What Is the Honda Version of the Rodeo?

The Honda version of the Isuzu Rodeo is the Honda Passport. Sold in North America from 1994 to 2002, the first two generations of the Passport were essentially rebadged Isuzu Rodeos built by Isuzu, after which Honda revived the Passport name in 2019 for a different, Honda-engineered SUV.

How the Honda Passport Relates to the Isuzu Rodeo

In the 1990s, Honda lacked a midsize SUV in its lineup, while Isuzu had the Rodeo. The two companies entered a product-sharing arrangement: Isuzu supplied Honda with the Rodeo (sold as the Honda Passport), and Honda supplied Isuzu with compact cars (leading to models like the Isuzu Oasis minivan). This badge-engineering deal allowed Honda to compete in the booming SUV market quickly.

Production, Years, and Key Facts

The Passport shared its platform, engines, and much of its hardware with the Isuzu Rodeo. Both were built primarily at Subaru-Isuzu Automotive (now Subaru of Indiana Automotive) in Lafayette, Indiana. The Honda-badged model aligned closely with the Rodeo’s model-cycle and mechanicals.

The points below summarize the essentials for shoppers and enthusiasts comparing the two badges.

• Name: Honda Passport (Isuzu Rodeo counterpart)
• U.S. sale years as a rebadge: 1994–2002
• Assembly: Lafayette, Indiana (Subaru-Isuzu Automotive)
• Drivetrains: Shared with Rodeo, including 3.2-liter V6 options (four-cylinder early on)
• Role in lineup: Filled Honda’s midsize SUV slot before the Honda Pilot debuted for 2003
• After 2019: “Passport” name revived by Honda on a distinct, Honda-engineered two-row SUV (no relation to Isuzu)

Taken together, these details show that the 1990s–early 2000s Passport and the Rodeo were near twins under different badges, while today’s Passport is a different vehicle altogether.

How to Tell Them Apart

Externally, the Rodeo and Passport shared bodywork but differed in grille designs, badging, wheel styles, and trim details typical of each brand. Interior materials and feature packaging also reflected Honda’s trim conventions, though the underlying layout and mechanicals remained Isuzu-based.

What Replaced the Passport

Honda phased out the Isuzu-built Passport after the 2002 model year and introduced the Honda Pilot for 2003—a Honda-developed, unibody three-row SUV. In 2019, Honda brought back the Passport name for a two-row, Pilot-based SUV, unrelated to Isuzu’s Rodeo.

Bottom Line

If you’re asking which Honda model corresponds to the Isuzu Rodeo of the 1990s and early 2000s, the answer is the Honda Passport (1994–2002). The modern Passport (2019–present) shares only the name, not the Isuzu heritage.

Summary

The Honda version of the Isuzu Rodeo is the Honda Passport, sold from 1994 to 2002 as a rebadged Rodeo built in Indiana. Honda later replaced it with the Pilot and revived the Passport name in 2019 for a Honda-engineered SUV that is unrelated to the Rodeo.

Is a Passport or Pilot bigger?

The Honda Pilot is bigger than the Honda Passport, featuring a longer body, a third row of seats, and more overall passenger and cargo space to accommodate up to eight people, while the Passport is a smaller, two-row SUV designed for five passengers, offering more maneuverability.
 
Honda Pilot Size & Features

• Size: The Pilot is longer, measuring around 199.9 to 200 inches in length. 
• Seating: It offers a third row, allowing it to seat up to eight people. 
• Space: The Pilot has a larger interior with more total cargo room. 
• Purpose: It’s ideal for larger families or those who frequently carry more passengers and cargo. 

Honda Passport Size & Features

• Size: The Passport is a more compact two-row SUV, coming in at a shorter length of about 189.1 to 191 inches. 
• Seating: It has two rows of seats and seats a maximum of five passengers. 
• Purpose: Its smaller dimensions make it a better choice for city driving, maneuvering in tight spaces, and prioritizing a sportier feel over maximum space. 

Is the Isuzu Rodeo the same as a Honda Passport?

Yes, the first two generations of the Honda Passport were essentially rebadged Isuzu Rodeos. Honda partnered with Isuzu to offer a mid-size SUV in the US market, and the Passport was their version of the Rodeo, built by Subaru Isuzu Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana. This partnership allowed Honda to quickly enter the growing SUV market in the 1990s. 
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Rebadged Vehicle: The initial Honda Passport models (1994-2002) were based on the Isuzu Rodeo platform. 
• Manufacturing: Both the Isuzu Rodeo and the Honda Passport were manufactured at the Subaru Isuzu Automotive plant in Lafayette, Indiana. 
• Shared Components: The Passport shared the Rodeo’s body, engine, and other core components. 
• Differentiation: While sharing the core structure, the Passport had some cosmetic differences, including the grille, headlights, and other minor styling details. 
• Discontinuation: The Passport was discontinued in 2002, while the Rodeo continued for a couple more years. 
• New Passport: The Honda Passport nameplate was revived in 2019 for a new SUV based on the Honda Pilot, but it is a completely different vehicle than the original Rodeo-based model. 

You can watch this video to see the exterior of the first generation Honda Passport and learn about its history: 1mBern on CarsYouTube · Feb 11, 2023

Is the Honda Pilot body on the frame?

No, the Honda Pilot is not body-on-frame; it uses a unibody construction, similar to a car, that combines the vehicle’s body and frame into a single structure. This unibody design provides benefits such as lighter weight, better handling, improved fuel efficiency, and a more comfortable ride compared to traditional body-on-frame vehicles.
 
Why Honda uses unibody construction 

• Car-like ride quality: The integrated structure offers greater comfort and a smoother ride for passengers.
• Enhanced safety: Unibody designs are known for excellent structural rigidity and are often praised for their performance in crash tests.
• Improved performance: A lighter and stiffer unibody structure contributes to better handling and dynamic performance.
• Better fuel efficiency: The lighter weight inherent in a unibody design helps to improve the vehicle’s fuel economy.

What this means for the Pilot
The Honda Pilot is a crossover utility vehicle (CUV), a category of vehicles that are based on a car-like unibody platform rather than a truck-style frame. This design distinguishes it from more rugged, body-on-frame SUVs, making it better suited for everyday driving and passenger comfort.

Did Honda discontinue the Passport?

No, the Honda Passport was not discontinued permanently. It was discontinued after the 2002 model year but was revived for the 2019 model year and remains in production, with an all-new fourth generation arriving for the 2026 model year. The current generation is a rugged, two-row mid-size SUV designed with more off-road capability, slotting between the CR-V and the larger Pilot.
 
History of the Honda Passport

• Original Generation (1994–2002): The first Honda Passport was a body-on-frame SUV produced in collaboration with Isuzu. It was discontinued after the 2002 model year in favor of Honda’s own Pilot SUV. 
• Hiatus (2003–2018): The Passport nameplate was dormant for over a decade. 
• Third Generation (2019–2025): Honda resurrected the Passport for the 2019 model year as a unibody crossover, a shortened, two-row version of the Pilot, designed for more adventurous use. 
• Fourth Generation (2026–Present): An all-new, fourth-generation Passport debuted for the 2026 model year with a more rugged design, improved off-road features, and a new powertrain. 

In summary, the Honda Passport was discontinued once before, but it was brought back and is currently available as a brand-new, redesigned vehicle for the 2026 model year.