Again within the Nineteen Nineties earlier than popping out with its personal crossover, the CR-V, Honda supplied the first-generation Passport, a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo that was a legit body-on-frame SUV. Since then, the Japanese model has primarily caught to crossover-y fashions that aren’t targeted on off-roading, however that’s altering with the fourth-generation Passport. Described as Honda’s most off-road succesful SUV ever, the 2026 Passport appears phenomenal and presents options that adventurous varieties really need, particularly in rugged TrailSport trim.
Forming the premise of the Passport is identical platform that underpins the Pilot and Ridgeline, however with various enhancements. In comparison with the outgoing Passport, the brand new mannequin’s wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer, matching the Pilot’s, and its monitor is 1.3 inches wider up entrance and 1.5 inches wider in again. Honda says the Passport’s entrance lateral rigidity is elevated by 72 % and the rear torsion rigidity is up by 50 %. Its new suspension has stronger solid arms and cast-iron knuckles, with MacPherson struts within the entrance and a multilink setup within the again, and floor clearance is now 8.3 inches, two tenths higher. The steering column and torsion bar are each stiffer, and Honda says the variable-ratio rack presents faster responses and higher dealing with.
Additionally shared with the Pilot is the Passport’s powertrain, consisting of a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 paired with a 10-speed automated transmission and customary torque-vectoring all-wheel drive. The engine places out 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque—5 hp greater than earlier than—and its energy and torque curves have been tweaked. That AWD system can ship as much as 70 % of torque to the rear axle and distribute 100% of that torque to both rear wheel, and Honda says the system is 30 % quicker to reply. Seven drive modes are customary on each Passport, together with Snow, Sand, Tow and Path modes, and each Passport additionally has hill descent management.
Honda is specializing in the rugged TrailSport mannequin for the Passport’s launch, unsurprising given the TrailSport variations make up two out of the three trim ranges. The TrailSport has its personal suspension tuning with totally different spring charges, damper valves and stabilizer bars. Each new Passport has 18-inch wheels, however the TrailSport will get 31-inch Basic Grabber all-terrain tires with a particular compound which might be wider than the traditional Passport’s, and the valve stems are sunken so that you don’t knock them off. Underbody skid plates defending the gasoline tank, oil pan and transmission are constructed from thick metal, and Honda says they will assist your complete weight of the Passport touchdown on a rock.
Stylistically now not only a Pilot with a shorter rear finish just like the awkward outdated Passport was, I feel the brand new Passport is Honda’s finest design in years. It’s boxy, chunky, well-proportioned, powerful, and simply plain improbable; greater than something, it feels authentically Honda. It has such a cute expressive face that jogs my memory of a bulldog, with a slim grille and rectangular headlights which have amber DRLs on TrailSport fashions. Honda solely confirmed us photographs of the TrailSport, which has distinctive styling components like a pretend hood scoop, thicker fender flares, massive silver bumper sections and totally different fog lights. The TrailSport additionally will get a pair of big orange tow hooks up entrance that may maintain two occasions the Passport’s weight, and so they can break free in an accident.
That upright rear finish is supposed to seem like a mountaineering backpack, and on the TrailSport the roof part above the rearmost aspect home windows is plastic so you’ll be able to lean objects like fishing poles or skis in opposition to it with out worrying in regards to the paint. Honda built-in the antenna into the aspect window so there’s no shark fin to doubtlessly get broken when loading gear or off-roading, and the exhaust on each trim is tucked underneath the bumper for a similar purpose. A tow hitch is customary, and the Passport can tow as much as 5,000 kilos.
Step inside and the entrance half of the cabin is usually shared with the Pilot, which is okay because it’s fairly good. The TrailSport has artificial leather-based upholstery with good material panels on the seats, doorways and dashboard that really feel fairly plush, and plenty of orange stitching and accents additional spice issues up. Rubber storage cubbies have a topographical map design, and different trim items have a cool geometric look. The upper-end TrailSport Elite will get leather-based upholstery that may be had in brown, although the orange bits at all times stay. Considerably surprisingly, Honda caught with its push-button shifter setup as a substitute of going for a extra conventional gear lever.
A ten.2-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch central touchscreen are each customary, with the latter working Honda’s newest infotainment system that has Google Constructed-in with Google Maps and the Google Assistant, plus wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s an ordinary wi-fi charger and a pair of 60W USB-C ports up entrance, one other pair of USB-C ports for the again seats, and the TrailSport has 110-volt retailers within the middle console and cargo space.
The again seat is de facto spacious, with 1.3 inches extra legroom than earlier than and a ton of headroom regardless of the TrailSport’s panoramic sunroof. There are ten cupholders in whole, together with six that may maintain 32-oz water bottles, plus two-tier door panel cubbies, a middle console that may match a “full-size pill,” and a shelf in entrance of the passenger. The brand new Passport has 44 cubic toes of cupboard space behind the second row of seats and 83.5 cubic toes with the rear seats folded, and it could match full-size golf baggage sideways or mountain bikes with the entrance wheels eliminated. The underfloor space is cut up in two, with the left aspect being a big storage cubby and the precise aspect holding the spare tire, and the quilt is cut up to permit easy accessibility to both. On both aspect of the cargo space are extra cubbies that may have MOLLE racks.
Customary on each 2026 Passport is Honda’s suite of driver-assist options that features adaptive cruise management with visitors jam help, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keeping help, visitors signal recognition, and a rear-seat reminder system. The TrailSport Elite has a TrailWatch surround-view digicam system with a entrance digicam that has tire traces that will help you navigate obstacles, and it’ll keep on at as much as 15 mph and reactivate for those who return under 12 mph. Different out there options embody ventilated entrance seats, a heated steering wheel, rear-seat local weather controls, a 12-speaker Bose sound system, keyless entry, rear door shades and ambient lighting.
Honda will supply a ton of manufacturing unit equipment at launch, most of that are aimed on the rugged varieties amongst us. You’ll be capable to get further skid plate components, rock sliders, a full-size spare tire that sits upright within the cargo space like on outdated SUVs, totally different wheel designs, roof racks and cargo organizers. The most suitable choice is a cargo shelf that may be eliminated and become a picnic desk by attaching 4 included legs, similar to the desk within the second-gen CR-V.
The 2026 Passport will probably be constructed at Honda’s plant in Lincoln, Alabama that has produced greater than 6.5 million mild vans — and it’s additionally the place the engine is assembled. Honda isn’t detailing pricing but, solely saying that the bottom RTL mannequin will begin within the mid-$40,000 vary when it hits seller heaps in early 2025, making it in all probability a pair grand costlier than the outgoing mannequin.
