By: Joshua Lee
December 8, 2025
In a market drowning in off-road inspired SUVs that spend most of their lives parked outside malls, the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport shows up looking like it actually wants to get dirty. Honda’s new squared-off redesign practically dares other midsize SUVs to size it up, including the 4Runner, Bronco Sport, and even its own Pilot TrailSport. It feels like Honda is done flirting with the idea of ruggedness. The question is whether this fresh attitude is just tough talk or if the TrailSport finally has the guts to back it up.
Honda sticks with its familiar 3.5-litre V6, now tuned for a slight bump in power. It’s not a fire-breather, but the 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft. of torque are delivered smoothly and confidently. It’s paired with a 10-speed automatic that tends to stay out of the way, which is all you want when you’re bouncing between pavement and dirt. The torque-vectoring AWD system continues to be this SUV’s quiet superpower, shuffling power side-to-side as well as front-to-back. In real-world use, it means the Passport never scrabbles or feels flustered when conditions get messy.
Off-road ambition hinges on numbers, and the TrailSport’s are respectable. Ground clearance sits just over eight inches, and the front overhang is shorter than before, giving the Passport better approach angles. No one will confuse it for a Wrangler or Bronco, but it’s capable of tackling the sort of rocky forest-access roads that disqualify softer crossovers. Hill-descent control makes creeping down loose slopes controlled and drama-free, and the multiple drive modes, particularly Trail and Sand, tweak throttle response and traction behaviour in ways that genuinely help when you’re not on pavement.
The Passport’s secret weapon is TrailWatch, Honda’s clever camera setup that gives you a real-time, close-up perimeter view of the terrain ahead and around the wheels. With a boxier stance, chunkier body lines, and bright orange recovery hooks, our Ash Green Metallic Passport looks ready for anything. It features 18-inch wheels, full exterior LED lighting, amber daytime running lights, roof rails, and an integrated trailer hitch with a harness capable of towing up to 2260 kilograms (5000 pounds). Ride quality lands on the firm side, but the suspension soaks up chop well, making gravel travel feel controlled instead of chaotic. Steering has decent weight and the V6 remains pleasantly responsive, even if it won’t win any fuel-efficiency medals.
Inside, the TrailSport leans into practicality. The layout is simple in a good way, with physical controls where you want them. The 10.2-inch digital dash is clear without being gimmicky, the 12.3-inch touchscreen interface with Google Built-In isn’t overwhelming, and the seating position gives you a commanding view. Materials skew durable rather than luxurious, but that fits the mission. This is a cabin you don’t have to baby. Heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel and heated rear seats, three-zone climate control, a wireless charger, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system are all standard on the TrailSport Touring.
Space is one of the Passport’s big strengths. Rear passengers get generous legroom, and the cargo area behind them is massive, wide, deep, and square. Fold the split-folding 60/40 rear seats and it expands to 2356 litres of cargo space. Underfloor storage adds a spare tire and hidden room for tow straps, recovery gear, or muddy items you’d rather not put on the carpet.
Fuel economy, as you’d expect with a naturally aspirated V6 and all-terrain tires, is fine. Not disastrous, not impressive. The Passport is rated at 12.6L/100km city and 9.9L/100km highway for a combined 11.4L/100km. Most buyers cross-shopping midsize SUVs won’t be shocked by its real-world consumption. You buy this kind of SUV for capability and reliability, although it would be nice to see a hybrid option in the future.
Pricing starts at $60,136 for the base Passport TrailSport and $63,686 for the TrailSport Touring, which is what we have. Blackout packages cost an additional $1000.
Is the 2026 Passport TrailSport a genuine off-road contender? It is for the buyer it’s built for. If you’re chasing hardcore trail domination, buy a Wrangler. If you want a body-on-frame adventure rig, Toyota and Ford have you covered. If you want something that can take you into the backcountry, survive rough roads without needing a lift kit, and still handle a Costco run and downtown commute without compromise, the Passport TrailSport hits that sweet spot. It may not be the wildest SUV in the segment, but it might be one of the most balanced. Sometimes that’s exactly what gets you to the trailhead and back home again without a story involving a tow truck.
