2026 Honda Passport First Look

This SUV's new rugged styling is backed up by additional off-roading hardware.

David Gluckman | 

Dec 5, 2024 | 5 min read

Honda

Honda has just unveiled a fresh version of its Passport. The midsize SUV borrows some improvements bestowed upon its larger sibling, the Pilot, but looks to blaze its own trail in terms of both design and capability.

The big news is that Honda is doubling down on the Passport's off-road chops, offering a TrailSport and a TrailSport Elite model along with the base RTL trim.

Honda

The 2026 Honda Passport Is Meaner Looking and More Accommodating

With squared-off styling and technical detailing, the 2026 Passport leans into its trail-readiness.

The long hood gives it a sporty look, and there's matte-black trim around the cargo-area glass. This trim is part of Honda's backpack design theme, and provides a place to lean outdoor gear such as skis and fishing rods without risking paint damage.

TrailSport models are enhanced by amber front lighting elements, a gloss-black grille, and metal-look bumper trim front and rear. The RTL is a bit more subdued, with black exterior trim and matte black rockers.

There's once again seating for five inside, with standard powered and heated front seats with memory settings. A 10.2-inch gauge display greets the driver, while a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen features Google built-in and wireless connectivity for both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Honda even included a lip at the base of the center display to help steady your hand while using the screen. A 12-speaker Bose sound system comes with the top trim.

Honda

Leather is standard on the RTL, while the TrailSport gets synthetic leather with orange stitching and accents plus all-season floor mats. The TrailSport Elite features perforated leather upholstery along with front-seat ventilation and a heated steering wheel, and those in the fanciest model's second row get side-window sunshades as well as their own climate controls. There's also additional sound deadening that Honda says reduces cabin noise.

The new Passport's wheelbase is 2.8 inches longer than the outgoing model's, which translates to an additional 1.3 inches of legroom for rear-seat passengers. Honda also improved storage capabilities. The new cargo volume measurements are 44 cubic-feet with the rear seats up and 83.5 with them stowed — gains of 2.8 and 5.8 cu-ft, respectively. According to Honda, if you drop the rear seats, there's enough room to accommodate a pair of mountain bikes with their front wheels removed.

Storage space in the cabin is ample. Along with the two-tier bins in the doors, there's a shelf integrated into the instrument panel, and 10 cupholders — six of which will accommodate a 32-ounce water bottle. In a nod to the first-generation CR-V, Honda will offer an accessory cargo shelf that doubles as a picnic table for four.

Honda

The TrailSport Trims Are Factory-Built to Explore the Outdoors

Like the latest Honda Pilot, the 2026 Passport is powered by a V6 engine. It displaces the same 3.5 liters as the one in the outgoing model but trades the previous single-overhead-cam i-VTEC valvetrain for dual overhead cams.

The result is 285 horsepower — an increase of 5 horsepower — and the same 262 pound-feet of torque as before. A 10-speed automatic transmission replaces last year's nine-speed unit. Standard all-wheel drive can send up to 70% of the engine's torque to the rear axle, and a torque-vectoring rear differential can shuffle 100% of that torque to either side. As before, the Passport is capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds.

The Passport's ground clearance and approach angle are improved over the previous model's, and its exhaust pipes have been tucked under the bumper to keep them out of harm's way. TrailSport models get recovery hooks at each end. The front hooks are painted orange and designed to break away in a crash.

Honda

Drivers of TrailSport models can also monitor the vehicle's roll, pitch, and elevation on the center display. All models feature seven selectable drive modes, including the newly added Sport, Econ, Trail, and Tow settings.

All Passports ride on 18-inch wheels. RTL models feature all-season tires, while TrailSports get General Grabber all-terrain rubber designed specifically for Honda. The latter are said to work well off-road but maintain on-road comfort while remaining quiet on the highway.

TrailSports also get underbody protection in the form of steel skid plates for the oil pan, transmission, and gas tank. The TrailSport Elite comes standard with a TrailWatch camera system that shows the driver a variety of views of the vehicle and includes graphics to show where the tires are, which is helpful when navigating off-road trails.

Honda

Honda Sensing Improves, While Pricing Remains Steady

An updated Honda Sensing suite of driver-assistance features is standard on all trims. It includes longer-range blind-spot monitoring as well as traffic jam assist and traffic-sign recognition, both of which are new to the model. Honda has also retuned the adaptive cruise control system's low-speed follow and lane-keeping assist to smooth out their performance.

As of November 2024, Honda hasn't shared fuel-economy figures or pricing for the 2026 Passport, only saying that the base RTL trim will have a starting MSRP in the mid-$40,000s. To put that figure in perspective, the current Passport starts at about $44,000, including the destination charge. The 2026 model is set to arrive at Honda dealers in early 2025.

David Gluckman

David Gluckman has over a decade of experience as a writer and editor for print and digital automotive publications. He can parallel park a school bus, has a spreadsheet listing every vehicle he’s ever tested, and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. When David’s not searching for the perfect used car, you can find him sampling the latest gimmicky foodstuffs that America has to offer.