Honda has certainly earned its fair share of awards over the years for producing popular and top-notch vehicles. And some of Honda’s most impressive performers have been SUVs. But there’s one SUV in the portfolio that often gets overshadowed by its more popular siblings.

But it certainly deserves a look and recently landed Honda another coveted award-winning title. It might be a forgotten contender in the Honda lineup. However, based on this latest award distinction, it might just be the best value you can buy in its class.

The ‘Best Car for the Money’ winner

U.S. News put together a roster of vehicles with tremendous value to offer. Consumers, especially in today’s economy, need to identify which vehicles to buy that deliver quality and bang for their hard-earned bucks.

When the average new vehicle MSRP is nearly $40,000, this list might be the best compilation of rides you consider. The vehicles on this best-of list represent outstanding vehicles across 11 different segments. And the esteemed winner of the Best 2-Row SUV for the Money is the 2021 Honda Passport.

Is the Honda Passport a good SUV?

The Honda Passport is still a relatively young addition to the Honda family, introduced in 2019. But it wins this U.S. News and World Report Cars award for being the best SUV with a second row for the money.

The Honda Passport is a high-value proposition for a number of reasons including, its competent performance, better-than-average standard features, and a low cost of ownership overall. 

A few of the notable mentions that helped the Honda Passport earn this distinction include the standard and peppy 3.5-liter V6 engine, harnessing 280 horses, and smooth driving dynamics.

It also offers healthy cargo and passenger room. The easy-to-use eight-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto are standard for 2021. Standard driver aids include lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and auto emergency braking, too.

What SUVs does Honda have?

The Honda Passport doesn’t always get noticed. Its smaller sibling, the CR-V, often finds itself the topic of conversation, as does the larger sibling, the very popular Honda Pilot. The HR-V rounds out Honda’s lineup as the smallest option.

It’s easy to see how the Honda Passport might suffer from a little middle child anonymity. But it’s still a great pick and does rank well among many critic circles. 

Edmunds says the Honda Passport is spacious, comfortable, and full of convenience extras. The reviewers also suggest the Honda Passport is “like the Honda Pilot without a third row.”

Don’t overlook this Honda if value matters to you

If value matters and getting the most vehicle for your dollar is important, the 2021 Honda Passport deserves a look. It might not have the third row of its Pilot brother, but it brings plenty of vehicle for the money.

In addition to the healthy roster of features, the cost of ownership is impressively affordable. The Car Connection points out some of the features and specs per available trim level.

You’ll have the EX-L AWD, EX-L FWD, and Elite AWD options, and the Sport, the EX-L, the Touring, and the Elite core trims. Between these variations, you can expect to see ranges of 19 mpg in the city and 25 mph on average for highway driving. And you’ll especially appreciate the starting price of $32,790.

Honda has consistently built a reputation of reliability and value across its entire portfolio over the years. But don’t let some of the more popular models overshadow the very competent Honda Passport.

This SUV not only earned the automaker another award this year, but it may also earn your attention as the new ride you should consider buying. When it comes to stretching your dollar on a comparable two-row SUV, there’s not another contender that does it better than the Honda Passport.