The 2026 Honda Passport SUV's off-road chops just got a big boost with the TrailSport
Despite a rich history of building dirt bikes and ATVs, Honda's SUVs have never had much off-road credibility. They were soft-roaders, not off-roaders.
The 2026 Passport TrailSport changes that.
I spent a couple of days driving the Passport TrailSport from narrow and winding beach side roads to rugged trails up and down volcanic hills. It mastered conditions that would've sent previous Honda SUVs reversing back to the trailhead. More pertinent for most owners' daily use, the tough-looking five-passenger SUV was quiet, smooth and comfortable in surface streets' stop and go traffic, despite a capable set of 31-inch all-terrain tires and 18-inch wheels.
The Passport's fuel economy is unimpressive, but there's plenty to like about Honda's first foray off road.
Honda expects the TrailSport to account for about 20% of Passport sales. Lower trim levels were not made available to drive.
The 2026 Honda Passport is on sale now.
My highs and lows driving the Passport TrailSport follow:
RTL: $44,750
RTL Towing: $45,450
RTL Blackout: $45,950
TrailSport: $48,450
TrailSport Blackout: $49,650
TrailSport Elite: $52,450
TrailSport Elite Blackout: $53,650
All-wheel drive standard
Prices exclude $1,450 destination charge
Source: Honda
Honda engineered the Passport at its sprawling Ohio engineering and production complex. It builds the SUV in Lincoln, Alabama, alongside the bigger Pilot three-row SUV.
The Passport uses the same platform as the Pilot, but it got significant upgrades for off-road capability, chief among them:
Four recovery loops, each able to support twice the vehicle's maximum weight.
The ability to send 70% of engine torque to the rear wheels, and 100% of that to either wheel.
C-pillar and suspension reinforcements to withstand off-road stresses.
Gauges including inclinometer and altimeter.
Improved approach and departure angles.
8.4-inch shorter length than Pilot, on nearly identical wheelbase.
Antenna embedded in rear side window rather than on the roof.
Shopping for a new car: Looking for a car that's truly 'made in America'? Good luck finding one.
Other goodies include:
Revised springs and shocks
31-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires
Standard all-wheel drive
Hill descent control
Chevrolet Blazer
Ford Bronco
Jeep Wrangler
Hyundai Tucson
Kia Sorento
Nissan Murano
Toyota 4Runner
VW Tiguan
The interior is comfortable and accommodating. There's plenty of head room in both rows of seats and a spacious cargo compartment that offers features including a rubber mat, dog-friendly package and a neat underfloor compartment that creates space for a full-size spare — something serious off-roaders demand.
The seats are comfortable. The TrailSport I drove had leatherette and fabric seats. No, I'm not sure what 'leatherette' is either, but it felt comfortable and durable. The fabric trim looked and felt good, too.
The controls included dials for volume, temperature and fan speed. The 12.3-inch touch screen was easy to reach and responsive. Multiview cameras in the TrailSport Elite I used off-road provided useful looks on steep hills, negotiating gooey, rutted mud and squeezing between tightly spaced palm trees.
The 3.5L V6, 10-speed automatic transmission and electronic controls provided power and immediate response for tricky surfaces, including steep hills of gravel and loosely packed earth. The new rear-drive, which is quicker and more capable than the previous unit, applied torque so quickly that I never felt a wheel slip in two hours of driving from forest hillsides to loose sand and thick mud, and moments when a wheel hung in midair.
The Passport doesn't offer a physical low range of gears, but I didn't miss it.
Honda's electronic hill descent control was very effective, and easy to modulate for speeds ranging from 2 to 12 mph. Unlike competitive systems that must be reactivated for each use, it went dormant when the Passport was not at a steep angle and switched back on when conditions merited.
The Passport was maneuverable in crowded villages and comfortable on winding seaside roads.
Standard all-wheel drive
Structural reinforcements
Trailer hitch
5,000-pound towing capacity
Four recovery loops
18-inch wheels
31-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires
Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto
Wireless device charging
Available heated and ventilated front seats
Available panoramic sun roof
Bose Audio
The Passport TrailSport's EPA fuel economy rating is 18 mpg in the city, 23 on the highway and 20 combined. Compared with established off-roaders with ardent followings, the Passport's combined figure trails the 4wd Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner, while matching a 4wd Ford Bronco.
Honda didn't provide the non-TrailSport models that will account for the majority of Passport sales to test, but its EPA estimate of 19/25/21 fails to impress versus competing mainstream midsize SUVs: The more powerful V6 AWD Chevrolet Blazer matches it, while the four-cylinder model beats it, at 24 mpg. Leaving the Passport in their dust are the four-cylinder Toyota RAV4 at 29 mpg and the hybrid Hyundai Santa Fe 34 mpg.
A hybrid Passport might go a long way toward resolving the issue. While batteries are heavy, an electric motor's torque could offset that and retain ― maybe even enhance ― the TrailSport's off-road credibility.
The 2026 Passport TrailSport brings Honda's stellar record of reliability and careful engineering to the off-road segment. It's a fun, capable and comfortable SUV with surprising room and a rugged interpretation of Honda's familiar and attractive interior and exterior designs.
All-wheel drive five-seat midsize electric SUV
Base price: $44,750 (All prices exclude $1,450 destination charge)
On sale now
Primary model tested: TrailSport Elite
Price as tested: $52,450
Engine: 3.5L V6
Power: 285 horsepower @ 6,100 rpm; 262 pound-feet of torque @ 5,000 rpm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
EPA estimated fuel economy: 18 mpg city/23 mpg highway/20 combined. Regular gasoline. $2,300 annual fuel cost.
Wheelbase: 113.6 inches
Length: 191.5 inches
Width: 79.4 inches
Height: 73.1 inches
Ground clearance: 8.3 inches
Passenger volume: 119.1 cubic feet
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
Cargo volume: 44 cubic feet cubic feet behind second rows; 83.8cubic feet behind front seats.
Curb weight: 4,478 pounds
Assembled in Lincoln, Alabama
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter mark_phelan. Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Honda cranks up toughness to make 2026 Passport a credible off-roader
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