Later this year, the 2024 Honda Ridgeline and Passport SUV will get a set of changes that will last longer. The TrailSport option is expected to have all-terrain tires and steel skid plates, so the Passport and Ridgeline can go over rougher terrain instead of just acting as they can. The Passport and Ridgeline will get the new DOHC 3.5-liter V-6 and 10-speed automatic from the fourth-generation Pilot. SUVs that can drive on pavement but look like they can go off-road are popular right now, and Honda’s old TrailSport models are a great example. With its improved suspension, all-terrain tires, skid plates, and higher ground clearance, the new 2023 Pilot TrailSport goes beyond the off-roading craze. Honda told reporters at a press event that for the 2024 model year, the mid-size Passport SUV and the Ridgeline pickup truck will undergo a lot of changes. The company says that neither the Passport nor the Ridgeline will have a gas-electric option in 2024, which is bad news for people who want a hybrid powertrain. This confirms what we already thought: both will have the Pilot’s better engine. The new 3.5-liter V-6 engine from Honda has a better way to get fuel to the engine, updated internals, and better packaging. It also changes from having one overhead cam to two double overhead cams. Even though the horsepower increases from 280 to 285, the torque stays at 262 pound-feet. A new one has replaced the old nine-speed automatic transmission with ten speeds. We have yet to have a chance to test the new engine, but based on our first drive, it doesn’t feel much faster. Off-roading is nothing new for the Ridgeline vehicle. Honda has been sponsoring a Ridgeline truck that competes in desert races since 2015. Even though some people might say that most TrailSports would never leave the path, adding off-roading features to the consumer version is still a great idea.
