2026 Honda Passport Ups Its Game With More Power and Purpose

Honda's midsize adventure SUV takes a decisive step forward for 2026, arriving with a thoroughly reworked design that blends rugged capability with refined purpose. The completely reimagined Passport introduces a stronger personality both on the road and off, built around trail-focused engineering, useful interior upgrades, and a smarter standard equipment list from top to bottom. Rather than simply updating styling cues, Honda has infused the Passport with meaningful changes designed to support real-world use.

Off-Road Capability

The biggest headline? The 2026 Passport TrailSport isn't just a design package. It is the most off-road capable Honda SUV to date, and that's not marketing spin. It now comes standard with a dedicated off-road suspension tune, steel underbody skid plates strong enough to support the full weight of the vehicle, and a set of specially developed General Grabber all-terrain tires wrapped around 18-inch wheels. New powder-coated recovery points, painted bright orange and mounted front and rear, are functional and trail-ready, with front hooks designed to shear off safely in a collision. This is a patented Honda first. Even more impressive is the debut of the TrailSport Elite trim, which layers in premium amenities like ventilated leather seats, a 12-speaker Bose system, and Honda's new TrailWatch™ camera system, offering four exterior views to help spot obstacles at tight angles or blind crests. It is a clear attempt to merge rugged function with high-end comfort, and it works.

Tougher Stance

Visually, the 2026 Passport has been sharpened and bulked up. The new design theme, which Honda calls the backpack aesthetic, includes a stronger C-pillar, a matte-black rear roof section designed to be gear-friendly for items like skis or fishing rods, and an aggressive front fascia with flared fenders and 31-inch tires standard across the lineup. The PASSPORT name is now stamped directly into the grille and tailgate for a confident visual identity. Approach and departure angles are improved, with a shorter front overhang and hidden exhaust tips that keep things protected on the trail. Even wheel valve stems get a recessed design to avoid unnecessary damage.

Stronger Platform

The Passport's updates are more than skin-deep. It rides on a reinforced version of Honda's light truck platform with a longer 113.6-inch wheelbase (up 2.55 inches) and significantly wider tracks. Structural rigidity is significantly improved, with a 72 percent increase in front-end strength and a 50 percent increase in rear torsional stiffness. This translates to better ride quality, improved cornering stability, and more composure in off-road conditions. Under the hood, a new all-aluminum 3.5-liter DOHC V6 delivers 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a smooth 10-speed automatic transmission featuring paddle shifters. The updated torque-vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system can send 70 percent of power to the rear axle and shift torque side-to-side instantly, with seven drive modes that include a dedicated Trail setting for off-road confidence.

Real-World Utility

The Passport's interior cabin has been updated with more space, smarter storage, and upgraded tech. Rear legroom grows by 1.3 inches, and cargo volume maxes out at 104.6 cubic feet behind the first row. A new 12.3-inch center touchscreen and 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster are both standard, and Google Built-in joins wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims. Storage is clearly a priority as well. There's a two-tier door bin setup, a huge center console, and a clever shelf built into the passenger-side dash. The vehicle also features ten cupholders, six of which can hold a 32-ounce bottle, and a rubberized cargo table that doubles as a stowable picnic surface, complete with a molded Baja topographic map on top. That table is just one of dozens of new Genuine Honda Accessories, which also include rock sliders, MOLLE panels, roof racks, and a vertically mounted full-size spare kit in the cargo bay.

Stylish Lineup

The well-rounded RTL trim starts at $44,750, offering leather seats, heated power front seats with memory, a power tailgate, and the full suite of Honda Sensing safety features. TrailSport begins at $48,450, packing serious off-road gear, while the TrailSport Elite tops the lineup at $52,450, combining technology and ruggedness in equal measure. EPA ratings range from 19 city, 25 highway, 21 combined mpg on RTL trims to 18 city, 23 highway, 20 combined mpg on TrailSport versions.

With a tougher platform, real trail capability, and more premium content across the board, the 2026 Honda Passport makes a clear case for itself in the increasingly crowded midsize SUV market. The TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims in particular show that Honda is serious about the overland space, this time with gear that backs it up for everyday demands and weekend escapes alike.

Learn More

For more information or to test drive this vehicle for yourself, stop by a local dealer or visit online at:
Honda | Passport

About Honda

Honda offers a full line of clean, safe, fun and connected vehicles sold through more than 1,000 independent U.S. Honda dealers. The award-winning Honda lineup includes the Civic and Accord, along with the HR-V, CR-V, Passport and Pilot sport utility vehicles, the Ridgeline pickup and the Odyssey minivan. Honda's electrified vehicle lineup includes the Accord hybrid, CR-V hybrid, and later this year, Civic hybrid. The Honda Prologue SUV, Honda's first volume battery-electric vehicle, will also join the lineup this year. Honda has been producing automobiles in America for over 40 years and currently operates 18 major manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2023, more than 99% of all Honda vehicles sold in the U.S. were made in North America, with about two-thirds made in America, using domestic and globally sourced parts.