Honda’s New 2026 Passport Is Desperate To Be Taken Seriously As An Off-Roader

This is the all-new 2026 Honda Passport: a rougher, tougher, and squarer take on the popular mid-sized SUV. Honda has been touting this as its most capable SUV ever — but, if we’re honest, that’s not the boldest claim out there, with the Japanese automaker not known for its mud-plugging off-roaders.

But Honda wants you to take the new Passport seriously, particularly its TrailSport version. To make good on these claims, there’s off-road-tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, recovery points, and bash plates to protect the underbelly.

Read: 2026 Honda Passport Uncovered At Rebelle Rally, Looks Like A Winner

You’ll also notice that, unlike some rivals, Honda has opted not to mess around with downsizing, turbos, or hybrid systems. There’s a good-old 3.5-liter V6 under the hood here — another factor sure to appeal to the off-road faithful.

Boxy Styling, Go-Anywhere Looks

The biggest clue that the Passport aims to be something else is evident in its styling. Gone are the rather wishy-washy “is it an SUV or is it a crossover” looks, replaced with a more angular and chiseled design. The front is vaguely reminiscent of the Honda Crossroad (the second generation, not the rebadged Land Rover Discovery of the ’90s), which was never sold outside Japan.

But while that model was very comfortably a soft-roader that wouldn’t last 10 minutes in the wild, the 2026 Passport means business. Ground clearance is higher than that of the outgoing model, and thanks to a shorter front overhang, it has better approach angles for off-road capability.

The new Passport is also a whole inch wider and has a 2.75-inch longer wheelbase than the outgoing model. It has flared fenders and a prominent hood scoop. There’s bold ‘PASSPORT’ lettering stamped on the front fascia and steel tailgate. Plus, all Passport models have 18-inch wheels wrapped in 31-inch tires.

Honda has also expanded its accessories range, again focusing on those who like to go off the beaten path. The official list of accessories includes rock sliders, roof platforms, and aluminum scuff plates. And as a bonus for fans of older Passports and CR-Vs, the foldable picnic table has made its return.

Honda Wants The TrailSport To Mean Business

The TrailSport line was first introduced in 2022, with the initial attempt giving the Passport a small visual makeover with extra plastic cladding, an exclusive color, all-season tires, and fake skid plates. The 2024 update didn’t add a whole lot of extra credence to what was supposed to be a dedicated off-road special, leaving things a bit lackluster.

That seems to change with the 2026 Honda Passport’s TrailSport and TrailSport Elite editions. Those skidplates are no longer faux and instead have been rated to carry the vehicle’s entire weight. TrailSports come fitted with General Grabber all-terrain tires co-developed with General Tire. At the same time, the suspension is now off-road tuned — and perhaps most importantly, there’s now more ground clearance with that TrailSport badge, something conspicuously absent in previous iterations.

Bright orange, functional front, and rear recovery points are said to be rated for twice the Passport’s gross weight. The all-wheel-drive system now has its own logic system, and there are extra cameras to help you see where your wheels are on the trail.

Honda says that the platform was engineered from the very beginning with the intention of giving the TrailSport true off-road capabilities, which also benefits the ride, handling, and overall refinement of the entire Passport lineup, thanks to a 72% increase in front lateral rigidity and a 50% increase in rear torsion rigidity.

Not everything about the 2026 Passport is revolutionary, though. Under the hood lies a relatively uncomplicated 3.5-liter V6 engine. As with previous models, it’s one engine choice to rule them all, with a 10-speed automatic transmission taking care of shifts. It’ll pump out 285 hp, 5 more ponies than the 2025 Passport, and 262 lb.-ft of torque.

Interior

Despite the rough-and-tough exterior, the interior remains a nice enough place to be. Honda says the cabin is the most specious it’s ever been, with up to 83.5 cu.ft. behind the first row (+5.8 cu.ft.) and up to 44.0 cu.ft. (+2.8 cu.ft.) behind the second row, which includes a larger redesigned underfloor storage area.

Creature comforts include new “body stabilizing” seats and a standard 10.2-inch digital instrument panel atop the dash, which displays things like elevation, pitch, and roll on TrailSport Models. The central screen has been upgraded to 12.3 inches and comes with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as a suite of Google apps. There’s also a new Bose 12-speaker audio system. TrailSport models get 110V power outlets in the center console, too.

Availability And Pricing

Honda isn’t being too specific on pricing just yet and instead says that the Passport’s starting price will be “in the mid-$40,000s.” The Passport will continue to be made at the Honda Auto Plant in Lincoln, Alabama, and will start appearing in dealerships early next year.