Debuting for the 2026 model year, the new, fourth-generation Passport seems to have all the makings of a true off-road contender. Honda has outfitted the midsize SUV with all the gear you’ll need to explore the road less traveled, including an upgraded suspension and all-wheel drive system, a powerful new version of the existing V6 engine, and all the tech and safety features you’ll need to guarantee a successful off-road excursion. The automaker has even tweaked the Passport’s chassis for improved performance, extending the wheelbase and improving the approach angle to allow the SUV to go where other models wouldn’t dare. It’s a compelling slate of features that could have drivers heading to their local Honda dealer en masse, but can the all-new 2026 Passport possibly live up to the hype, or is it just another example of a brand trying to capitalize on the current off-road trend?
Blazing a New Trail
Since 2022, Honda’s TrailSport brand has seen the automaker give the full off-road treatment to some of its most popular models. Emphasizing rugged design and offering legitimate off-road capability, the Honda Passport, Pilot, and Ridgeline TrailSport are a welcome addition to the lineup for any driver who appreciates exploring the road less traveled. While early TrailSport models took a slightly more measured approach with the addition of new cladding, all-weather floor mats, enhanced styling, and Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system, the new 2026 Passport represents the most ambitious TrailSport experiment to date. Designed with a host of heavy-duty features that range from an off-road-tuned suspension and steel skid plates to recovery hooks, all-terrain tires, and an upgraded AWD system, the 2026 Passport is a promising sign of things to come for the TrailSport brand.
“Our completely redesigned Passport redefines Honda rugged design and capability with tough new styling and substantially increased off-road performance for fun adventures without losing its everyday ride comfort,” said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales. “We top that off with the new Passport TrailSport, a new halo off-road vehicle that is the ultimate validation of our TrailSport concept, created to fully express Honda rugged design and capability.”
Based on Honda’s new “Born Wild” design concept, the Passport TrailSport looks every bit the off-roader with its imposing stance, unique design, and increased ground clearance. Honda has significantly reduced the SUV’s front overhang, which gives the Passport the approach angle it needs to aggressively tackle steep terrain with confidence, while hidden exhaust tips serve a similar function at the back end. It’s an encouraging start for the fourth-gen Passport and one that proves Honda understood the assignment when it came to designing a new breed of off-road models.
Loaded With Off-Road Equipment
The 2026 Passport comes standard with a 3.5L V6 that might seem identical to the engine found in the 2025 model but actually packs more of a punch and is paired with the crossover’s first ten-speed automatic transmission. The new Passport will offer 285 hp, five more than the current version. This is a welcomed improvement, but it’s the deployment of Honda’s new second-generation torque vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system that really deserves all the attention. This clever feature allows the Passport to seamlessly shift its power to each wheel, maximizing traction and giving drivers all the torque they need to conquer some of the most challenging obstacles the trail can offer. Honda says the new i-VTM4 system boasts a rear drive unit with 40% higher torque capacity and 30% faster response than the previous design, which should confer some real benefits when you leave paved surfaces behind.
The i-VTM4 system should particularly come in handy in tough off-road applications like rock crawling, where plenty of low-end power is a must, and it is further enhanced by the SUV’s Trail Mode setting. Simply activate Trail Mode, and the Passport will use its new torque logic system to keep track of every wheel. If the system detects that one wheel has lost contact with the ground, it’ll shift the torque to the other tires to help drivers emerge from even some of the stickiest off-road scenarios. Trail Mode is a promising starting point for the Passport’s arsenal of off-road tech, but it’s far from the entire package.
The SUV includes a new 12.3-inch touchscreen display and a 10.2-inch digital driver display that can be used to access some of the Passport’s most cutting-edge features. Keeping an eye on your pitch and roll can mean the difference between a successful adventure and one that ends in a call to an off-road recovery service, and the Passport makes these key metrics easy to track with a convenient, compass-like display. The screen can also be used to monitor your current elevation, providing a real-time look at your progress as you log some serious miles.
Of course, venturing out for an extended ride can also present some comfort issues, but Honda has addressed this issue with the Passport’s off-road-tuned suspension and new front Body Stabilizing Seats. The 2026 model is also outfitted with 18-inch wheels wrapped in 31-inch off-road tires, which are the largest in Honda’s current lineup. The Passport also looks every bit the off-roader with a new imposing grille, hood scoop, and exclusive amber LED signature lighting for the TrailSport trims. Flared fenders give the TrailSport an undeniably rugged look, while optional accessories like an aluminum front scuff plate and robust rock sliders up the SUV’s off-road armor.
Improved Storage Ups Utility
The 2026 Honda Passport might trade on its off-road ability, but that doesn’t mean the SUV is lacking when it comes to practicality and comfort. Based on the same platform as the Honda Pilot, the Passport also shares the same 3.5L V6, though it nixes the third row of seating in favor of a generous cargo area that’ll provide plenty of room for camping gear, roadside essentials, a full-size spare tire, and other must-have off-road accessories. The 2026 Passport is roomier than the outgoing model, adding 5.8 cu.ft. of storage room behind the front seats. Given the fact that the 2025 version already offered ample passenger and cargo room with comfortable seating for five, it’s hard to imagine that the new fourth-gen version is going to disappoint.
It’s not just the Passport’s sheer amount of cargo and passenger space that sets the SUV apart; it’s the way it’s been deployed. Take the rear liftgate, for example. Honda has designed the door with vertically mounted struts that give drivers plenty of room to load bikes, sports equipment, and other bulky cargo. Honda has also included some clever storage solutions that improve the Passport’s off-road utility. It’s all too easy to send your cargo flying around the trunk when you’re tackling rough, bumpy off-road terrain, but Honda has engineered around this unique problem with built-in storage bins that can accommodate vital gear or a muddy pair of shoes without risking any spills or contamination. Those seeking even more storage will appreciate the additional storage areas that lie just below the surface. While one is dedicated to the spare tire, the smaller one offers a handy place to squirrel away vital recovery equipment or valuables that you want to keep away from prying eyes.
The Passport is also available with a full suite of accessories that make the most of the SUV’s ample cargo space, from a modular grid that can be used to keep your supplies neat and tidy to a hard cargo cover and removable folding picnic table. That said, the Passport’s most convenient off-road-related cargo feature might be the full-size spare tire carrier. Taking advantage of the smaller of the two underfloor storage areas, the full-size tire carrier gives drivers the opportunity to either pack two spares or free up the larger underfloor storage compartment for additional cargo.
The New Segment Leader?
While it’s too early to tell if the 2026 Passport is the new leader in the off-road SUV segment, one thing is for sure: it certainly doesn’t look to be one of those “soft-roaders” that hides a lack of actual off-road ability under a rugged appearance package. Honda seems to understand what drivers want from an off-road SUV and has designed the 2026 Passport TrailSport to be all that and more. For drivers who aren’t as interested in the TrailSport’s off-road ability, there’s always the base RTL trim. While the entry-level trim features much of the gear you’ll find on the dedicated TrailSport and TrailSport Elite, it does lack the upgraded suspension and unique styling elements that can be found on the upper trims. The RTL is a bargain with an estimated starting price of around $45,000, but given the fact that the TrailSport should only ring in a bit higher, it’s tough to make an argument for the budget-friendly approach.
