New or certified pre-owned Honda Passport: which is worth it for Hilton Head Island drivers?
Buy a new Honda Passport if you want a full factory warranty from the first mile and your choice of trim and color. Buy a HondaTrue Certified Passport if you want to spend less and still have Honda-backed coverage. Hilton Head Honda, the Lowcountry’s only Honda franchise, sells both on Fording Island Road in Bluffton.
Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Bluffton. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.
Choose a new Passport for choice, a certified one for savings
A new Passport gives you the full Honda warranty from the first mile. A HondaTrue Certified Passport gives you Honda-backed coverage on a car already on the road. Hilton Head Honda sells new Honda models, including the Passport, and sells Honda Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, so both paths start in one place.
The HondaTrue Certified program accepts vehicles from model years 2021 to 2026 that have under 80,000 miles. It adds powertrain coverage of 7 years or 100,000 miles, plus non-powertrain coverage for 2 additional years or up to 100,000 miles, with a 182-point inspection and a $0 deductible on covered repairs (American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Honda Certified Pre-Owned, 2026).
How much does a new Honda Passport cost compared with a certified one?
The new 2026 Passport starts at $44,950 for the RTL trim, the lowest-priced Passport. The RTL Towing starts at $45,650, the RTL Blackout at $46,150, and the TrailSport at $48,650. The top TrailSport Elite Blackout starts at $53,850. Those are the manufacturer’s starting prices, and they set the new-car side of the decision.
A certified Passport is a used car, so its price depends on the year and mileage of the car on the lot. The new-car prices above are the baseline to compare any certified listing against. Ask the sales team for the certified price on the exact year, trim and mileage you want.
What warranty comes with a new Passport and with a certified one?
A new 2026 Passport carries a 3-year or 36,000-mile basic warranty, a 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and a 5-year corrosion warranty with no mileage limit (Honda, 2026 Warranty Booklet).
A HondaTrue Certified Passport carries the certified program’s own coverage. The program gives powertrain coverage for 7 years or 100,000 total odometer miles from the original in-service date, whichever comes first. Non-powertrain coverage runs 2 additional years or up to 100,000 total odometer miles. Vehicles purchased as HondaTrue Certified are eligible for roadside services for 2 years or 100,000 miles, beginning after the original New Vehicle Limited Warranty expires (American Honda, Warranty Information, 2026).
If mechanical breakdown disables the vehicle overnight more than 100 miles from home, the program reimburses receipts for alternative transportation, food and accommodations for the first 3 days while the vehicle is being repaired. Total benefits are $300: $100 per day for 3 days (American Honda, Warranty Information, 2026).
What trims and features can you get on a new Passport?
The 2026 Passport seats five and tows up to 5,000 pounds in every trim listed. The RTL offers 41.1 inches of row-one legroom, 40.9 inches of row-two legroom, 83.8 cubic feet of cargo behind row one and 104.6 cubic feet of maximum cargo. The same figures carry across the RTL Towing, RTL Blackout and TrailSport.
Hilton Head Honda sells the new Passport, so you can compare trims on the lot before you choose.
What South Carolina taxes and fees apply when you buy a Passport?
Instead of a vehicle sales tax, South Carolina applies an Infrastructure Maintenance Fee. The fee is 5% of the purchase price, but no more than $500. A new vehicle previously registered in another state carries a one-time fee of $250 (South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, 2026).
The title fee is $15 (S.C. Code Ann. Section 56-19-420, 2026). The SCDMV lists the registration fee for most passenger cars at $40, paid once every two years, and that fee is separate from the title and the Infrastructure Maintenance Fee (South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, 2026). These fees are set by the state, so they apply whether you buy new or certified.
What do you get for your money with a new or certified Passport?
A new Passport gives you the full factory warranty, the newest model and the trim you pick. A HondaTrue Certified Passport gives you a lower price and Honda-backed coverage that runs for years after the new-car warranty ends. The new-car price starts at $44,950, and the certified price depends on the car you find.
Honda’s powertrain coverage on a certified car runs 7 years or 100,000 total odometer miles, counted from the original in-service date. That is longer than the new Passport’s 5-year or 60,000-mile powertrain warranty, which is why certified coverage can carry more years of protection for a car that is already on the road.
When is a new Passport the wrong pick, and when is a certified one?
A new Passport is the right pick if you want a particular trim and color, and the full factory warranty from the first mile. A certified Passport is the right pick if you want to spend less and still have Honda-backed powertrain coverage. Hilton Head Honda sells both, so you can see the trims and choose.
Financing works the same for either path. You can lease or finance through the Hilton Head Honda finance center, so you can compare how you pay on the car you pick.
FAQ
Can I trade in my current vehicle toward a Passport at Hilton Head Honda?
Yes. You can bring your trade to the store with or without an appointment. A trade-in offer can then be used toward the Passport you choose.
Can I apply for Passport financing online at Hilton Head Honda?
Leasing and financing are both handled by the dealership’s finance center. Ask the team to walk you through the finance center options for the Passport you pick.
How many people does a new Passport seat, and how much can it tow?
The 2026 Passport seats 5 people. Every Passport trim listed tows up to 5,000 pounds.
Where can I service my Passport near Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Honda services the Passport at 161 Fording Island Rd in Bluffton. Service can be scheduled online through the dealership’s website, and service hours are Monday to Friday 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM and Saturday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, closed Sunday.
How far is Hilton Head Honda from Hilton Head Island?
Hilton Head Honda is 12.6 miles from Hilton Head Island, at 161 Fording Island Rd in Bluffton, SC 29909. Sales hours are Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Saturday from 9:00 until 6:00 PM, and closed Sunday.
What do Hilton Head Honda customers say about trading in a vehicle?
In an August 2026 5-star Google review, Gary M. wrote: “We recently bought a new car from Hilton Head Honda. The salesperson we dealt with was Chris Smith, and he did a wonderful job of taking care of us. He showed us the available cars, took care of our trade in, kept us comfortable while we waited on the finance department, and helped us set up the features on our new car. We really could not be more pleased with how we were treated.”
Why shop for a Passport at Hilton Head Honda in Bluffton?
Hilton Head Honda is rated 4.8 stars across 2,799 Google reviews, and 92 in 100 of them are five-star. The store sells new Honda models, including the Passport, and Honda Certified Pre-Owned vehicles, so you can compare both on one lot.
In a July 2026 5-star Google review, Katie F. wrote: “I had a great experience with Jacob as my sales guy and John as the finance manager helping me get a great deal. As a single mom, it’s important to feel safe, and especially not taken advantage of when buying a car. Jacob didn’t add any pressure, let me take my time, made the car buying experience quite easy considering two kids in tow (exactly why I needed to upgrade)! Every little detail I researched, he already knew the answer. John feels more like your dad making sure you’re making good financial decisions and looking out for your best interests rather than generic man-behind-desk. I have been to other Honda dealerships, but this one feels like home. I will gladly continue to give business to this great team. Thank you so much for making this car buying experience the best one yet.”
Start with a visit to Hilton Head Honda at 161 Fording Island Rd in Bluffton. Bring your list of Passport trims, your trade-in details and your questions about how you pay, and compare a new Passport with a HondaTrue Certified one on the same day.
Hilton Head Honda answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Bluffton showroom, or call (843) 815-2880.
Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact Hilton Head Honda for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.
