Honda Passport ...Continued

We looked at:

Roominess And Passenger Comfort: The 1998 Passport boasts more interior room than the previous model, including increases in leg room and shoulder room. Company press materials say they brought "the comfort and familiarity of Honda cars to the Passport." That may be stretching it just a bit, but the SUV does have a comfortable, airy interior. All outboard seating positions (meaning everybody but the person in the middle in the back) have height adjustable three-point lap/shoulder belts providing a more comfortable seat belt fit. Hopefully, this will encourage more people to use them.

Driving Position: The high-up driving position provides an excellent view of the road. Seat adjustments are plentiful. The adjustable steering wheel gives various sized drivers a better view of the road and control of the vehicle. The dashboard has been redesigned and is pleasant to read. The controls are logical and easy to use. The side mirrors are large; good thing, too, because it's extremely difficult to see out the rearview mirror, especially with the full-sized spare mounted on the truck's backside.

Cargo Space: With the rear seats down, cargo volume increases by 6.2 inches over last year's model, giving the 1998 Passport 81.1 inches of available space for stuff. Also new for '98 is a side-hinged tailgate that allows easier access to the cargo area. The spare tire is mounted on the tailgate, so when it swings open, the tire goes with it. And because it opens to the left, you get great curbside access.

Our Impressions of the Drive:

Engine Response: The 3.2-liter V6 engine (the only one Passport offers) has plenty of horsepower for passing, merging, and other urban necessities as well as negotiating tough off-road trails.

Shifting The Gears: The Passport comes with either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The test SUV had an automatic that operated smoothly and accurately. The 4WD high mode is available by a button on the dash for easy accessibility and the 4WD low is engaged by a lever on the floor.

Handling: It was probably my imagination, but even though they're technically the same SUV, I felt the Passport was more car-like to drive than the Rodeo, especially around town. Off-road, the Passport is definitely truck-like, bouncing over hill and dale in pursuit of four-wheeling fun.

Ride: On a nice even highway, this vehicle rides as smooth as a family sedan. But on most city streets, be prepared for uncar-like jostling.

What We Liked Most: Many vehicles fit today's definition of an SUV, but the Passport is not a wannabe. It's built from the ground up -- chassis through frame and body -- as a sport utility vehicle.

What We Caution You About: Like most SUVs, the Honda Passport is not particularly economical to operate. It may require more trips to the gas pump than the cars that caused Americans to first buy Japanese in the 1970s.

Overall Impression: The Honda Passport is a tough off-roader with a tender, car-like side. It looks and plays the SUV role well.

Major Competition: Chevrolet Blazer, Ford Explorer, Nissan Pathfinder, Toyota 4Runner