They say everything that’s old is new again, and as we kick off 2025, that certainly seems hard to deny. From prequels and reboots to retro fashion and more, today’s pop culture is firmly infused with a sense of nostalgia. Whether it comes down to a matter of familiarity and comfort or an effort to use sentimentality as a sort of marketing tool, brands are increasingly looking to the past to inform their new products, properties, and projects. The 2026 Honda Passport for sale at your local dealer serves as a prime example of this prevailing trend, with the newest version of the popular midsize SUV returning to its off-road roots. But is the fourth-generation Passport just trading on nostalgia, or does it really have something new to offer?
Said to be the most off-road-capable SUV in Honda’s long history, the 2026 Passport features a sophisticated new all-wheel drive system, off-road-tuned suspension, steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, and a host of other robust features that allow the SUV to live up to the high bar set by the original 1994 Passport. It’s a promising return to form for the Passport and one that’s certainly worth further examination. Let’s dive into the Passport’s history, explore where the trail-ready model is headed, and see how the new fourth-generation Passport compares with Honda’s first SUV.
Expanding Honda’s Horizons
Introduced in 1994, the Passport represented a bold new direction for the Japanese automaker. While Honda was known for its motorcycles and sedans, the Passport was a real departure that was aimed at helping the brand grow its market share in an increasingly SUV-obsessed American market. The Passport was a bit of a gamble as drivers associated the Honda brand with smaller vehicles, so in an effort to limit risk, the automaker tapped a Japanese compatriot to help in the effort. Isuzu was a well-established name in the global truck market, which made it the perfect partner for the new Passport project. Isuzu lent Honda the midsize Rodeo—which it rebadged as the Passport—while the traditionally truck-centric brand was compensated with the Oasis, a minivan that was basically just a Honda Odyssey with Isuzu branding. It was a win-win for the two companies, allowing Isuzu to discontinue its passenger car division and giving Honda the opportunity to capitalize on a red-hot SUV market without the costs and delays associated with research and development.
The Passport certainly made waves upon its debut, but its reign was a short one: Honda discontinued the Passport after just nine years as it looked to launch its own SUV division. The Isuzu partnership had been fruitful, but Honda soon replaced the Passport with its own in-house effort in the three-row Pilot SUV for 2003. The move might have been premature, as the SUV segment has only continued to grow in popularity in the last two decades, which is why it was unsurprising to see Honda revive the Passport in 2019. While it shared its name and two-row setup with the original Passport, the new model deviated from the original in one important way. Honda nixed the traditional body-on-frame approach in favor of a crossover design that offers some real advantages in terms of comfort, efficiency, and practicality. Those perks do come at a cost: while the modern Passport is equipped with all-wheel drive and offers plenty of utility, it just isn’t quite as rugged as its 1990s predecessor.
Honda now looks to correct this oversight with the debut of the new fourth-generation Passport. Set to hit the market as a 2026 model, the new Passport is refreshingly rugged with a new design that makes the midsize model a true, adventure-ready SUV. Honda has boldly reimagined the Passport to better fit the needs of today’s off-road-obsessed drivers, employing its new “Born Wild” design concept to ensure that form and function are both brought to the forefront. The Passport might not be returning to its body-on-frame days, but an increased emphasis on off-road ability has seen Honda pack the 2026 model with a full suite of heavy-duty features that seem poised to make the SUV a leader in the competitive midsize segment. From its new, boxy exterior and improved dash-to-axle ratio to its increased ground clearance and approach angle, the 2026 Passport combines the original version’s off-road reputation with a host of modern comfort, convenience, and tech features that make a compelling case for the fourth-gen model.
1996: An Opportunity for SUV Innovation
The Passport might have made its debut in 1994, but it was the 1996 model that really upped the ante in terms of off-road performance. The SUV was available with skid plates, four-wheel antilock disc brakes (a relative luxury at the time), and a spacious interior with fold-flat seats and plenty of cargo room. Still, it was the Passport’s innovative shift-on-the-fly 4WD system that really set the model apart. In the modern era of increasingly complex 4WD systems, the Passport’s shift-on-the-fly design might not seem terribly sophisticated, but it went a long way towards upping the SUV’s profile amongst the off-road set.
At the time, the average vehicle would have to come to a complete stop to switch between rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive, but shift-on-the-fly gave drivers the ability to seamlessly swap between the two modes while traveling at up to 62 mph. This approach gave the Passport the sort of flexibility that can be so important when it comes to conquering off-road terrain or navigating challenging on-road conditions, improving overall safety, and increasing the chances of a successful drive.
That said, it was the Passport’s body-on-frame construction that probably represented its most alluring off-road feature. While this design is still used on many of today’s pickups and some full-size SUV models, it’s become increasingly rare as automakers turn to unibody construction. Body-on-frame vehicles like the original Passport not only offer more towing capacity and off-road ability, but they’re also more durable and better able to withstand the extreme torque and twisting forces that can come with off-road use. However, they’re also heavier, less efficient, and tend to ride more roughly on the road.
