2026 Honda Passport Review and Test Drive

With proper off-road capability, the 2026 Passport TrailSport offers more than just rugged styling.

Perry Stern | 

May 27, 2025 | 8 min read

Perry Stern

With this redesign, the 2026 Passport enters its fourth generation. In addition to the new styling inside and out, the midsize five-passenger Passport is larger in every dimension and provides more ground clearance. Honda also claims it has more passenger and cargo space than its primary rivals, and the new Passport includes digital instrumentation, a Google-based infotainment system, and improved safety features.

However, the most noteworthy upgrade to the 2026 Passport is the improved TrailSport model. Equipped with all-terrain tires, skid plates, exclusive suspension tuning, and a revised all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, it is the most off-road-capable SUV Honda has ever offered. Don't worry, though, because the 2026 Passport TrailSport provides plenty of on-road civility with its newfound ability to travel beyond the beaten path.

Perry Stern

About the 2026 Honda Passport Review Vehicle

The 2026 Honda Passport comes in three core trim levels: RTL, TrailSport, and TrailSport Elite. You can get the RTL with towing equipment (RTL Towing), and all three trims are available with a Blackout package. Base prices range from the mid-$40,000s to the mid-$50,000s, including the destination charge to ship the SUV to a dealership from the Lincoln, Alabama, assembly plant.

For this Passport review, I test-drove the TrailSport Elite near Olympia, Washington. The only factory option was the extra-cost Platinum White Pearl paint, bringing the manufacturer's suggested retail price to $54,355, including the $1,450 destination charge.

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The Passport Gets a New Design and Interior Upgrades

The 2026 Honda Passport gets a more squared-off, traditional SUV design. TrailSports have amber daytime running lights plus a visible aluminum scuff plate, exclusive wheels, and General Grabber A/T tires for a bolder, more purposeful look.

The new interior features a redesigned dashboard equipped with a 10.2-inch digital driver display and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Larger than the one in the previous Passport, the infotainment screen sits above the dashboard rather than being embedded into it. Still, its position provides easy access and viewing by the driver.

The climate controls feature new dials for adjusting the temperature and fan speed, which I think is an improvement over the previous Passport. Honda has also kept the stereo-volume knob and debuted a new three-spoke steering wheel.

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My Passport TrailSport Elite test vehicle's front seats featured perforated leather with contrasting orange stitching, highlighted by the TrailSport logo embossed on the head restraints. The redesigned seats are comfortable with good support and offer heating and ventilation.

The rear seats get a similar style treatment, and with the increased vehicle dimensions, there's an additional 1.3 inches of legroom. Surprisingly, the rear floor is flat, providing good foot room for middle-seat passengers. Triple-zone climate control is standard, and the outboard seats have available heating.

The Passport's larger dimensions also benefit the cargo area, with up to 44 cubic-feet of space behind the rear seats, including the hidden storage space below the floor, big enough to accommodate a full-size spare tire. Folding the back seats down expands the available room to 83.8 cu-ft (83.2 in TrailSport Elite). Honda offers several cargo accessories, including a rigid tonneau cover that doubles as a removable picnic table.

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New Infotainment, Safety, and Off-Roading Tech

The 2026 Honda Passport's larger 12.3-inch center touchscreen features a Google built-in infotainment system with Google Maps, Google Assistant, and additional apps available through the Google Play Store. Every new Passport includes a complimentary data plan providing access to those features for the first three years of ownership. After that, it requires a subscription.

Many new vehicles offer conversational voice recognition and digital assistant technology, but I think Google Assistant is one of the best. Saying "Hey, Google" activates the system, and when I asked it to find an Italian restaurant, it immediately came up with a list of options in the area. I also changed the cabin temperature, made a music request, and could keep my hands on the wheel when I texted my wife.

Wireless Android Auto, wireless Apple CarPlay, Alexa Built-in, HondaLink connected services, and access to a Wi-Fi hot spot are also standard with this infotainment system. Upgrade to the TrailSport Elite for a 12-speaker Bose premium sound system.

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The Passport TrailSport Elite also gets TrailWatch technology to improve visibility during off-pavement excursions. When you select the Passport's Trail drive mode, the infotainment screen displays a blended forward view and an overhead surround view to help you line the SUV up with the trail while watching for hazards.

