How the 2026 Honda Passport quietly beats costlier competitors

06 2026 honda passport trailsport elite.jpg


American citizens have all the time had a comfortable spot for SUVs. It’s no longer laborious to peer why, since they’ve just about changed the previous station wagon for hauling children, equipment, and the whole thing in between.

In this day and age, patrons be expecting extra than simply house, although. They would like consolation, capacity, and one thing that may care for each college runs and rougher weekend plans with out breaking a sweat. That’s precisely the gap the 2026 Honda Passport is aiming for.

The 2-row midsize SUV phase isn’t precisely brief on skill anymore. With competitors just like the Ford Bronco, Toyota Land Cruiser, and Subaru Outback surroundings a top bar, Honda’s newest Passport has its paintings minimize out.

In an effort to provide the most recent and correct knowledge conceivable, the information used to bring together this newsletter was once sourced from Honda and different authoritative resources, together with CarBuzz, Edmunds, and TopSpeed.

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The 2026 Honda Passport brings genuine off-road grit with out giving up day by day consolation

A refreshed midsize SUV that balances rugged capacity with on a regular basis usability

Head-on action shot of a 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite Credit score: Honda

Honda is looking the 2026 Passport its “final journey SUV,” which is a lovely daring strategy to introduce a family-friendly midsize rig. Nonetheless, this factor is obviously seeking to again it up.

The 2026 style will get a right kind refresh, and it displays instantly within the styling. The softer, forgettable glance is long past, changed by means of a boxier, extra rugged design that feels able for filth roads as an alternative of simply college runs.

That squared-off vibe isn’t precisely distinctive this present day, both, with the Toyota Land Cruiser, Ford Bronco, and Jeep Wrangler all leaning into the similar difficult aesthetic. Beneath all of it, the Passport sticks with a three.5-liter V-6, now making 285 horsepower as an alternative of 280, paired with a brand new 10-speed computerized for 2026.

Rear 3/4 shot of a 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite Credit score: Honda

The 2026 Passport additionally grows a little bit the place it issues. The wheelbase stretches from 110.9 to 113.6 inches, and each the entrance and rear tracks are wider than ahead of.

It additionally sits upper off the bottom than the outgoing style, which is helping give it extra self assurance when the pavement ends. All of this isn’t only for display both, since Honda is obviously seeking to make the Passport paintings as each a comfortable day by day driving force and one thing you’ll be able to if truth be told take off-road.

To make that occur, it will get an up to date all-wheel pressure gadget and extra trail-focused package, particularly at the TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims. A shorter entrance overhang additionally is helping strengthen method angles, giving it a greater shot at tackling steep, asymmetric terrain with out scraping up entrance.

Front 3/4 shot of a 2017 Honda CR-V

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New AWD gadget offers the Passport extra regulate when the path will get tough

Upgraded torque-vectoring tech is helping it care for filth, snow, and the whole thing in between

Rear action shot of a 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite Credit score: Honda

For 2026, the Passport will get the most recent model of Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel pressure gadget. The massive improve here’s a more potent rear pressure unit that’s constructed to care for extra abuse.

Honda says the brand new setup can take 40 % extra torque than ahead of, whilst additionally reacting about 30 % sooner than the outgoing gadget. In undeniable phrases, it will have to really feel extra responsive when prerequisites get slippery or asymmetric.

So how does it if truth be told paintings? An onboard electrical motor runs hydraulic pumps at each and every grab pack, all controlled by means of the SUV’s ECU to shuffle energy the place it’s wanted. The gadget can ship as much as 70 % of the V-6’s energy to the rear wheels, after which fine-tune it side-to-side relying on traction.

Front 3/4 shot of a 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite Credit score: Honda

The result’s a torque-vectoring setup that may push energy to a unmarried wheel if it has to. That’s the type of trick that makes it more straightforward to stay transferring even if one wheel is striking within the air on tough terrain.

The 2026 Passport additionally provides extra flexibility in the back of the wheel with seven pressure modes now within the combine. Along Commonplace, Econ, Snow, and Sand, you presently get Game, Path, and a devoted Tow mode.

Towing remains rated at as much as 5,000 kilos, which goes the outgoing style. That places it forward of competitors just like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Chevrolet Blazer, although it nonetheless falls wanting the Toyota Land Cruiser’s 6,000-pound max.

Beginning worth lands at $46,455

The 2026 Passport’s new glance isn’t the one factor converting—pricing is up around the board too. The bottom RTL begins at $44,750, moderately upper than closing 12 months’s $43,895 access level.