The 1996 Passport was offered in three distinct trims that gave drivers every opportunity to tune their ride to their own needs. Those who valued efficiency and value could opt for the base DX model, which was outfitted with rear-wheel drive, a five-speed manual transmission, and a 2.6L four-cylinder engine capable of producing 120 hp and 150 lb-ft of torque. While this entry-level trim offered a lot of bang for the buck with an EPA-estimated 18 MPG combined, it was the mid-tier LX version that etched the Passport’s name in the history books. Equipped with optional four-wheel drive, a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic transmission, and a 3.2L V6 that gave the SUV 190 hp, 188 lb-ft of torque, and 4,500 lbs of max towing capacity, the LX offered all the performance and traction needed to explore the road less traveled.
The four-wheel drive setup was notable for its efficiency, offering 16 MPG combined when equipped with rear-wheel drive and the manual transmission. Those looking for a slightly more luxurious version of the standard Passport could opt for the EX trim. The Passport’s optional four-speed automatic transmission packed a few clever tricks that upped its appeal amongst performance-minded drivers, such as a power mode designed to improve acceleration and a dedicated winter mode that reduced wheelspin and improved traction on slick roads.
2026: Stamping the Passport to the Future
The 2026 Passport is new from bumper to bumper, right down to the very platform it rides on. Based on the same rigid light truck platform found in the Honda Pilot, the Passport’s new structure offers some significant advantages in terms of off-road ability, handling, and ride. The platform offers 72 percent more front lateral rigidity and 50 percent more rear torsion rigidity than the outgoing design, which can make all the difference when the going starts to get a little rough. Honda has also upped the Passport’s dimensions by a considerable margin, extending the wheelbase by 2.75 inches and stretching the track by 1.3 inches in the front and 1.5 inches in the rear in an effort to improve the SUV’s stability.
The 2026 Passport features a boxier, sportier look than the outgoing model, but this redesign isn’t purely based on aesthetics. Honda has given every trim an extra two degrees of approach angle and repositioned the tailpipes to minimize the chances of making contact with the road. The Passport boasts 8.3 inches of ground clearance and a 5,000 lb towing capacity that will allow drivers to bring plenty of cargo—or their favorite off-road powersports equipment—along for the ride. Speaking of power, the Passport is equipped with an updated 3.5L V6 with 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. This is paired with a new 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The Passport also has an enhanced i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system complete with torque vectoring that improves response by some 30 percent, which means less time spent spinning your wheels and more time exploring some off-the-grid locales.
When designing a vehicle with off-road aspirations, the suspension can never be treated as an afterthought. Honda has taken this truism to heart with the new fourth-gen Passport, which features a fully overhauled suspension complete with front MacPherson struts, a rear multi-link suspension, upgraded forged steel suspension arms, and cast-iron knuckles. Ready for whatever bumps and dips the trail might throw at it, this all-new suspension marks one of the Passport’s most noteworthy improvements. The Passport also packs new front brake rotors that measure 1.2 inches larger than the previous version, as well as a new, stiffer steering column and a variable steering ratio that ups the SUV’s agility to provide a dynamic, responsive ride that can easily navigate around off-road obstacles without incurring any of the damage that might come from a run-in with a rock, log, or other common trail debris.
This might sound like a pretty comprehensive off-road package, but here’s the thing: we haven’t even gotten to the actual off-road trims. The Passport TrailSport and Passport TrailSport Elite might be a mouthful, but they’re also two of the most capable models to ever wear the Honda badge. It all starts with the suspension, which offers revised spring rates and returned dampers to smooth out even the roughest trail, not to mention a new front anti-roll bar designed to improve articulation. A set of knobby General Grabber all-terrain tires gives the Passport the proper footwear for the job, while steel skid plates protecting the SUV’s transmission, gas tank, and oil pan act as its off-road armor.
If you do end up mired in a tricky stretch of trail, a set of orange heavy-duty tow hooks will aid in the recovery effort, though such obstacles are usually pretty easy to avoid thanks to the TrailSport’s new TrailWatch camera system. The TrailWatch system leverages four exterior cameras to give drivers a comprehensive look around the exterior with dedicated views that can monitor the front, rear, and sides of the vehicle. Especially useful in lower-speed applications, the TrailWatch system can be set to automatically activate whenever you dip below 12 mph. If you’ve spent your fair share of time navigating your local off-road trails, you know just how important this kind of system can be when it comes to avoiding ruts or keeping your vehicle on the road.
Staying Up to Date
While the Passport TrailSport represents an alluring option for any driver looking to combine Honda’s reputation for performance and reliability with the sort of off-road fun that makes for a memorable weekend, the truth is that even the base RTL trim represents a major improvement in terms of all-terrain ability. Some cars, trucks, and SUVs hardly seem to change from generation to generation, but there’s no mistaking the 2026 Passport from anything that’s come before. Picking up where the 1990s model left off, the Passport manages to maximize the SUV’s off-road resume while sticking to the crossover construction method that’s so popular with today’s drivers. With a fully redesigned body and platform, advanced off-road technologies like hill descent control and the TrailWatch camera system, and the sort of suspension that opens the door to endless off-road possibilities, the new Passport pulls out all the stops to deliver what just might be Honda’s most capable off-road model to date.
