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Buying the cheapest car isn’t always the best way to save money. In fact, the 2021 Honda Passport isn’t really even close to the cheapest midsize SUV on the market, but that hasn’t stopped it from being named the best midsize SUV for the money. It is comfortable, reliable, efficient, and still reasonably priced. It is easy to see how it could be the best midsize SUV for the money between those main factors. 

2021 Honda Passport named the best midsize SUV for the money
2021 Honda Passport | Honda

The 2021 Honda Passport is a solid midsize SUV for the money

Many customers tend to focus on the price of an automobile without considering value. The price of the 2021 Honda Passport might not be the lowest in the game, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the best value for the money. 

According to U.S. News, the 2021 Honda Passport ranks at the top of their midsize SUV rankings. And, even though the price range of $32,590 – $43,980 is on the higher end of this segment, U.S. News still thinks the Passport is the best midsize SUV for the money. 

The 2021 Passport earned two awards from U.S. News

2021 Honda Passport named the best midsize SUV for the money
2021 Honda Passport | Honda

U.S. News named the 2021 Passport the best two-row SUV for the money and the best midsize SUV for families. These may not be the most exciting awards of all time, but they are some of the most valuable. 

The 2021 Honda Passport won these awards for being a stand-out by combining cargo and passenger space, safety and reliability ratings, positive reviews from automotive journalists, and available family-friendly features. 

The Passport is powered by a 280-hp V6 that sends power to the front wheels or all four in the higher trim packages. The result of this peppy V6 and AWD is a surprisingly well-handling SUV that features light steering, a nimble footprint, and a comfortable ride. 

Although the 2021 Honda Passport is certainly not an off-roader, Honda did give it a few off-road driving modes that help it with loose surface traction like dirt and sand. Speaking of controls and settings, the infotainment system can be a bit annoying to navigate. It is not the most intuitive system. U.S. News and our own testing both found the controls slightly annoying and sometimes downright frustrating. 

What’s the difference between the Honda Pilot and Honda Passport? 

The main difference is size. The Passport is a five-seater midsize SUV, while the Pilot shares the midsize-SUV segment; it has three rows of seating. The two SUVs share the same V6 and a similar price point. However, the 2021 Honda Passport has more standard equipment than the Pilot. 

The pilot and Passport are both great; the main deciding factor between the two comes down to little more than preference. 

There is a fine line between price and value. However, in particular, the differentiation between the two is important to understand for the car market. At the end of the day, the price you pay for a vehicle loses all of its value if you aren’t satisfied with the choice you’ve made. This is why the 2021 Honda Passport getting named the best midsize SUV for the money really matters.

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