Our Thoughts Exactly: 2026 Honda Passport

Honda had to do this. 

They had to transform its mid-size two-row SUV into more of an adventure machine. They had to redesign its purposeful predecessor into something that is desirable for active lifestyle consumers. 

To ensure that it can do the job, Honda sent a few 2026 Passports into the wild. Not just anywhere, but on both the Alcan 5000 and Rebelle Rally. Both events test the mettle of driver, navigator, and their chosen machine through extreme climates and terrain. The results have been superb. Our friends and fellow colleagues Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal accomplished the Alcan this summer, finishing second overall in this year’s adventure through Alaska and the northwestern part of Canada. 

We didn’t take this 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite on something as challenging as the Yukon or the deserts of California. We did find an off-road vehicle park just north of the Twin Cities. We’ll discuss how our test vehicle did out there. 

How different is the 2026 Passport than its previous model? 

Exterior-wise, it is very different. Honda went with a boxier look that is a departure from the Pilot it shares a platform with. It delivers a purpose-built look with its flat hood, additional cladding front, back and all around. The headlamp units are an all-LED affair with driving lights and turn signals integrated in each unit. Aggressive grille textures finish the upper and lower fascia. 

It has a more concentrated look for being a mid-size SUV. The approach and departure angles look correct for something that has off-road ambitions. Although, ground clearance measures at 8.3 inches. You’d think it would have a taller space above the underbody. 

The roof rails also look correct. The rear end is more upright, flanked by vertical LED taillight units. You also have a large liftgate for cargo. To finish up the basic look, the Passport name is stamped up front and out back.

The finishing touch on this TrailSport Elite is a set of 18-inch alloy wheels with General Grabber all-terrain tires. In all, this 2026 Passport looks rugged. It simply looks the part. 

However, you will find the cabin of the TrailSport Elite as very upscale and luxurious. We should start with an updated dashboard, along with the addition of a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. The readouts are clean, as seen on the latest Honda models. The new steering wheel has tactile controls, as also found throughout the cockpit area and center console. The transmission remains a push-button operation. 

Also new is a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen perched above the center stack. It also includes the requisite wireless smartphone connectivity and charging pad. Bose pumps premium sound through 12 speakers positioned around the cabin, along with a subwoofer. That is a unique feature on the TrailSport Elite. 

The luxurious interior features a two-tone leather upholstery that looks exquisite. The front seats are large and comfortable. There is some support available, as well. Rear seat room is fantastic for adults or three children. Cargo space is also exceptional. It starts with a 44.0 cubic feet area behind the rear seats, expanding to 83.5 cubic feet with them folded down. 

Honda even upped the power on its venerable 3.5-liter V6 for the 2026 Passport. Now at 285 horsepower, the V6 retains its torque figure of 262 pound-feet. New to the Passport is a ten-speed automatic transmission, sending power to all four wheels through its i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system and Intelligent Traction Management. 

Performance-wise, the V6 was fine. It accelerates well on the tarmac and puts down power beyond it – including dirt and gravel. On tougher surfaces, flip it into Trail mode for better traction through both axles. Normal mode works fine on gravel. In terms of fuel economy, we observed an average of 20.7 MPG. 

When playing at an ORV park, one must consider what the 2026 Passport can do and its limitations on the more extreme parts of the trail. You do have some skid plate protection, a TrailWatch camera view, and recovery hooks, which help when you find yourself on a maneuver that might be a challenge to this vehicle. 

Our time at a nearby ORV park yielded some positive feedback. The approach and departure angles had no issues with some of the dips and ruts along the sections of the “easier” trail. The suspension is sprung on the lighter side to travel over those bumps in the trail without being bounced around like in some offroad vehicles. But at 8.3-inches of ground clearance, the Passport TrailSport Elite has its limitations for handling the deeper ruts in the dirt roads which are really intended for more serious all-terrain vehicles with more ground clearance.  The drive modes help with putting the power down and finding traction, especially in this scenario with the Trail mode utilizing the i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system.

When you’re on the highway, the 2026 Passport delivered a balanced level of dampening resulting in a smooth ride overall. You do hear the bumps, but the off-road suspension smothered them quite well. If you are making evasive maneuvers and going through the curves, the 2026 Passport yielded a lower limit before it rolls and leans. It was pretty well controlled overall. 

The same could be said about the steering system. We wished that the turning radius was tighter, as well as the on-center feel. On the other hand, the brakes were fine. Stopping power in normal and panic situations were good, as was the pedal feel and response.

Honda offers three main trim levels for the 2026 Passport – RTL, TrailSport and TrailSport Elite. You can add a Blackout Package to all three. Pricing starts at $44,750. Our TrailSport Elite test vehicle came with a sticker price of $54,400. 

The question remains whether the 2026 Passport is truly an adventure machine. In a sense – yes. It looks the part, has a nice power band, and can do some things away from the tarmac. 

There is something looming in the horizon. At the Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, Honda unveiled a rough-and-tumble concept based on the 2026 Passport TrailSport. The Honda Racing Corporation team stepped it up into extreme off-road mode. This may be a concept for now, but hints and winks tell us that we could see this coming down the same assembly line in Lincoln, Alabama. That would be pretty damn cool! 

For now, the 2026 Passport represents something Honda is working towards to meet consumer’s wants. They want to play more and seek adventure. The latest round of SUVs has inspired this market trend. However, if you want a rugged looking SUV, you might like this one. 

DISCLAIMER: Vehicle provided by American Honda Motor Inc. – our opinions are our own

All photos by Randy Stern and George Torline