Honda Passport
The
Honda Passport was a mid-size SUV produced by Isuzu, released in 1993. This model marked the first foray of Honda into the US truck market, and was exclusively sold in the United States. It was designed and built solely by Isuzu, who in turn sold it as the Rodeo. It was seen as a “quick fix” entry into the growing SUV market in the country. The Passport resembled a SUV wagon based on Isuzu's pickup truck platform, similar to the Jeep Cherokee and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. Although the model was nicely appointed, it was generally considered behind the times, as crossover and more refined trucks such as the Ford Explorer and Jeep Grand Cherokee had already evolved.
This vehicle marked the start of an ongoing partnership between Isuzu and Honda in the 1990s. Isuzu offered SUVs for Honda like the Trooper, as the Acura SLX, while Honda gave Isuzu cars such as the Gemini (for the Honda Civic, Japan market only) and Oasis (Honda Odyssey). The Passport was quite successful in certain regions in the US, outperforming rivals including the Nissan Pathfinder. However, when trading in, Honda dealerships generally do not prioritize it, implying the model's lower resale value.
The Honda version of the SUV was discontinued after 2002 in favor of the mid-size Pilot and the compact Element crossover SUVs. The discontinuation of the Honda Passport, in addition to the Rodeo, Axiom, and other Isuzu-designed passenger cars was a major blow to the US market.
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