New year, new steers! Such a pleasure getting to preview both the 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring and also the 2023 Honda Passport Touring, both amazing in their own respective ways. But what was unique about one of the Test Drives is that it led me to experience the world-class care that Honda Roadside Assistance offers. More about our unforgettable experiences…
This incredibly versatile topseller once again proves its value, deliver sleek style and performance. A pleasure driving it in Platinum White Pearl. Powered by a 1.5-litre, 16-valve, Direct Injection, DOHC, turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, this Sedan has 180 @ 6000 rpm horsepower. Running on Regular fuel, its ECON mode and Idle Stop help you get the most for your money, delivering an economical A-game. Its fuel economy tallies-in at 7.6/6.1/6.9 (city/highway/combined). There aren’t many other cars out there than can top that!
We’re loving Honda‘s Dual-Zone Climate Controls here, which give Driver and Passengers the ability to customize, because I know I prefer it a little cooler, while often my passengers prefer it warmer. Heated seating is available for those in the front and the back and the car sits five comfortably despite being compact. This is how Honda continues to win over new fans even when they’re not the Driver!
The Touring edition provides an elevated entertainment experience coming with a BOSE® Premium Sound System with 12 speakers including subwoofer and a 9″ colour touchscreen to navigate. Connecting wirelessly and with wires are options to stay charged, and you also get a wireless charging plate as well.
We were bombarded with a lot of snow during our Test Drive so safety features like 4-wheel Anti-lock Braking System, Brake Assist, Forward Collision Warning system, Collision Mitigation Braking System, Lane Departure Warning system, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, A Road Departure Mitigation system, plus Auto High-Beam gave us added stability and security through it all.
In the event of an accident, you also are protected with Next-Generation Advanced Compatibility Engineering body structure, Airbag system (front), Side curtain airbags with rollover sensor system, side airbags, Rear side airbags, Knee airbags and more. Honda’s concern for its Drivers and Passengers are unparalleled.
Though the car comes with a Maintenance Minder system, it wasn’t able to detect its tire blowing after being impacted by a pothole and we encounted the misfortune of losing our tire. But even admist a snowstorm, Honda Roadside Assistance not only was fast (took 30 minutes only to arrive), they were attentive, checked-in regularly to keep me updated on our Towing Service’s arrival and we were out of harm’s way. This isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity and we can’t recommend it enough. If we were able to be taken care of this swiftly and efficiently, don’t you think you deserve the same level of care?
With the 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring riding low by design, something like a pothole does present a greater risk, hence this is something to be mindful of.
In all, this test drive still enabled us to create some great memories still. And in this highlight reel, we also recount how awesome Honda Roadside Assistance truly is.
The 2023 Honda Civic 4D Touring starts at $35,261. More here.
We’ll be honest. The Honda Passport quickly has shot to the top in our books after preferring smaller-sized offerings from Honda for years. We have such fond memories of test driving last year’s model, that we were pumped to preview the 2023 Honda Passport Touring in Platinum White Pearl. With its distinctive honeycomb grille and 20″ aluminum-alloy wheels, the Passport has a style all its own, doing it bigger and better.
Operating with a 3.5-litre, 24-valve, Direct Injection, SOHC, i-VTEC V6 engine with 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2023 Honda Passport Touring is pure power. This mid-size SUV is for all seasons, perfect for Summer roadtrips, but also chaotic snow which we know so well in Toronto.
We adore the ECON mode option which continues to help us save on fuel, and Honda always is looking out for us on the fuel economy front. This SUV‘s fuel economy rating is 12.5/9.8/11.3 (L/100 km) City/Hwy/Combined. Yes, you’ll consume a signficant quantity more fuel with an SUV, but having the confidence and security of navigating unpredictable terrains in Toronto weather is invaluable and I saw that this past week.
Though we had many a destination – it seemed like an endless sequences of celebrations – to go to during our Test Drive, we were perfectly happy just chilling under the moonroof. Its 550-watt AM/FM Premium audio system with MP3/Windows Media Audio playback capability and 10 speakers including subwoofer are supreme, allowing us to enjoy SiriusXM and our Spotify playlists. Cozy, comfortable leather-trimmed seating were a pleasure and its Driver’s seat comes with 10-way power adjustment including power lumbar support. We were always comfortable, and we appreciate the ambience that large moonroof adds to our daily drives.
You get what you pay for with the 2023 Honda Passport Touring and it’s packed full of intuitive features like a Multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines making parallel parking and reversing so easy. I’ll never forget my friend trying to tell me I was parked crooked and when she opened the door, she saw right away that it wasn’t me – it was the car beside me parked crooked. In all, parking well is a cinch in the Passport Touring! Memory-linked side mirrors with reverse gear tilt-down also are super helpful.
Dual Zone Climate Control is so powerful here – maybe even too powerful at times, making it the warmest 19°C I’ve ever felt in my life, so adjust accordingly to your preferences. Driver and Passengers get seat warmers and seat coolers, and there are several charging ports and a wireless charging plate in the front.
Safety continues to be a major selling-point for the Honda family of vehicles. The Passport Touring comes with Blind Spot Information system, Rear Cross Traffic Monitor system, Forward Collision Warning system, Lane Departure Warning system, Road Departure Mitigation system, Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Assist System, Vehicle Stability Assist with Traction Control, Advanced front airbag system, Auto high beam and more. You also get a front wiper De-Icer and also rear-window wipers too!
A reel of highlights from our Test Drive in the 2023 Honda Passport Touring:
Just another stellar experience in this phenomenal ride. The 2023 Honda Passport Touring starts at $55,873.50. More here.
A little sunshine to kick-off your week! If you haven’t checked-out THE OFFICE EXPERIENCE Toronto at Yorkdale, you must!
(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)
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