Comfortable Every day Driver, Weekend Off-Street Warrior

The 2026 Honda Passport is all-new, marking the fourth era of this family-friendly SUV. It exhibits off a contemporary face that is extra rugged and boasts improved functionality, particularly within the TrailSport trims. The corporate’s rising concentrate on off-roading makes the TrailSport a key a part of the lineup. Honda invited us on a novel drive program that took us to North Carolina to place the brand new Passport TrailSport to the take a look at off-road.

We spent two days at Overland Specialists in Troy, North Carolina, which serves as a proving floor for Honda‘s engineers. Our two-day off-road expertise included classroom coaching to know the mechanics of off-roading, a lesson in car restoration, and many outing on the paths. These weren’t simply grime roads, however extremely technical trails with challenges at each flip. The objective was to point out that this seemingly mild-mannered SUV has severe off-road chops. It was a take a look at of the autos together with our off-road expertise.

2026 Honda Passport TrailSport First Impressions

The daring design of the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport instantly grabs your consideration, particularly within the hanging Sundown Orange paint. A rugged stance, with chunky all-terrain tires and a extra aggressive entrance fascia, marks a transparent departure from the earlier era’s softer, extra suburban look. It is not so burly that it seems misplaced on the pavement, however it does appear to be one thing that is not afraid of getting soiled.

Exterior Dimensions

It exudes a way of functionality, able to deal with off-road trails, shuttle children to highschool, or deal with day by day commutes. That is a pretty car that builds on the prior era with a extra fashionable look. The general vibe suggests Honda has leaned right into a harder, extra rugged identification with out sacrificing practicality.

Drive Impressions And Efficiency

The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport impressed off-road, conquering technical trails, steep climbs, descents, rutted grime, and unfastened rocks with ease. Its upgraded i-VTM4 AWD system, with 40% extra rear torque capability and quicker response, paired with Path Mode, optimized traction and management. It instills confidence whether or not you’re a novice or a veteran off-roader There’s additionally hill descent management and eight.3 inches of clearance to additional improve the Passport TrailSport’s functionality.

Two vibrant orange entrance restoration hooks are sturdy sufficient to tow the car, however are designed to break down throughout a collision to stop damage to passengers or pedestrians. There are additionally strong skid plates for climbing over rocks and wayward branches. On-road, it’s quiet, comfy, and composed, with a refined experience and exact steering. You’ll be able to thrash it by the grime in your break day after which cruise onto the pavement in your commute with out lacking a beat. It’s as suited to day by day drives round city, as it’s to off-road exploration.

Braking And Acceleration

Energy comes from a 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 engine, paired with a 10-speed computerized for good however unhurried acceleration. It’s not the quickest SUV you should buy, however it nonetheless simply will get as much as freeway speeds, making street journeys straightforward and stress-free. Off-road, a lightweight foot on the fuel offers you precisely as a lot energy as it’s essential handle tough terrain at slower speeds.

Efficiency Specs

4-wheel disc brakes carry the Passport to a assured cease, even when onerous braking at increased speeds on the pavement. Off-road, the brakes are well-modulated, so it is easy to manage the car on uneven terrain the place going quick isn’t the objective. Those that’ve given left-foot braking a strive off-road will discover the Passport very straightforward to handle, so your passengers expertise fewer harsh stops and begins.

2026 Honda Passport Gas Financial system

Since a lot of our driving time was off-road, we weren’t capable of get a real estimate of the Passport’s gasoline financial system. Within the TrailSport trim, it is barely decrease than rivals just like the Ford Explorer Timberline and Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Street, however not by a lot, so it is unlikely to have a big effect in your pockets.

EPA Rated Financial system

Inside Design And Consolation

The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite presents a cushty and versatile cabin, supreme for each on-road cruising and off-road adventures. The heated and ventilated leather-based entrance seats present wonderful assist. The driving force will get 10-way energy adjustability, guaranteeing clear visibility for technical trails, which is enhanced by the Elite’s TrailWatch digicam system. The experience is remarkably quiet, with full acoustic laminated glass conserving wind and street noise low even using on all-terrain tires.

Inside Dimensions

The rear seats are spacious, simply becoming two adults with 40.9 inches of legroom. Three adults are fantastic for shorter journeys, although two are supreme if it is an prolonged journey. Sadly, the rear seats don’t recline, which is a disadvantage on street journeys. The TrailSport trims additionally get a panoramic moonroof, which permits loads of mild on the expense of a bit of headroom in comparison with the RTL trims.

Know-how And Ease Of Use

Normal options embody a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wi-fi charging, and a number of USB-C ports. Elite trims even have TrailWatch cameras with multi-angle views for off-road navigation. This makes it even simpler to take your Passport TrailSport onto unfamiliar trails. The display screen is well-positioned so each the motive force and passenger can simply attain it, which is useful off-road if you would like your co-pilot to vary the view whilst you hold your arms on the wheel.

A ten.2-inch digital cluster can also be a normal characteristic, and it will get its personal off-road-specific options throughout the lineup. There are pitch, roll, and elevation gauges within the cluster, so you have got a greater sense of your car’s place on off-road terrain. That is additionally type of enjoyable to observe, particularly when you’ve got children on board. It’s an amazing mixture of comfort options to maintain you linked and off-road help options to make adventures extra pleasant.

Cargo And Storage Area

The 2026 Honda Passport presents 44 cubic-feet of cargo house behind the second row and 83.8 cubic-feet with seats folded. That is above common for the midsize SUV class, offering ample room for household journeys or out of doors gear with a large, flat load flooring and underfloor storage for added versatility. A standout characteristic is the accessible picnic desk that stows within the cargo space flooring. It’s paying homage to the basic Honda CR-V’s pull-out desk, however this one is much sturdier, making a handy floor for tenting or tailgating.

Our Advice For Which Mannequin You Ought to Purchase

We suggest the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite at $52.450 for its off-road options paired with a cushty, upscale inside that includes leather-based seats, a panoramic moonroof, and Bose audio. It’s good for adventurers wanting on a regular basis consolation and functionality. The lineup begins at $44,750 for these with a extra modest funds, however, the TrailSport Elite is a stable worth contemplating its wide selection of options. Those that want an SUV that simply goes from mild-mannered household hauler throughout the week to weekend off-road warrior will discover the Passport Trailsport Elite an amazing alternative.