2023 Honda Passport loses front-wheel-drive trim

One other entry-level Honda bites the mud. Not lengthy after we discovered the bottom Honda Civic LX trim had met its maker in each sedan and hatchback physique types, CarsDirect perused a vendor information for the approaching mannequin 12 months that exposed the entry-level front-wheel drive Honda Passport EX-L will probably be no extra for 2023. Honda’s U.S. configurator confirms it. The all-wheel drive Passport EX-L turns into the brand new bar to entry, the Passport now an AWD-only proposition. As anticipated and as proven on the configurator, this boosts the worth to get within the off-road-focused two-row crossover to $42,395 after the $1,295 vacation spot cost. The brand new base mannequin is $3,300 than the newest pricing we had for the FWD Passport EX-L, and $1,200 greater than our most up-to-date pricing for the AWD EX-L. 

Honda launched the Passport for the 2019 mannequin 12 months with a beginning worth of $33,085. The highest trim Elite debuted with an MSRP of $40,325; that is as much as $47,855 for 2023. Clearly, the mannequin launched as a mid-sizer for adventure-seekers continues to be discovering its method, however to be truthful, the AWD-only 2022 Ford Edge spans a worth vary of $39,440 to $47,980. 

Honda’s been rationalizing strains this manner for the previous couple of years. On high of the Civic forgoing the LX, the 2023 CR-V now not counts an LX trim, both. The Passport relinquished its former entry-level Sport trim for 2022. The Ridgeline pickup shed its lone front-wheel-drive model for 2021. Honda’s solely crossover beneath $30,000 anymore is the front-wheel drive HR-V LX beginning at $24,895. After that comes the front-wheel drive CR-V EX that begins at $32,355. 

In the intervening time, the least costly two-row Passport prices $3,020 greater than the least costly three-row Pilot, the bigger brother sustaining its FWD EX-L variant for now. Like-for-like, the Passport EX-L AWD prices $1,020 greater than the Pilot EX-L AWD. There are huge adjustments headed to the Pilot lineup, although, the next-gen 2023 Pilot ready within the wings, its debut imminent and worth jumps sure.