redesign in particular offering a stiffer unibody structure and enhanced capabilities to tackle tough terrain.
- Comfort and handling: Due to its unibody design, the Passport generally offers a quieter and smoother ride than many body-on-frame SUVs, providing a better balance between on-road refinement and off-road performance.
Is the new Passport unibody?
They praised the blend of off-road charisma and on-road comfort, a combination that proved surprisingly rare among its peers. Unlike traditional body-on-frame off-roaders, the unibody Passport doesn't punish you with jittery, unsettled motions on pavement.
