Back in the 1990s before coming out with its own crossover, the CR-V, Honda offered the first-generation Passport, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo that was a legit body-on-frame SUV. Since then, the Japanese brand has mainly stuck to crossover-y models that aren’t focused on off-roading, but that’s changing with the fourth-generation Passport. Described as Honda’s most off-road capable SUV ever, the 2026 Passport looks phenomenal and offers features that adventurous types really want, especially in rugged TrailSport trim.
Forming the basis of the Passport is the same platform that underpins the Pilot and Ridgeline, but with a number of enhancements. Compared to the outgoing Passport, the new model’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer, matching the Pilot’s, and its track is 1.3 inches wider up front and 1.5 inches wider in back. Honda says the Passport’s front lateral rigidity is increased by 72 percent and the rear torsion rigidity is up by 50 percent. Its new suspension has stronger forged arms and cast-iron knuckles, with MacPherson struts in the front and a multilink setup in the back, and ground clearance is now 8.3 inches, two tenths greater. The steering column and torsion bar are both stiffer, and Honda says the variable-ratio rack offers quicker responses and better handling.
Also shared with the Pilot is the Passport’s powertrain, consisting of a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. The engine puts out 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque—5 hp more than before—and its power and torque curves have been tweaked. That AWD system can send up to 70 percent of torque to the rear axle and distribute 100 percent of that torque to either rear wheel, and Honda says the system is 30 percent faster to respond. Seven drive modes are standard on every Passport, including Snow, Sand, Tow and Trail modes, and every Passport also has hill descent control.
Honda is focusing on the rugged TrailSport model for the Passport’s launch, unsurprising given the TrailSport versions make up two out of the three trim levels. The TrailSport has its own suspension tuning with different spring rates, damper valves and stabilizer bars. Every new Passport has 18-inch wheels, but the TrailSport gets 31-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires with a special compound that are wider than the normal Passport’s, and the valve stems are sunken so you don’t knock them off. Underbody skid plates protecting the gas tank, oil pan and transmission are made from thick steel, and Honda says they can support the entire weight of the Passport landing on a rock.
Stylistically no longer just a Pilot with a shorter rear end like the awkward old Passport was, I think the new Passport is Honda’s best design in years. It’s boxy, chunky, well-proportioned, tough, and just plain fantastic; more than anything, it feels authentically Honda. It has such a cute expressive face that reminds me of a bulldog, with a slim grille and rectangular headlights that have amber DRLs on TrailSport models. Honda only showed us photos of the TrailSport, which has unique styling elements like a faux hood scoop, thicker fender flares, large silver bumper sections and different fog lights. The TrailSport also gets a pair of huge orange tow hooks up front that can hold two times the Passport’s weight, and they can break away in an accident.
That upright rear end is meant to look like a hiking backpack, and on the TrailSport the roof section above the rearmost side windows is plastic so you can lean items like fishing poles or skis against it without worrying about the paint. Honda integrated the antenna into the side window so there’s no shark fin to potentially get damaged when loading gear or off-roading, and the exhaust on every trim is tucked under the bumper for the same reason. A tow hitch is standard, and the Passport can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Step inside and the front half of the cabin is mostly shared with the Pilot, which is fine as it’s quite nice. The TrailSport has synthetic leather upholstery with nice fabric panels on the seats, doors and dashboard that feel pretty plush, and lots of orange stitching and accents further spice things up. Rubber storage cubbies have a topographical map design, and other trim pieces have a cool geometric look. The higher-end TrailSport Elite gets leather upholstery that can be had in brown, though the orange bits always remain. Somewhat surprisingly, Honda stuck with its push-button shifter setup instead of going for a more traditional gear lever.
A 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch central touchscreen are both standard, with the latter running Honda’s latest infotainment system that has Google Built-in with Google Maps and the Google Assistant, plus wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s a standard wireless charger and a pair of 60W USB-C ports up front, another pair of USB-C ports for the back seats, and the TrailSport has 110-volt outlets in the center console and cargo area.
The back seat is really spacious, with 1.3 inches more legroom than before and a ton of headroom despite the TrailSport’s panoramic sunroof. There are ten cupholders in total, including six that can hold 32-oz water bottles, plus two-tier door panel cubbies, a center console that can fit a “full-size tablet,” and a shelf in front of the passenger. The new Passport has 44 cubic feet of storage space behind the second row of seats and 83.5 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, and it can fit full-size golf bags sideways or mountain bikes with the front wheels removed. The underfloor area is split in two, with the left side being a large storage cubby and the right side holding the spare tire, and the cover is split to allow easy access to either. On either side of the cargo area are more cubbies that can have MOLLE racks.
Standard on every 2026 Passport is Honda’s suite of driver-assist features that includes adaptive cruise control with traffic jam assist, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, and a rear-seat reminder system. The TrailSport Elite has a TrailWatch surround-view camera system with a front camera that has tire lines to help you navigate obstacles, and it will stay on at up to 15 mph and reactivate if you go back below 12 mph. Other available features include ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, rear-seat climate controls, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, keyless entry, rear door shades and ambient lighting.
Honda will offer a ton of factory accessories at launch, most of which are aimed at the rugged types among us. You’ll be able to get additional skid plate elements, rock sliders, a full-size spare tire that sits upright in the cargo area like on old SUVs, different wheel designs, roof racks and cargo organizers. The best option is a cargo shelf that can be removed and turned into a picnic table by attaching four included legs, just like the table in the second-gen CR-V.
The 2026 Passport will be built at Honda’s plant in Lincoln, Alabama that has produced more than 6.5 million light trucks — and it’s also where the engine is assembled. Honda isn’t detailing pricing yet, only saying that the base RTL model will start in the mid-$40,000 range when it hits dealer lots in early 2025, making it probably a couple grand more expensive than the outgoing model.
