Is the Honda Passport a good SUV for Panama City drivers? What owners and reviewers say
Panama City drivers usually ask one practical question before they buy an SUV: will it carry the people, haul the boat and handle the roads they drive every day? The Honda Passport fits Panama City households that need five seats, a boat or trailer behind them and clearance on Bay County roads. Group 1 Honda Panama City sells the Passport at 3601 E 15th St, and our record with local buyers is part of the answer.
Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Panama City. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.
Is the Honda Passport a good SUV for Panama City drivers?
Yes. The Passport fits Panama City drivers who carry up to five people, tow a boat or trailer and want clearance on Bay County roads and beach access. Group 1 Honda Panama City, the only Honda franchise in the city, sells it with a 4.6 Google rating across 3,412 reviews behind the store.
Every 2026 Passport trim seats five and tows up to 5,000 pounds. The lineup starts at $44,950 for the RTL and reaches $53,850 for the TrailSport Elite Blackout. Our Google record shows 83 in 100 of those reviews are five-star (Google, 2026).
What do Passport owners and reviewers say about reliability and comfort?
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the 2026 Honda Passport its Top Safety Pick+ award. That is the third-party result that speaks most directly to how the Passport protects the people inside it.
Comfort starts with room. The RTL gives the front row 41.1 inches of legroom and the second row 40.9 inches, with five seats on every trim. The 285-horsepower V6 makes 262 lb-ft of torque at 5,000, so the Passport has the power to climb a bridge or merge onto US 98 with a full car.
Does the Honda Passport have enough towing power for a boat in Panama City?
Yes. The Passport’s 285-horsepower V6 is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds, and that rating is the same on all seven 2026 trims. A Panama City driver with a boat or trailer does not need to step up a trim to reach it.
Check the combined weight of the boat, trailer, fuel and gear against the 5,000-pound rating before you tow. The rating is the ceiling, so plan your load below it, especially on a hot Panama City afternoon when the bay ramps are busy.
How much ground clearance does the Honda Passport give on Bay County roads?
The RTL trim has 8.3 inches of ground clearance, the figure the maker publishes for that trim. Clearance matters most when the road is wet, and Bay County gets plenty of rain. NOAA’s 1991-2020 climate normals put annual precipitation at the Panama City airport at 59.53 inches, with 19.61 inches falling across June, July and August (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991-2020 U.S. Climate Normals).
That summer rainfall lands in the heart of hurricane season, when a driver most needs to see the road ahead and keep the vehicle clear of standing water. Pick the trim that suits your roads, and keep the clearance figure in mind when you plan the trip.
Passport or Pilot: which Honda SUV fits a Panama City family?
The Passport seats five on every trim, and the Pilot is the Honda SUV we sell that seats up to eight. Group 1 Honda Panama City sells both new, so the choice comes down to how many people ride and how much they carry.
The Passport RTL starts at $44,950 and offers 104.6 cubic feet of max cargo. The Pilot EX-L (2WD) starts at $44,695 and gives third-row passengers 32.5 inches of legroom. A Panama City family that rides with a full third row should look at the Pilot, while a family of five that wants the Passport’s 5,000-pound tow rating and 8.3 inches of clearance is better served by the Passport.
What fuel economy does the Honda Passport get for Panama City driving?
The EPA rates the 2026 Passport AWD at 19 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. The AWD TrailSport is rated 18 city, 23 highway and 20 combined.
Panama City workers spend an average of 21.4 minutes getting to their jobs (U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts, American Community Survey 2020-2024 five-year estimates). Use the 19-mpg city rating to estimate a daily commute of that length, and use the highway rating for weekend trips out of town.
What do buyers say about buying and servicing a Honda at Group 1 Honda Panama City?
We sell new Honda across ten models, and the Passport and Pilot are both on that list. Buyers who service their Honda with us describe the work in their own words, and one recent reviewer on Google put it this way.
Stephan R. described a service visit in an August 2026 Google review: “Andrew always does a great job, keeps me updated and doesn’t do anything without taking the time to walk me through it. No unnecessary repairs or maintenance”
Frequently asked questions
Does the Honda Passport have a third row?
No. The Passport seats five on every 2026 trim. Honda’s Pilot is the SUV we sell with a third row.
What warranty does the Honda Passport come with?
Honda covers the 2026 Passport for 3 years or 36,000 miles on the basic warranty. The powertrain warranty runs 5 years or 60,000 miles, and corrosion is covered for 5 years with no mileage limit.
What is the difference between the Passport TrailSport and other trims?
TrailSport trims start at $48,650. The AWD TrailSport is rated 18 city, 23 highway and 20 combined, and every trim shares the 285-horsepower V6 and 5,000-pound tow rating.
Can I buy a Honda Passport online in Panama City?
Yes. With AcceleRide, you can pick out a new vehicle, buy it online and have it brought to you. We also offer a secure online finance application, and the site says “apply and get approved.”
Can I schedule a test drive for the Passport?
Yes. Scan the QR code to schedule a test drive, and upload your driver’s license when prompted.
How do you ask for an itemized out-the-door quote on a Honda Passport?
Ask for every line item in writing before you sign. Bay County adds a 1% surtax to Florida’s 6% state sales tax (Florida Department of Revenue, 2025). Florida law bars charging for predelivery service unless that line item is printed on all documents (Florida Statutes s. 501.976, 2026).
How Group 1 Honda Panama City lets you buy a Passport online with delivery
A Passport fits a Panama City household that needs five seats, a 5,000-pound tow rating and 8.3 inches of clearance. Group 1 Honda Panama City makes that purchase easy to start from home or from the showroom. We hold 4.6 stars across 3,412 Google reviews, and one recent buyer described the sales process this way.
In an August 2026 Google review, Ron D. wrote: “Matthew Tomasello was super helpful getting my granddaughter a car! Helped her through the whole process!!!”
Pick the trim that matches your tow and seating needs, then bring those details to 3601 E 15th St in Panama City. The team there can walk you through the trim list and the numbers on the vehicle you want.
Group 1 Honda Panama City turns a Passport’s five seats, 5,000-pound tow rating and 8.3 inches of clearance into a truck-ready purchase on East 15th Street. Bring your boat or trailer weight and the trim you want to see, and start from there.
Group 1 Honda Panama City answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Panama City showroom, or call (850) 763-5495.
Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact Group 1 Honda Panama City for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.
