Passport and Passport Max2 Radar Detector Review

“With built in Bluetooth Access for a Social Driving Experience”

Imagine having a device that would provide you accurate information about speed traps, mobile and fixed photo enforcement and even the presence of police officer miles ahead of you in real time.

Would a device like this help you avoid expensive speeding tickets?

Well this type of device does exist today, its called Escort LIVE.

And now with Escort’s newest release of the Passport and Passport Max2 radar detectors this Bluetooth technology is built right in.

Comprehensive Testing of the Passport and Passport Max2 radar detectors

Over the past month I have had the opportunity to test both the new Passport and Passport Max2 radar detectors.

During my test I logged over 5,000 miles using both my personal vehicle and motorcycle, during a two-week trip from Arizona to South Dakota.

I then also tested these two units in and around the Phoenix metro area as well as testing both detectors against my personal arsenal of K and Ka radar guns.

During this testing/review both units were programmed to highway mode, no X-band. (X-band is not used in the states I traveled through)

This comprehensive review will recap those 4-weeks and 8,000 plus miles of driving using both detectors.

Passport vs. Passport Max2

When I first laid eyes on both detectors I was taken back on which was which as on outside they both almost look exactly the same.

However it’s what is in the inside that counts right?

The new Passport was developed on Escort’s proven M4 design, which is also used in the Escort 8500 and the Beltronics 300 to 500 Pro series.

I predict that the new Passport will eventually become Escort’s new entry model replacing the trusty Escort 8500 X50.

And then the Passport Max2, which has all the features and benefits as the Max which held the title as being the best radar detector ever made for over 2-years.

Both units have the same OLED type of display, offer internal Bluetooth connectivity to your iPhone and/or Android device and have voice prompts in both English and Spanish.

Escort LIVE

Escort LIVE can be best-described as social media for the road where you and your radar detector share information with other drivers.

What impresses me the most of the Escort LIVE social sharing ability is both the accuracy of the data and their large user base.

As an example in the video below recorded south of Flagstaff Arizona I received an Escort LIVE Police alert 2000 feet prior to passing two patrol cars parked in the median.

During this LIVE police alert there were no other radar or laser alerts.

This is because the officers were using a device called VASCAR which no detector can detect as it’s basically a visual timing device that emits no signal to detect.

If it wasn’t for this Escort LIVE alert which gave me ample time to slow down to the posted speed limit, I could had received an expensive speeding ticket.

Now as an avid Harley-Davidson rider, one thing I missed with Escort Live external interface was the ability to also use my Legal Speeding Helmet Assisted LED Radar Detector interface.

However with the integration of the Bluetooth right into the detector, the HARD system worked flawlessly on both units.

Review of the Passport Radar Detector

As the Passport is built on the M4 design of the Escort 8500 X50 the overall performance is very good, estimating the detection range as being 5 times the capture rate of a police radar gun.

Thus, its level of protection would provide you ample time to slow down to speed in most police radar encounters as demonstrated in following two videos.

In this first example the Passport alerted me 40 seconds prior to passing a patrol vehicle going in the opposite direction that was following behind a semi truck.

This tactic is a common procedure to lessen the likely hood of being detected by a radar gun and while also providing visual blockage to approaching traffic.

However because of the superior range of the Passport I was had ample time to slow down.

And then in this second video below I recorded a second K-Band encounter where I received a 20 second warning which gave me ample time to slow down from 75 to 65.

I also rate the filtering capabilities of the Passport as very good as during my 4-week test there were only a handful of false alerts.

Review of the Passport Max 2 Radar Detector

As the Passport Max 2 is built on the design of their Max, the overall performance is outstanding having over a 8 times the capture rate of a police radar gun.

This high level of performance enables the Max2 to sniff out even the weakest digital radar guns, even when used in instant on mode or on curvy, mountainous roads.

Also built into the Passport Max 2 is an internal GPS and Escort’s DEFENDER safety camera database, enabling the detector to alert you to fixed photo radar/red light cameras and the ability to automatically lock out known false alert locations.

Radar Roy’s Recommendations

I have no doubts that other drivers and reviewers who also test the Passport Max2 will agree with me that this is the best radar detector ever made!

Because of this if your serious about keeping your drivers license history as ticket free as possible then I strongly recommend you make the investment and make it your detector of choice.

However if budget is a factor, then consider the Passport, which I would rank as being in the top 5 of the dash-mounted radar detector category, trailing behind the Escort Redline, the Beltronics STi Magnum and the Escort 9500ix.