2019 Honda Passport world premiere at the 2018 LA Auto Show

MANILA: Honda is a well-recognized name in the crossover segment with a wide spectrum of models available in the market. Slotted right between the CR-V and the Pilot, comes a new model, named 2019 Honda Passport. It is all set to make its global debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show 2018. For now, it will cater to the American market only and is believed to throw a tough challenge to the likes of Ford Edge and Kia Sorento post-launch.

Honda Passport is not an entirely new name altogether. The Japanese auto brand made its entry in the SUV segment long back in the year 1994 with the Passport. As the company was not ready to stay involved with the SUV, in the early 2000s, it was sold as re-badged Isuzu Rodeo. Now after a little more than two decades, the brand shows interest in reviving and popularising the Passport.

The teaser image available does not showcase the vehicle and how it might be styled externally still is ambiguous. Only a portion of the rear side and roof, brushed with dust are visible in the photo. The design specifications are not available now, but if reports are to be believed the upcoming model will bear styling cues from the Honda Pilot and CR-V. It is being speculated that the car might also be around six inches shorter compared to the Pilot.

The Senior Vice President of US Honda Motor Company assured that the upcoming crossover would have all-weather off-road capabilities. As shared by the company, the Passport was developed and designed by Honda’s R&D Americas and will be manufactured at Lincoln, Alabama plant in North America.

No words on the official pricing of the vehicle and where else it will be marketed other than the US is known yet. On an approximate basis, it might cost somewhere between Php 1,325,000 - 1,700,000.