Again within the 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 actually need, particularly in rugged TrailSport trim.
Forming the idea of the Passport is similar platform that underpins the Pilot and Ridgeline, however with plenty of 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 p.c and the rear torsion rigidity is up by 50 p.c. 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 larger. 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 commonplace 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 p.c of torque to the rear axle and distribute 100% of that torque to both rear wheel, and Honda says the system is 30 p.c quicker to reply. Seven drive modes are commonplace 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 Normal Grabber all-terrain tires with a particular compound which are 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 fuel tank, oil pan and transmission are created from thick metal, and Honda says they’ll help all the weight of the Passport touchdown on a rock.
Stylistically not only a Pilot with a shorter rear finish just like the awkward previous Passport was, I believe the brand new Passport is Honda’s greatest design in years. It’s boxy, chunky, well-proportioned, powerful, and simply plain incredible; 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 images of the TrailSport, which has distinctive styling components like a fake hood scoop, thicker fender flares, giant silver bumper sections and totally different fog lights. The TrailSport additionally will get a pair of giant orange tow hooks up entrance that may maintain two instances the Passport’s weight, they usually can break free in an accident.
That upright rear finish is supposed to appear like a mountaineering backpack, and on the TrailSport the roof part above the rearmost aspect home windows is plastic so you possibly can 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 below the bumper for a similar purpose. A tow hitch is commonplace, 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 all the time stay. Considerably surprisingly, Honda caught with its push-button shifter setup as an alternative of going for a extra conventional gear lever.
A ten.2-inch digital gauge cluster and 12.3-inch central touchscreen are each commonplace, 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 a normal 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 heart console and cargo space.
The again seat is basically 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 ft of cupboard space behind the second row of seats and 83.5 cubic ft with the rear seats folded, and it could possibly match full-size golf luggage 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 appropriate aspect holding the spare tire, and the duvet is cut up to permit easy accessibility to both. On both aspect of the cargo space are extra cubbies that may have MOLLE racks.
Commonplace 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 digital camera system with a entrance digital camera that has tire strains that can assist you navigate obstacles, and it’ll keep on at as much as 15 mph and reactivate when you return beneath 12 mph. Different accessible options embrace 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 have the ability to get further skid plate components, rock sliders, a full-size spare tire that sits upright within the cargo space like on previous SUVs, totally different wheel designs, roof racks and cargo organizers. The best choice is a cargo shelf that may be eliminated and become a picnic desk by attaching 4 included legs, identical to the desk within the second-gen CR-V.
The 2026 Passport might 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 vendor tons in early 2025, making it in all probability a pair grand dearer than the outgoing mannequin.
