2019 Honda Passport debuts in LA [Video]

The Passport SUV will occupy the space between the compact CR-V and three-row Pilot.

Honda has introduced its all-new Passport SUV on the eve of the 2018 Los Angeles auto show. Borrowing its name from the first Honda SUV sold in the United States, the mid-size Passport is set to slot between the compact CR-V and family oriented Pilot.

In order to create the Passport, Honda started with the Pilot and then cut off a little over six-inches from the rear overhang. As a result of that surgery, the Passport has just two rows of seating instead of the three you'll find in the Pilot. The Passport also rides about an inch higher than the Pilot which, along with its improved rear departure angle, makes it a better off-roader than its three-row counterpart.

The Passport will compete directly against vehicles like the Ford Edge, Nissan Murano and Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Passport has an advantage over all those vehicles in terms of interior passenger volume. The Passport also has a spacious rear trunk complete with an in-floor storage system inspired by the Ridgeline pickup truck.

All Passport models will be powered by a 280 horsepower V6 mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive comes standard, but buyers will be able to opt for a torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system that improves both on- and off-road performance.

On the styling front, the Passport takes most of its styling cues from the Pilot. However, Honda has given the Passport a blacked-out front-end treatment that makes it look a little more adventurous. Compared to the Pilot, the Passport also has a more steeply raked tailgate and LED taillights that are relegated to the fenders only. 20-inch wheels are standard across all trim levels.

Inside the Passport is also virtually a carbon copy of the Pilot. The overall dash design is the same, right down to Honda's latest 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system and available digital gauge cluster. The Honda Sensing safety suite -- which includes things like adaptive cruise control and lane keep assist -- is standard across the entire Passport range.

Honda has not announced pricing for the 2019 Passport, but we expect to learn more on that front early next year.