The all-new 2019 Honda Passport is designed for adventure-seekers who want the superior off-road capability of Honda’s available i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, the power and towing capability of its 3.5-liter i-VTEC® V6, and the more personal and rugged character of a five-passenger SUV. Within the Honda SUV lineup, in size and price, it slots between the refined and compact-size CR-V and the larger, three-row family-focused Pilot.

The 2019 Passport is based on Honda’s reinforced unibody midsize light-truck platform, featuring a fully-boxed floor structure, the latest generation of Honda’s proprietary Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure along with a sophisticated fully independent suspension offering exceptional on- and off-road driving performance.

Passport’s rugged yet modern exterior styling comprises standard 20-inch wheels, aggressive black grille, and increased ride height with more athletic proportion and stance compared to the three-row Pilot. Inside, Passport offers best-in-class passenger space and total interior volume and features a large “basement” cargo area ideal for storing dirty gear or keeping valuables out of sight.

Powering the new Passport is a 3.5-liter SOHC direct-injected V6 engine with i-VTEC® valvetrain connected exclusively to a second-generation 9-speed automatic transmission. Opt for all-wheel drive and Passport gains Honda’s torque-vectoring Intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4™) all-wheel drive system with Intelligent Traction Management – with Snow, Mud and Sand modes — allowing the driver to optimize Passport’s tractive and dynamic performance based on terrain and weather conditions. With 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque, Passport offers top-class standard horsepower, brisk acceleration and up-to 5,000-pound towing capacity.

With Passport, drivers also benefit from the latest technology, including standard Honda Sensing® suite of advanced safety and driver-assistive technologies. Additionally, all Passports come with a Multi-Angle Rearview Camera system, while EX-L, Touring and Elite models come with Honda’s blind spot information system. Additional premium technologies available on Passport include in-vehicle Wi-Fi, Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ integration, an 8-inch Display Audio system, wireless phone charging and more.

So you’re considering an Edge; good timing. Ford has updated their 5-passenger midsize SUV for the 2019 model year to keep it a compelling choice.

Though most Ford shoppers opt for the smaller Escape or larger Explorer, the venerable Edge is still a big volume player for the brand. It has staying power, name recognition and has long since received positive reviews from me.  Built upon Ford’s CD4 platform which also underpins products such as the Fusion and Lincoln Continental, this 2nd generation Edge debuted for the 2015 model year and moves into 2019 refreshed with a new look and host of new features.

So the 3.5-liter V6 is no longer, replaced across the board, with the exception of the sporty ST, with this 2.0-liter turbo making marginally more horsepower than before and working through a new 8-speed automatic producing relatively impressive fuel economy of 23mpg on regular unleaded.

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