Since the Passport’s return to Honda in 2019, it has felt more like a baby Pilot, with a similar design and aesthetic, albeit slightly smaller. However, last year’s refresh changed things, as the company transformed the Passport from a smaller, two-row Pilot variant into an SUV with a stronger sense of identity. Enter the fourth-gen, 2026 Honda Passport.
While many automakers are equipping their SUVs with either a turbocharged 4-cylinder or a hybrid powertrain, Honda has chosen to retain the power of a V6 engine. It also embodies the essence of the original Isuzu Passport, featuring a boxy design and ember-glowing daytime running lights. It arrives in the casual RTL (or Regal Touring Leather) trim and the rugged TrailSport trim, and we’re here to discuss the latter.
Our 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite review vehicle arrived in Ash Green Metallic with a $53,000 price tag. After a week or 400 miles, we’ll tell you how it performs, whether it lives up to its marketing, and who it’s for.
The Honda Passport touts a stark, boxy design that stands out while still looking like something Honda would make. Honda made its latest Passport mild-mannered enough for school drop-offs and grocery runs but rugged enough to hit the off-road. So, the Passport isn’t pretending to be a rugged SUV; it’s genuinely designed for that purpose, but more on that later.
At first glance, the visual standouts are the amber-colored, daytime running lights that resemble eyes; a slight slit on the hood for its active shutter grille that opens and closes to keep the engine cool at various speeds, its chunky, 18-inch all-terrain tires, and the large ‘Passport’ branding on both the front and rear of its 192-inch-long SUV. Even more subtly visible are its ‘H’ logo in the front grill, roof rails, panoramic moonroof, puddle lights, and a pair of tow hooks; the latter are tucked in to avoid being a hazard when parking.
Upon entering the Passport, a spacious and quiet cabin with a brown two-tone perforated leather interior welcomes you. Behind the heated steering wheel lies the 10.2-inch digital cluster, displaying the usual speedometer, gas gauge, drive modes, cruise controls, and other features. Next to the digital cluster, the highly responsive 12.3-inch touchscreen display, powered by Google and the Google Assistant, offers media, navigation, and multi-angle camera views; it also supports Alexa and includes wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The Passport’s brilliant audio is powered by a 12-speaker Bose system, which is full of sound, heavy on bass, and exceptional in the mids.
Underneath the infotainment screen lie the media power/volume controls, which are next to a Passport logo on the dashboard. Moving down, you have the air vents, Hazard button, and HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) controls with a small storage compartment, two USB-C ports, and a car charger port. Going a bit lower, you spot the built-in wireless phone charger, a set of massive cup holders that can hold up to 32 oz, the parking brake toggle, PRND/S buttons instead of the typical gear shifter, and a massive storage space for the center console.
Regarding seating, the front seats have Honda’s TrailSport branding stitched into the headrests and are equipped with both heating and ventilation, as the second row offers only the heated option. It’s only two rows, so it can adequately seat five, depending on the size of the passengers. The rear passengers are treated to their HVAC controls, window shades, two USB-C ports, and a 115-volt power outlet. And speaking of space, the Passport offers 44 cubic ft of space behind the second row and up to nearly 83 cubic ft with the rear seats laid back.
The Passport is equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of driver assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high-beam headlamps, in addition to traffic sign recognition to track speed limits and a driver attention monitor to recognize when you’re exhausted and need to pull over and rest. Honda also added a second-gen, multi-angle TrailWatch camera, which lives up to its name by providing a visual line of sight for your tire path and is displayed on the SUV’s touchscreen display. The camera works in tandem with the digital cluster’s tracking data for pitch, roll, elevation, and direction for a safe trail experience as advertised; more on off-roading in a bit.
The Passport TrailSport doesn’t have a hybrid or turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, as Honda retains a V6 motor in its SUV, unlike many other vehicles on the market, which are converting to alternative powertrains. The motor touts a 3.5-liter V6 with a 10-speed automatic transmission and produces 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, resulting in a smooth, powerful performer. The SUV is strong enough to tow up to 5,000 lbs and is equipped with tow hooks in case you need them.
The Passport’s motor provides responsive acceleration for a smooth ride, going from 0 to 60mph in just over seven seconds and pushing 70 mph on highways or 30 mph on local roads. I felt safe in the Passport as it hugged curvy roads at rapid speeds and handled sudden movements, which is thanks in part to Honda’s fluctuating-torque AWD system and its upgraded suspension. Although the Passport is rated at a combined 21 mpg, I managed to drive over 300 miles before needing to fill it up at a nearby gas station.
To test the vehicle’s off-roading capabilities courtesy of the TrailSport trim, TGSB’s co-founder took me to an area near his home with no streetlights, rocky dirt roads, and reservoir views. There, I had the opportunity to use the Passport’s additional drive modes, especially Trail mode, to take full advantage of its all-wheel drive system, specially tuned suspension, all-terrain tires, underbody protection, and 8.3-inch ground clearance for off-road fun. Once I arrived, I put the Passport in park, changed my drive mode from normal to trail, and got started. I drove the SUV through muddy puddles, inclined rocky hills, and climbed several large stone formations. I didn’t feel close to losing control of the vehicle during this rugged adventure. We got the Passport dirty and had a wonderful time doing it.
The large “Passport” brand sits in both the front and rear of the vehicle. While it’s not that much of a bother here, I’m not a big fan of oversized logos or branding. Honda isn’t the only automaker doing this, either. However, this is more of a nitpick than a negative, but apart from that, no notes.
