Honda Passport
Encyclopedia
The Honda Passport was a compact SUV
produced by Isuzu
, released in 1994, as Honda
's first entry in the truck market for the United States
. Built and designed solely by Isuzu
, who sold it as the Rodeo, it was seen as a "quick fix" entry into the growing SUV market in the United States
. It was essentially an SUV wagon version of the Isuzu pickup truck, similar to the Jeep Cherokee
and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. It was nicely appointed, but reviews called the design a bit behind the times, as crossover and more refined trucks had evolved (such as the Ford Explorer
and Jeep Grand Cherokee
, which were not directly based on pickup truck platforms).
The Passport was part of a growing partnership between Isuzu and Honda in the 1990s, in which Isuzu supplied Honda with SUVs (in addition to producing Passports, Isuzu also provided Honda with Trooper
SUVs to be sold as the Acura SLX) and Honda supplied Isuzu with cars - in particular the Isuzu Gemini
(Honda Civic
; Japan
-market only) and Isuzu Oasis
(Honda Odyssey
). It sold quite well in the regions of the US such as the Pacific Northwest
against competitors such as the truck-based Nissan Pathfinder
.
For the second generation (1998–2002) two trim levels were produced [LX] and upscale [EX], "EX" had the spare tire below the cargo area, and "LX" mounted in a swing carrier at rear. Minor changes for 2000 model included 2-tone exterior colors, and 16" wheels optional for "LX".
The Honda version was discontinued after 2002, replaced by Honda Pilot
. The Pilot also replaced the Isuzu Rodeo as part of Isuzu's withdrawal from Canada
at the time. This loss of market would factor into Isuzu discontinuing not only the Rodeo, but also the Axiom
and sales of all Isuzu-designed passenger vehicles in the US.
Compact SUV
Compact SUV is a class of small sport utility vehicles with a length roughly between . This class should not be confused with mini SUV, which refers to smaller vehicles.- Background :...
produced by Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
, released in 1994, as Honda
Honda
is a Japanese public multinational corporation primarily known as a manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles.Honda has been the world's largest motorcycle manufacturer since 1959, as well as the world's largest manufacturer of internal combustion engines measured by volume, producing more than...
's first entry in the truck market for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built and designed solely by Isuzu
Isuzu
, is a Japanese car, commercial vehicle and heavy truck manufacturing company, headquartered in Tokyo. In 2005, Isuzu became the world's largest manufacturer of medium to heavy duty trucks. It has assembly and manufacturing plants in the Japanese city of Fujisawa, as well as in the prefectures...
, who sold it as the Rodeo, it was seen as a "quick fix" entry into the growing SUV market in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It was essentially an SUV wagon version of the Isuzu pickup truck, similar to the Jeep Cherokee
Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
The Jeep Cherokee is a unibody compact SUV. It shared the name of the original full-size SJ model, but without a body-on-frame chassis, it set the stage for the modern SUV. Its innovative appearance and sales popularity spawned important imitators as other automakers began to notice that this...
and Mitsubishi Montero Sport. It was nicely appointed, but reviews called the design a bit behind the times, as crossover and more refined trucks had evolved (such as the Ford Explorer
Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is a sport-utility vehicle sold in North America and built by the Ford Motor Company since 1990, as a replacement for the smaller but related Ford Bronco II. It is manufactured in Chicago, Illinois...
and Jeep Grand Cherokee
Jeep Grand Cherokee
The Jeep Grand Cherokee is a Mid-size SUV produced by the Jeep division of Chrysler. While some other SUVs were manufactured with body on frame construction, the Jeep Grand Cherokee has always used a unibody chassis.- Development :...
, which were not directly based on pickup truck platforms).
The Passport was part of a growing partnership between Isuzu and Honda in the 1990s, in which Isuzu supplied Honda with SUVs (in addition to producing Passports, Isuzu also provided Honda with Trooper
Isuzu Trooper
The Isuzu Trooper was a mid-size SUV produced by the Japanese automaker Isuzu between 1981 and 2005. It was exported worldwide as the Isuzu Bighorn, Isuzu Trooper, Isuzu Trooper II , Caribe 442, Acura SLX, Chevrolet Trooper, Subaru Bighorn, Honda Horizon, Opel/Vauxhall Monterey, Holden Jackaroo,...
SUVs to be sold as the Acura SLX) and Honda supplied Isuzu with cars - in particular the Isuzu Gemini
Isuzu Gemini
General Motors sought a replacement for their world car T-body Kadett / Gemini, and this time, instead of building one design on several continents, they decided to build a world car in one location and export it to several continents...
(Honda Civic
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic is a line of subcompact and subsequently compact cars made and manufactured by Honda. The Civic, along with the Accord and Prelude, comprised Honda's vehicles sold in North America until the 1990s, when the model lineup was expanded...
; Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
-market only) and Isuzu Oasis
Isuzu Oasis
The Isuzu Oasis was a minivan produced as result of an agreement between Isuzu and Honda from 1996 to 1999. It was the only minivan sold by Isuzu....
(Honda Odyssey
Honda Odyssey
Honda Odyssey can refer to three motor vehicles manufactured by Honda:* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold in Japan and other parts of the world* Honda Odyssey , a minivan sold primarily in the United States and Canada...
). It sold quite well in the regions of the US such as the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
against competitors such as the truck-based Nissan Pathfinder
Nissan Pathfinder
The Nissan Pathfinder is a SUV manufactured by Nissan Motors since 1986, derived from Nissan's compact pickup truck platform. The Pathfinder is slotted in size between the Murano and Armada or Patrol, but in price between the Xterra and Murano...
.
For the second generation (1998–2002) two trim levels were produced [LX] and upscale [EX], "EX" had the spare tire below the cargo area, and "LX" mounted in a swing carrier at rear. Minor changes for 2000 model included 2-tone exterior colors, and 16" wheels optional for "LX".
The Honda version was discontinued after 2002, replaced by Honda Pilot
Honda Pilot
The Honda Pilot is a mid-size crossover SUV. The Honda Pilot is built in Lincoln, Alabama, and was also produced in Alliston, Ontario, Canada up until April 2007. The first generation Pilot was released in the summer of 2002 as a 2003 model, and in 2006 it received new front and rear fascias, a...
. The Pilot also replaced the Isuzu Rodeo as part of Isuzu's withdrawal from Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
at the time. This loss of market would factor into Isuzu discontinuing not only the Rodeo, but also the Axiom
Isuzu Axiom
The Isuzu Axiom is an SUV designed in Japan using a "knife blade" theme for its car-like styling. Built in Lafayette, Indiana, U.S. at the Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. plant on the Rodeo platform. It jointly replaced the Trooper, but was itself replaced by the Isuzu Ascender for the 2005...
and sales of all Isuzu-designed passenger vehicles in the US.