The 2019 Honda Passport marked the re-entry of Honda into the mid-size SUV market, slotting between the CR-V and Pilot. For potential buyers prioritizing safety, understanding the Honda Passport 2019 safety ratings is crucial. This article provides a detailed overview of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash test results and safety evaluations for the Honda Passport 2019 model, derived from tests conducted on the related Honda Pilot. These ratings are vital for making informed decisions when considering the safety of the Honda Passport 2019 for you and your family.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Driver-Side
The small overlap front test assesses the vehicle’s performance when the front corner collides with another vehicle or a narrow object. The Honda Passport 2019, sharing its structure with the Honda Pilot (tested here as a 2016 model), achieved a “Good” rating in the driver-side small overlap front test, the highest possible rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Action shot of the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test, demonstrating the impact forces on the Honda Passport 2019 structure.
Post-crash driver dummy position in the Honda Passport 2019 equivalent test, indicating well-maintained driver survival space.
Effective airbag deployment in the Honda Passport 2019 crash test, showing robust head protection from frontal and side impacts.
Driver’s side space integrity in the Honda Passport 2019 small overlap crash test, highlighting low risk of leg and foot injuries.
Technical measurements from the test indicate minimal intrusion into the occupant compartment and low injury measures for the driver, reinforcing the “Good” rating and highlighting the robust safety cage of the Honda Passport 2019.
Small Overlap Front Crash Test: Passenger-Side
The passenger-side small overlap test is equally important, evaluating protection for the front passenger. The Honda Passport 2019 (based on the 2018 Honda Pilot test) again demonstrated strong performance, achieving an “Acceptable” overall rating. While structure and safety cage were rated “Good,” passenger restraints and dummy kinematics received a “Marginal” score due to the dummy’s head sliding off the frontal airbag and hitting the dashboard.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | A (Acceptable) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | A (Acceptable) |
| Passenger injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Passenger injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | A (Acceptable) |
| Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics | M (Marginal) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Hip/Thigh | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Lower Leg/Foot | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics (Driver) | G (Good) |
Passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test action shot, assessing the structural integrity of the Honda Passport 2019.
Passenger dummy’s position post-crash in the Honda Passport 2019 test, showing the passenger survival space is largely maintained.
Airbag deployment issue in the Honda Passport 2019 passenger-side test, leading to the dummy’s head impacting the dashboard.
Elevated forces on the passenger’s lower leg in the Honda Passport 2019 passenger-side test, indicating a moderate injury risk.
Despite the “Marginal” rating for passenger restraints, the Honda Passport 2019 still provides a good level of protection in this challenging crash scenario, with most injury measures remaining low.
Moderate Overlap Front Crash Test
In the moderate overlap front test, which simulates a head-on collision between two vehicles of similar weight, the Honda Passport 2019 (based on 2016 Honda Pilot test) earned a “Good” rating. This test reflects a more common type of frontal collision.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Chest | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Left | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Leg/Foot, Right | G (Good) |
| Driver restraints and dummy kinematics | G (Good) |
Technical measurements confirmed minimal occupant compartment intrusion and low risk of injury to the driver, further demonstrating the robust frontal crash protection of the Honda Passport 2019.
Side Impact Crash Test: Original and Updated
The side impact test evaluates occupant protection in side collisions. The Honda Passport 2019 received a “Good” rating in the original side impact test (based on 2016 Honda Pilot). However, in the updated, more stringent side impact test (based on 2022 Honda Pilot), the overall rating was “Marginal”.
Original Side Impact Test:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
| Structure and safety cage | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis/Leg | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
Updated Side Impact Test:
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall evaluation | M (Marginal) |
| Structure and safety cage | M (Marginal) |
| Driver injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Torso | G (Good) |
| Driver injury measures – Pelvis | M (Marginal) |
| Driver head protection | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Head/Neck | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Torso | M (Marginal) |
| Rear passenger injury measures – Pelvis | G (Good) |
| Rear passenger head protection | G (Good) |
Vehicle condition immediately after the updated side crash test, showing the impact zone on the Honda Passport 2019.
