Newly designed for the 2019 model year, the Honda Passport is a crossover SUV with two rows of seats. This SUV is six-inches shorter than the three-row Honda Pilot, although the Passport is an inch taller and wider. The 2020 Passport has a comfortable and spacious interior. Car and Driver says it’s not that stylish but offers “copious standard driver assists.” It also has a number of tech features, but does it offer Apple CarPlay?

Apple CarPlay

Apple CarPlay is a vehicle software that connects an iPhone to the vehicle’s infotainment system. It functions as a safety feature, allowing the driver to use the phone apps while staying hands free. It can let the driver make phone calls and respond verbally to text messages. It also supports Podcasts, Apple Music, Calendar, Audible, Pandora, Slacker Radio, SiriusXM Radio, and many other apps.

In addition, it supports Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze, mirroring the phone’s apps on the vehicles infotainment screen. This function means the car doesn’t need to include, or keep up to date, its own native navigation software, although the Passport does have it on some trim levels.

The infotainment screen shows a similar set of menus and icons to what the iPhone user is used to seeing. Some vehicles offer wireless Apple CarPlay, but the system works best with the phone plugged into a USB port with a Lightning cable. Bluetooth can be used for audio functions. Apple CarPlay can be operated using the infotainment screen or by voice using Siri.

2020 Honda Passport Infotainment systems

The 2020 Passport has four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite. The Sport trim has a 5.0-inch infotainment screen and offers Bluetooth. The other three trims have an 8.0-inch touchscreen that is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Car and Driver would prefer more knobs to control the infotainment system instead of just the touchscreen. Buttons are included for adjusting the radio volume as well as heating.

The Touring and Elite trim levels provide additional related features, including a built-in satellite-linked navigation system, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless phone charging. There is a tray near the cup holders to place your phone for wireless charging, and an LED indicator shows that it’s charging. The hotspot is available with a data plan from AT&T.

Other tech features

The tech included on the Honda Passport extends beyond the infotainment system, with a remote starter, automatic high beams, and LED daytime running lights. Walk Away Auto Lock will automatically lock the Passport when the driver walks away with the key fob. When the driver returns, the car can be unlocked by grabbing a front-door handle. The Touring and Elite trim levels provide a hands-free powered tailgate, a 10-speaker sound system, LED headlights, parking sensors, a 115-volt outlet, as well as USB ports for the rear seats.

The HondaLink app allows you to save your parking space, see your fuel range, and schedule a service appointment. Touring and Elite trims have additional functionalities in HondaLink, and a subscription offers even more, from having Amazon packages delivered to inside the Passport to being contacted by an agent in the event of a collision to a personal concierge.

Safety features

The 2020 Honda Passport offers a number of standard safety and driver-assistance technology features. All the trim levels come with Honda Sensing, which provides a suite of driver-assist and safety technologies. Standard features are the collision mitigation braking system, lane-keeping assist system, road departure mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, blind spot information system, and cross-traffic monitor.

The 2020 Honda Passport includes plenty of tech and safety features. That does include Apple CarPlay on three out of the four trim levels.