Comfy Daily Driver, Weekend Off-Road Warrior

The 2026 Honda Passport is all-new, marking the fourth generation of this family-friendly SUV. It shows off a fresh face that’s more rugged and boasts improved capability, especially in the TrailSport trims. The company’s growing focus on off-roading makes the TrailSport a key part of the lineup. Honda invited us on a unique drive program that took us to North Carolina to put the new Passport TrailSport to the test off-road.

We spent two days at Overland Experts in Troy, North Carolina, which serves as a proving ground for Honda’s engineers. Our two-day off-road experience included classroom training to understand the mechanics of off-roading, a lesson in vehicle recovery, and lots of time out on the trails. These weren’t just dirt roads, but highly technical trails with challenges at every turn. The goal was to show that this seemingly mild-mannered SUV has serious off-road chops. It was a test of the vehicles along with our off-road skills.

2026 Honda Passport TrailSport First Impressions

The bold design of the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport immediately grabs your attention, especially in the striking Sunset Orange paint. A rugged stance, with chunky all-terrain tires and a more aggressive front fascia, marks a clear departure from the previous generation’s softer, more suburban look. It’s not so burly that it looks out of place on the pavement, but it does look like something that’s not afraid of getting dirty.

Exterior Dimensions

It exudes a sense of capability, ready to tackle off-road trails, shuttle kids to school, or handle daily commutes. This is an attractive vehicle that builds on the prior generation with a more modern look. The overall vibe suggests Honda has leaned into a tougher, more rugged identity without sacrificing practicality.

Drive Impressions And Performance

The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport impressed off-road, conquering technical trails, steep climbs, descents, rutted dirt, and loose rocks with ease. Its upgraded i-VTM4 AWD system, with 40% more rear torque capacity and faster response, paired with Trail Mode, optimized traction and control. It instills confidence whether you’re a novice or a veteran off-roader There’s also hill descent control and 8.3 inches of clearance to further enhance the Passport TrailSport’s capability.

Two bright orange front recovery hooks are strong enough to tow the vehicle, but are designed to collapse during a collision to prevent injury to passengers or pedestrians. There are also robust skid plates for climbing over rocks and wayward branches. On-road, it’s quiet, comfortable, and composed, with a refined ride and precise steering. You can thrash it through the dirt on your day off and then cruise onto the pavement for your commute without missing a beat. It’s as suited to daily drives around town, as it is to off-road exploration.

Braking And Acceleration

Power comes from a 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic for good but unhurried acceleration. It’s not the fastest SUV you can buy, but it still easily gets up to highway speeds, making road trips easy and stress-free. Off-road, a light foot on the gas gives you exactly as much power as you need to manage rough terrain at slower speeds.

Performance Specifications

Four-wheel disc brakes bring the Passport to a confident stop, even when hard braking at higher speeds on the pavement. Off-road, the brakes are well-modulated, so it’s easy to control the vehicle on uneven terrain where going fast is not the goal. Those who’ve given left-foot braking a try off-road will find the Passport very easy to manage, so your passengers experience fewer harsh stops and starts.

2026 Honda Passport Fuel Economy

Since so much of our driving time was off-road, we weren’t able to get a true estimate of the Passport’s fuel economy. In the TrailSport trim, it’s slightly lower than competitors like the Ford Explorer Timberline and Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road, but not by much, so it’s unlikely to have a big impact on your wallet.

EPA Rated Economy

Interior Design And Comfort

The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite offers a comfortable and versatile cabin, ideal for both on-road cruising and off-road adventures. The heated and ventilated leather front seats provide excellent support. The driver gets 10-way power adjustability, ensuring clear visibility for technical trails, which is enhanced by the Elite’s TrailWatch camera system. The ride is remarkably quiet, with full acoustic laminated glass keeping wind and road noise low even riding on all-terrain tires.

Interior Dimensions

The rear seats are spacious, easily fitting two adults with 40.9 inches of legroom. Three adults are fine for shorter trips, though two are ideal if it’s an extended adventure. Unfortunately, the rear seats don’t recline, which is a drawback on road trips. The TrailSport trims also get a panoramic moonroof, which lets in plenty of light at the expense of a little headroom compared to the RTL trims.

Technology And Ease Of Use

Standard features include a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, and multiple USB-C ports. Elite trims also have TrailWatch cameras with multi-angle views for off-road navigation. This makes it even easier to take your Passport TrailSport onto unfamiliar trails. The screen is well-positioned so both the driver and passenger can easily reach it, which is helpful off-road if you want your co-pilot to change the view while you keep your hands on the wheel.

A 10.2-inch digital cluster is also a standard feature, and it gets its own off-road-specific features across the lineup. There are pitch, roll, and elevation gauges in the cluster, so you have a better sense of your vehicle’s position on off-road terrain. This is also kind of fun to watch, especially if you have kids on board. It’s a great combination of convenience features to keep you connected and off-road assistance features to make adventures more enjoyable.

Cargo And Storage Space

The 2026 Honda Passport offers 44 cubic-feet of cargo space behind the second row and 83.8 cubic-feet with seats folded. This is above average for the midsize SUV class, providing ample room for family trips or outdoor gear with a wide, flat load floor and underfloor storage for added versatility. A standout feature is the available picnic table that stows in the cargo area floor. It’s reminiscent of the classic Honda CR-V’s pull-out table, but this one is far sturdier, creating a convenient surface for camping or tailgating.

Our Recommendation For Which Model You Should Buy

We recommend the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite at $52.450 for its off-road features paired with a comfortable, upscale interior featuring leather seats, a panoramic moonroof, and Bose audio. It’s perfect for adventurers wanting everyday comfort and capability. The lineup starts at $44,750 for those with a more modest budget, but, the TrailSport Elite is a solid value considering its wide range of features. Those who need an SUV that easily goes from mild-mannered family hauler during the week to weekend off-road warrior will find the Passport Trailsport Elite a great choice.