Post-test view of the Honda Passport 2019’s occupant compartment and deployed side airbags, assessing damage and protection.
Greasepaint on the driver dummy’s head indicating effective protection by side airbags in the Honda Passport 2019 side impact test.
Rear passenger dummy head protection in the Honda Passport 2019 side impact test, showing side airbag coverage.
While head and torso protection for both driver and rear passenger remained largely “Good”, the updated test revealed higher pelvis injury measures, leading to the “Marginal” overall rating. This suggests that while the Honda Passport 2019 offers good side impact protection, there’s room for improvement, especially in pelvic protection in more severe side impact scenarios.
Roof Strength Test
The roof strength test assesses the roof’s ability to withstand forces in a rollover crash. The Honda Passport 2019 achieved a “Good” rating, demonstrating a strong roof structure.
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
|---|---|
| Curb weight | 4,219 lbs |
| Peak force | 22,025 lbs |
| Strength-to-weight ratio | 5.22 |
This “Good” rating indicates that the roof of the Honda Passport 2019 is robust and provides good protection in rollover situations.
Head Restraints & Seats
Whiplash protection in rear-end collisions is evaluated through head restraint and seat tests. The Honda Passport 2019 received a “Good” rating for head restraints & seats, indicating good protection against whiplash injuries.
| Overall evaluation | G (Good) |
|---|---|
| Dynamic rating | G (Good) |
| Seat/head restraint geometry | G (Good) |
This “Good” rating signifies effective head restraint and seat design in the Honda Passport 2019 to minimize neck injuries in rear impacts.
Headlight Ratings
Headlight performance is critical for nighttime driving safety. The Honda Passport 2019 headlight ratings vary depending on trim level and production date.
Elite/Touring Trim (built after June 2019): “Acceptable” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A (Acceptable) |
Sport/EX-L Trim (built after June 2019): “Acceptable” rating.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | A (Acceptable) |
Elite/Touring Trim (built before July 2019): “Poor” rating due to excessive glare.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | P (Poor) |
Sport/EX-L Trim (built before July 2019): “Poor” rating due to excessive glare.
| Evaluation criteria | Rating |
|---|---|
| Overall rating | P (Poor) |
For Honda Passport 2019 models built after June 2019, all trims achieved an “Acceptable” headlight rating. However, models built before July 2019 received “Poor” ratings due to glare issues. Buyers should check the production date to understand the headlight performance of their specific Honda Passport 2019 model.
Front Crash Prevention: Vehicle-to-Vehicle
Front crash prevention systems help avoid or mitigate frontal collisions. The Honda Passport 2019’s standard Collision Mitigation Braking System with Honda Sensing Package was rated “Advanced”.
| Overall evaluation | Advanced |
|---|
In IIHS tests, the system avoided a collision at 12 mph and reduced impact speed by 12 mph in the 25 mph test. While effective, it did not meet the requirements for forward collision warning at the time of testing. This “Advanced” rating indicates good, but not perfect, front crash prevention capabilities for the Honda Passport 2019.
Child Seat Anchors (LATCH)
Child seat anchor ease of use is crucial for parents. The Honda Passport 2019 LATCH system received an “Acceptable” rating.
| Overall evaluation | A (Acceptable) |
|---|
While the Honda Passport 2019 has three rear seating positions with complete LATCH hardware, the anchors were noted to be deep in the seat and sometimes difficult to maneuver around, contributing to the “Acceptable” rating rather than “Good”.
Conclusion
The Honda Passport 2019 demonstrates a strong commitment to safety, achieving mostly “Good” ratings in key IIHS crash tests. While the passenger-side small overlap and updated side impact tests revealed areas for potential improvement, and headlight ratings vary by production date, the Honda Passport 2019 generally offers robust occupant protection. For families and individuals prioritizing safety in a mid-size SUV, the Honda Passport 2019 remains a solid choice, especially models with improved headlight performance and consideration for passenger-side small overlap results. Always consult the full IIHS reports for detailed information and compare ratings with other vehicles in the same class to make the best decision for your needs.
