Designed and engineered to be the automaker’s most off-road-capable SUV ever, the redesigned 2026 Honda Passport arrives looking nothing like the smaller CR-V or larger Pilot. A midsize, two-row crossover SUV with generous passenger and cargo room, the 2026 Passport is one of the newest passports to adventure in the segment.
Honda offers the all-new Passport in RTL, TrailSport, and TrailSport Elite trim levels. The Passport RTL is for people who like the SUV’s look but aren’t planning off-road travel, while the TrailSport and TrailSport Elite come with modifications to support exploration on unpaved terrain. They all include a V6 engine, automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive (AWD).
Overlanding is a hot trend, and many crossover SUVs offer a trim level with rugged styling cues, all-terrain tires, and add-on accessories that signal readiness for extended travel off the beaten path. The 2026 Honda Passport leverages this while adding moderate off-roading capability.
Designed in California around a “bold backpack” theme, the Passport boasts exclusive bodywork that separates it from the three-row Pilot SUV and Ridgeline pickup truck (though Honda will likely base a next-generation Ridgeline on the new Passport).
Highlights of the new look include a blunt nose, bold grille, long hood, and flared fenders. An increase in the dash-to-axle ratio gives the new Passport a more natural and traditional SUV appearance, and Honda says the matte black rear roof paint allows owners to lean adventuring equipment against the SUV without damaging the paint.
TrailSports add gloss-black exterior detailing, unique wheel designs with recessed valve stems, amber LED running lights, and LED fog lights. Power folding mirrors and a heated windshield are standard, and the hidden exhaust tips provide protection when off-roading. Also, the more rugged versions of the Passport get orange powder-coated heavy-duty recovery hooks designed to break away in a collision.
Honda will offer numerous dealer-installed, overlanding-inspired accessories for the new Passport. Examples include different wheel designs, stainless steel rock sliders, and a roof-mounted cargo platform. Eight paint colors are available, including Trailsport-exclusive Sunset Orange and Ash Green Metallic.
The 2026 Honda Passport interior borrows heavily from the Pilot but with unique detailing. Honda says it offers more passenger, storage, and cargo room than the previous model, which was already a generous provider in each area.
In front, new power-adjustable and heated front seats debut with what Honda calls a body-stabilizing design. They’re wrapped in leather in the RTL, artificial leather in the TrailSport, and perforated leather in the TrailSport Elite. TrailSports have orange interior stitching and accents, and the TrailSport Elite includes ventilated front seats and a heated steering wheel.
Storage improves with a dashboard shelf in front of the passenger and six cupholders accommodating 32-ounce water bottles. A standard power rear liftgate reveals 44 cubic feet of cargo space behind the back seat and a maximum of 83.5 cu-ft with the rear seat folded flat. A large underfloor storage area provides added utility unless you fill it up with the available full-size spare tire.
TrailSports also add a panoramic sunroof and all-season floor mats, while TrailSport Elites feature rear-seat climate controls and side window sunshades. Accessories through your Honda dealer include a cargo shelf that transforms into a picnic table and modular lightweight load-carrying equipment (MOLLE) storage boards.
Every 2026 Passport has a 3.5-liter V6 engine making 285 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 262 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. It pairs with a uniquely tuned 10-speed automatic transmission and the latest version of Honda’s intelligent Variable Torque Management (i-VTM4) AWD system, delivering up to 70 percent of the engine’s power to a single rear wheel when necessary. Honda says the Passport’s maximum towing capacity is 5,000 pounds.
To deliver on the promise of authentic off-roading capability, the Passport adds a new Trail driving mode, standard hill descent control, increased ground clearance to 8.3 inches, and an increased approach angle of 23 degrees. An exclusive off-road suspension with strengthened components is standard, and Honda says the Passport boasts improved wheel articulation.
In addition, the Passport features a wider track, and every model has 18-inch wheels. The RTL rides on all-season rubber, while the TrailSports get all-terrain tires. If you make a mistake while off-roading, steel skid plates protect the oil pan, transmission, and fuel tank. Honda claims they can fully support the Passport’s weight if necessary.
Lastly, the new Passport’s longer wheelbase, improved body rigidity, variable steering ratio with a stiffer steering column, and larger brakes with improved pedal feel and enhanced cooling make the Passport more enjoyable to drive on the road.
Honda equips the new Passport with a comprehensive safety and technology package. For example, the SUV gets the latest version of Honda Sensing, the automaker’s collection of advanced driving assistance systems (ADAS).
The highlights include an enhanced blind-spot warning system and updated versions of the adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assistance, and lane-centering assistance systems. The 2026 Passport also has a new traffic jam assistance system, knee airbags for the driver and front passenger, and a redesigned front passenger airbag that may limit brain and neck injuries in a collision.
It’s also easier to see out of the new Passport, thanks to a new wideview reversing camera. The TrailSport Elite includes a surround-view TrailWatch camera system with tire-path graphics, side view, and forward view functions.
Those camera views appear on the 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system perched atop the Passport’s dashboard. It features Google Built-in with a complimentary three-year trial to services, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and access to a 5G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. A 15-watt wireless smartphone charger is standard, and the TrailSport Elite features a 12-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system.
Drivers face a standard 10.2-inch digital instrumentation display. It includes new
Roll, Pitch, and Elevation data displays in the TrailSport models.
The 2026 Honda Passport is unlike most midsize SUVs, offering a compelling blend of comfortable on-road driving dynamics with added off-road capability. In that respect, it is most similar to a Jeep Grand Cherokee, though when properly equipped, the Jeep remains a more capable adventuring machine.
Some of the Passport’s would-be rivals are three-row models. For example, General Motors offers the Chevrolet Traverse Z71 and GMC Acadia AT4 as alternatives to the Honda, each with plenty of room for people and cargo with the third-row folded down. Others include the Kia Telluride X-Pro and Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek.
Honda is the source of information in this article. It was accurate as of November 11, 2024, but it may have changed since that date. Always confirm product details and availability with the automaker’s website or your local dealership.
Christian Wardlaw is a veteran automotive journalist with 30 years of experience in the field and has held automotive editorial leadership positions at Edmunds, JD Power, and The New York Daily News. Today, Chris owns a content agency called Speedy Daddy Media, and in addition to JDPower.com, his work appears on Capital One Auto Navigator, CarGurus, and Edmunds.
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