Regarding safety, the 2026 Passport has an upgraded Honda Sensing collection of advanced driver-assistance systems with a wider field of view for the cameras and radar. Honda Sensing includes all the ADAS expected on a modern SUV, including blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and lane-keeping assist. Traffic Jam Assist is also standard.

The Passport's adaptive cruise control works well, smoothly matching speed when the car ahead slows, and even coming to a complete stop when necessary. While it's not a hands-free system, I found the lane centering quite good.

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Adventuring On and Off Road in the 2026 Passport TrailSport

All 2026 Honda Passports have an upgraded version of the company's 3.5-liter V6 engine. It delivers 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, and teams with a refined 10-speed automatic transmission powering the wheels through a next-generation version of Honda's torque-vectoring AWD system. The maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds.

According to the EPA, the 2026 Honda Passport gets an estimated 21 mpg in combined city and highway driving. The Passport TrailSport with its all-terrain tires, however, receives a slightly lower 20 mpg. During my on-pavement evaluation of the TrailSport, the trip computer indicated 20.5 mpg.

I drove the 2026 Honda Passport while attending the Northwest Outdoor Activity Vehicle of the Year event at the Ridge Motorsports Park in Shelton, Washington, which allowed me to test the SUV on a closed paved course and a custom-built off-road trail.

With its robust V6 engine and AWD, the Passport delivers enough power to push you back into the seat. There's no wheel slip under hard acceleration, and the SUV remains stable and confident. Braking is equally impressive, hauling the Passport to a stop from higher speeds smoothly and without drama.

Perry Stern

Driving the Passport through a slalom course showcased how well the torque-vectoring AWD system works. Up to 70% of the engine's power can go to the rear wheels, and either rear wheel can receive 100% of the torque. This system improves traction and helps the SUV stay planted and stable in the corners. The steering provides good feedback, and the Passport was surprisingly fun to drive.

Cruising on the public roads around the venue, the Passport was comfortable and quiet, and there wasn't any of the expected road noise from the all-terrain tires. With supportive seats and music streaming through the Bose audio system, I think the Passport TrailSport Elite delivers an enjoyable driving experience.

While the 2026 Passport is more likely to be seen at an office park or grocery store than working its way down a rugged trail, buyers looking for off-road adventures will not be disappointed with this Honda. I headed out on the off-road course with the Passport in Trail mode, which optimizes the AWD system and turns on the TrailWatch camera at speeds below 15 mph.

One steep incline of loose dirt and rocks required a good pace to reach the top, but the AWD and all-terrain tires maintained the necessary momentum. A sharp left turn was at the top of the hill before descending, and the TrailWatch camera showed me the way. I activated the standard hill-descent control for the trek down, and it kept the Passport at a steady, slow speed, behaving like a cruise control system for off-roading.

Perry Stern

Is the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport a Good SUV?

If you're looking for a roomy and stylish five-passenger crossover SUV at home on the road and in the dirt, the redesigned 2026 Honda Passport is a worthy choice. It doesn't have the same level of off-road prowess as a Jeep Grand Cherokee or Toyota 4Runner, but with its updated AWD system and powerful V6 engine, I think it could keep up with a standard Subaru Outback. And while the Passport's starting price is higher than any of those rivals, it delivers a lot for the money, so you may decide it's worth the cost.

Honda provided the 2026 Passport for this review.

Perry Stern

As a small child, Perry was constantly playing with toy cars and trucks, and that enthusiasm for anything motorized with wheels never faded. After college, he moved to Seattle and began his long automotive career working in an automotive consulting firm, helping customers choose the right vehicle for their needs. In the late 1990s, Perry joined Microsoft to work on CarPoint, part of the new Microsoft Network (MSN). He went on to become editor of the site, remaining on staff for 20 years before venturing out on his own. Today, in addition to his work on Capital One Auto Navigator, he still contributes to MSN, as well as J.D. Power, TrueCar.com, and U.S. News & World Report. Perry lives in the small town of Dexter, Michigan, with his wife and dog, and he still smiles when he sees his 2006 Mazda Miata in the garage.