Suddenly, I got inundated with questions about the Honda Passport. Many listeners to the Car Pro Show have wanted to know about it and in years past, Passport questions have sort of been fairly rare. I was very happy to get one delivered so I could see what all the chatter was about. Now I get it.
Honda upped the game with the new Passport, just in time to face-off with the new Toyota 4Runner, which I am also reviewing in the next week or so. For those still resistant to the wave of 4-cylinder turbos flying towards you, you’ll be pleased to know Honda is still offering their tried-and-true, naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 non-turbo in this midsized two-row SUV. In addition, it is longer, wider, and taller than the outgoing 2025, and it has a wider track, new suspension and steering, and a shorter overhang in front for better approach angles when off-roading.
Exterior
The new Passport is more attractive to me, and the TrailSport looks as capable as it is. LED lights surround the front and rear, there is a new grill, front and rear tow hooks, and a new very attractive hood scoop that I noticed right off the bat.
I was saddened to see it was not functional, it’s a fake. WHY Honda, why? The good news is there is plenty of functional venting surrounding the grill. 18” wheels are wrapped in meaty 275/60R General Grabber A/T caissons.
A real spoiler and exposed wiper finish out the rear view, and I love the Platinum White Pearl color of this one.
Powertrain
I’ve already told you this was a V6, but it is a Dual Overhead Cam engine that is hooked to a 10-speed automatic transmission with shift paddles. It officially puts out 285-horses and 262 pound-feet of torque. I will tell you that it feels like it has a lot more horsepower than 285. Being the TrailSport, this SUV is all-wheel drive featuring Honda’s very capable torque vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system as standard equipment.
Interior
Honda did a great job with the interior as well. The leatherette and fabric heated seats are very comfortable and roomy, and they have orange stripes, stitching, and TrailSport emblazoned on the headrests.
You will see a lot of orange accents inside the TrailSport, a color that has become synonymous in off-roaders of all makes. The 10.25” gauge cluster is simple and easy to read and highly configurable on both sides from leather steering wheel dials. Honda made it simple to use and really fast to change.
Thankfully, they are very sparse on glass black anywhere inside. Fingerprints on gloss black interiors has become a real hot button with me, so thank you Honda-that makes up for the phony hood scoop.
Center dash, easily within reach, is a new 12.3” touchscreen that handles the audio system, Bluetooth, Sirius XM, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a Wi-Fi Hot Spot, Google and Alexa built-in, a host of apps, and it houses the around-view backup camera that I wish had better resolution and more views. I have also become accustomed to front view cameras on SUVs made to go off-road, but you have to go up to the TrailSport Elite to get that feature. I really wish Honda would rethink that. In a nice touch, just below the screen is a lone volume knob, down a little farther are all the A/C controls. You also get (2) USB-C ports and a wireless charger.
The center console houses the gear shift buttons, a couple of large cup holders, the electronic emergency brakes, the Auto Hold button, and a button to turn off the start/stop system and hill descent control. This is also where you change the drive modes, which include: sport, normal, econ, snow, trail, sand, and tow.
The back seats in the Passport are also comfortable, there are seat pockets on the front seats, there are air vents in the rear, and a couple more USB-Cs and a power outlet. Rear seat legroom is exceptional, as is headroom throughout. There is a fold down armrest with cupholders, but the A/C is controlled from the front. The back seat does not slide or recline.
Cargo area is ginormous, one of the pluses of no third-row seat. There is 44 cubic feet of cargo area, and if the back seat is folded down, you add 40 more cubic feet of area and a really flat surface.
There are a lot of cubby holes for storage in rear, a power source, and most importantly a spare tire and wheel underneath, with even more storage.
Standard Equipment
The Passport comes well equipped. Most notable are: remote start, LED fog lights, the roof rack, power driver’s and passenger front seat, heated seats, power liftgate, a huge panoramic moon roof with a power sliding cover, adaptive cruise control, and automatic headlights.
The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport comes equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including the Honda Sensing system with Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) featuring Advanced Pedestrian Detection, Forward Collision Warning (FCW), Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM), Lane Departure Warning (LDW), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Low-Speed Follow, Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS), Traffic Jam Assist, Blind Spot Information System (BSI) with Cross Traffic Monitor, Low-Speed Braking Control, parking sensors (front and rear), Traffic Sign Recognition System (TSR), and a Driver Attention Monitor.
The Passport TrailSport is clearly a very capable SUV off the pavement, but most of us will never use it for that, so luckily it is extremely enjoyable for everyday driving and commuting. The ride is very good, acceleration is terrific in sport mode, and Honda really upped their game in interior quietness, even with the tires this one has. The new steering feels great, and the turning radius is really tight.
Fuel economy is rated at 18 in town and 23 on the highway. Total MSRP without any options is estimated to be $49,900 and I consider that to be an exceptional value. It is easy to why I am getting all the questions on this one, and why CarPro Dealers tell me they are flying off their lots.