They say “great minds think alike”. Well, it seems that Honda and GM may be on to something in bringing back old nameplates for the 2019 model year. For the Japanese automaker, it has been 17 years since the last Passport, then a rebadged Isuzu, was sold back in 2002. For GM, it has been over a decade since the brand discontinued the last-generation Chevrolet Blazer back in 2005. Come next year, Chevy will launch the all-new 2019 Blazer as a midsize crossover SUV, and Honda will follow shortly thereafter with the new Honda Passport, which it recently unveiled at the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Let’s take a look at how the new entry from Japan stacks up to the new Blazer.
Performance
As we reported previously, the new Honda Passport rides on a shortened version of the platform that underpins the Honda Pilot. The 2019 Passport will be powered by Honda’s 3.5-liter i-VTEC V6 engine paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The combination delivers 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque.
When equipped with the available i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system with Intelligent Traction Management technology, the midsize Honda has a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. Front-wheel-drive models of the new Honda Passport can tow up to 3,500 pounds.
Meanwhile, the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer comes with two engine options: a 2.5L l-4 LCV as standard or the 3.6L V6 LGX engine as optional. They produce 193 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque and 305 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque, respectively. Towing on the Blazer with the V6 maxes out at 4,500 pounds.
Exterior
The new Honda Passport features a matte black grille and bumper, blacked out headlights and black wheels, giving it a particularly sporty appearance. The wheels are standard 20-inchers wrapped in 245/50R all-weather tires.
For the new Chevy Blazer, GM incorporated several Camaro cues into the design. The grille, sculpted body lines, and “floating roof” give it an aggressive appearance that helps distinguish it from the rest of the crossover lineup.
Both automakers offer optional equipment to dress up the exterior just a bit. The Blazer RS, for example, adds blacked out exterior accents, while the Blazer Premier adds body-color elements and chrome accents.
Interior
Both the new Honda Passport and Chevy Blazer have fairly uncluttered interiors. The new Passport’s cabin has enough space to fit five people and provides an impressive passenger volume of 115.9 cubic feet, along with a best-in-class total interior volume of 157.1 cubic feet. Cargo space behind the second row is a generous 41.2 cubic feet, expandable to 77.9 cubic feet. By comparison, the Chevrolet Blazer has 64.2 cubic feet when the second row is folded down.
The 2019 Honda Passport also has 2.5 cubic feet of underfloor storage that is easily accessible from the trunk/hatch. The space includes a custom bin for storing the trailer hitch receiver.
The new Blazer features Chevrolet’s first implementation of the Cargo Management System. Standard on the RS and Premier trims, the Cargo Management System includes a rail system and cargo fence to help keep smaller items secure when dividing up the cabin’s cargo areas.
Technology
The new Honda Passport features a plethora of tech features. Entry-level models feature a 5-inch infotainment system, LED lights, Smart Start and Entry, a 215-watt sounds system, and three-zone automatic climate control. Those who opt to upgrade to the Passport EX-L, Touring, or Elite trims will be treated to an 8-inch display audio touchscreen system with access to Wi-Fi, HondaLink services, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto.
The Honda Sensing suite of safety features comes standard for all trims and includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Forward Collision Warning, Mitigation Braking System, Road Departure Mitigation, Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keep Assistance.
Meanwhile, the Chevrolet Blazer offers a slew of tech goodies to make driving more comfortable and help families stay connected. The crossover comes with standard the third-generation Chevrolet Infotainment system (replacing the Chevrolet MyLink systems) driving an 8-inch, full-color touchscreen. It also features built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi.
Wireless phone charging and six USB ports are also available. Adaptive Cruise Control and the innovative Rear Camera Mirror are available on the RS and Premier trim levels. The automatic heated steering wheel and heated/ventilated front seats turn on with the remote start feature, so you never have to dread climbing into a car that’s uncomfortably hot or cold. The Honda also features the heated and cooled front seats along with the heated steering wheel, but it’s currently unclear whether it has remote start.
Other Rivals
Besides competing with each other, the 2019 Blazer and new Honda Passport will take on two established segment rivals – the Nissan Murano and the Ford Edge.
In addition, the Hyundai Santa Fe, Kia Sorento, and GM’s own (second-generation) GMC Acadia also play in the same space. Volkswagen is rumored to enter the fray in the near future with a shorter, two-row variant of its new Atlas model. Toyota remains absent from the midsize crossover space after the discontinuation of its Venza several years ago.
Coincidentally, as GM and Honda think alike to introduce midsize crossovers at nearly the same time, the two automakers are also developing quite the romance in autonomous vehicle engineering, while collaborating on fuel cell technologies.
Comments
Trash
The Blazer is the better product. Honda looks like they didn’t try hard, Honda will still sell plenty of them though..
Honda…Made in the USA, better materials, better safety, WAY better dependability. Which would you choose?
CHEVY
Honda..a Japanese company, so saying made in the USA is not the same as if an American company is bulding a product here in the states. If you buy one, you basically just wrote a check to Japan. In addition, Honda is not what it use to be, as it is now WAY OVERRATED!
Blazer is built in Mexico. Bro!
The Blazer is likely the better product with a far more creative design. They mostly did a very good job on the Blazer and it’s clearly showcasing some unique style in the segment.
The Passport looks cheap and 3rd world by comparison although Honda clearly packaged it brilliantly. Their CR-V is better executed than anything Toyota, Hyundai, Ford, or GM has right now. It’s a legitimately excellent value and it’s clear that Honda isn’t a small player in the crossover market. We’ll see if the market responds as well to the Passport as it does the CR-V.
Chevrolet’s Equinox and Traverse are also very well done. They aren’t on par with the value proposition offered by the competition from Honda, but they are superior to many of their competitors.
As much as I like the Blazer, if I can’t disable the start/stop like I can on the Honda products, the Passport will be far more likely to end up in my driveway.
With the way the auto industry, it won’t be long before GM and honda merger and GM will take over honda and the great american automaker will be no more.
“and GM will take over honda ”
You need to lay off the smack.
More like GM will go out of business and Honda will take over some of there disused plants.
While it’s been a long time coming for Chevy, they waited too long. Honda has a better product, and by the way, it’s made in the good old U.S.A., and not in Mexico! I’ll never buy another car that’s not made in the U.S.A. All Honda has to do is start offering a more powerful engine, and they’ve got the market cornered, hands down. Sorry Chevy lovers. GM needs to get with the program and (re)start making cars in THIS country, where they belong.
Ya know, I seriously think the Blazer is the better product here. The one thing the Passport has over the Blazer is Honda’s quite stellar reputation. GM should consider building the Blazer in the US. Yes I know, its too late for that now but I think the Blazer will be a very strong seller and the Mexican plant may have problems keeping up with demand.
You know, the Honda Pilot will do 0-60 in about 6 seconds. This Passport should do about the same. People saying they will never buy Chevy again, I honestly think, GM doesn’t care. They are making a lot of money in China.
I think the Honda needs more cheap black plastic slathered over the exterior. I seriously hope this ugly design fad ends soon.