Transfer as much as the TrailSport, and also you’re taking a look at $49,900, which is a $3,450 soar over the former style 12 months. On the prime quality, the TrailSport Elite is available in at $53,900.

Even so, Honda helps to keep it aggressive within the phase. The Ford Bronco begins at $42,490, whilst the Toyota Land Cruiser starts at a miles steeper $59,095 for its access trim.

Dynamic side profile shot of a white 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite off-roading. Credit score: Honda

Sitting just below the $50,000 mark, the 2026 Passport TrailSport is arguably the candy spot within the lineup. It will get a suspension tuned in particular to stability on a regular basis consolation with right kind off-road skill.

It additionally comes loaded with the correct of rugged extras, together with skid plates, a four-view digicam gadget, distinctive 18-inch wheels, and a little bit extra floor clearance than the pre-facelift style. It’s obviously geared toward patrons who need genuine capacity with out leaping to the highest trim.

Above it sits the TrailSport Elite, which is extra about consolation than crawling over rocks. That model provides ventilated leather-based seats, a 12-speaker Bose audio gadget, rear local weather controls, and a heated steerage wheel for a extra top rate really feel.

2026 Honda Passport TrailSport specifications

Engine

Naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6

Transmission

10-speed auto

Drivetrain

All-wheel pressure

Energy / torque

285 hp / 262 lb-ft

Shipment quantity

44 cubic toes (in the back of 2nd row)

Curb weight

4,676 lbs

Towing capability

5,000 lbs

Side profile shot of a 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport

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A small energy bump for 2026 helps to keep the Passport aggressive

Dynamic front 3/4 shot of a white 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite. Credit score: Honda

For 2026, the Passport will get a small however welcome bump in energy. The acquainted 3.5-liter V6 carries over, however output climbs from 280 to 285 horsepower, in conjunction with 262 lb-ft of torque.

It’s a modest achieve, however sufficient to edge previous its predecessor or even nudge forward of the 2026 Toyota 4Runner’s 278-hp turbocharged four-cylinder. That stated, it nonetheless can’t moderately fit the Ford Bronco’s more potent turbocharged setups, which height out at 300 hp and 330 hp relying at the engine.

In contrast to some competitors, there’s no handbook possibility right here both. The Passport sticks with a 10-speed computerized best, which additionally replaces the outgoing gearbox as a part of the 2026 replace.

Dynamic front 3/4 shot of a green 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport off-roading.

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It rolls on difficult Continental CrossContact ATR all-terrain tires, able for filth, gravel, and the whole thing in between.

A roomy, no-nonsense cabin constructed for real-life use

A lot of house, easy-clean fabrics, and comfort-focused touches all through

Shot of the rear seats inside the cabin of a 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite. Credit score: Honda

The 2026 Passport helps to keep issues clear and clear-cut within, which is truthfully refreshing. Even the bottom style comes with leather-trimmed seats, so that you’re no longer caught with bargain-basement fabrics.

Transfer as much as the TrailSport and also you get easy-to-wipe pretend leather-based and a breathtaking sunroof that in an instant makes the cabin really feel airier. It’s a pleasant mix of sensible and top rate with out going overboard.

House is every other sturdy level. With 44 cubic toes in the back of the second one row and as much as 83.8 cubic toes with the seats folded, it has numerous room for family members journeys, Costco runs, or each. It falls a little bit wanting the Toyota 4Runner’s max capability, however for the general public, it’s greater than sufficient.

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The 2026 Passport ranges up in the entire proper tactics

Extra capacity, smarter options, and a harder angle than closing 12 months

Dynamic front-end shot of a white 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite off-roading. Credit score: Honda

The 2026 Passport brings much more to the desk than a contemporary face. Its makeover comes with noticeably progressed off-road chops, plus some a laugh, unusually sensible extras—like a MOLLE-style garage gadget and a detachable picnic desk that feels tailored for weekend adventures.

There’s more room within this 12 months, too, in conjunction with a quieter and extra subtle cabin that doesn’t shout for consideration. It’s nonetheless very a lot a Honda, only a extra succesful and extra comfy one.

Towing capability carries over unchanged, however the TrailSport trim now contains a normal hitch and seven-pin connector, giving it an edge over some competition. Honda even proved its self assurance within the Passport’s power by means of striking 3 of them from a crane the use of best their restoration issues—an over-the-top flex, positive, however an efficient one.

With pricing beginning at $44,750 and the TrailSport touchdown just below $50,000, the Passport remains aggressive in its phase with out pretending to be a bargain-bin off-roader. It’s merely a harder, extra well-rounded SUV than it was once closing 12 months.


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