2026 Honda Passport Trailsport AWD

These days, new vehicles are all about size and packaging. How can they get something in showrooms that will grab a buyer’s attention over the competition? The third-generation Honda Passport has been with us since 2019 and is getting a redesign for 2026. We got to spend a week with the Trailsport trim, so let’s see how it handled daily driver duties. First, check out Jeff’s video, where he got the Trailsport dirty!

2026 Honda Passport Overview

The Isuzu-based Passport left our shores in 2002, and the latest version rides on the Global Light Truck Platform 2 (GLTP2). That’s also home to quite a few of the big Hondas, including the Ridgeline, Pilot, Odyssey, and Acura’s MDX.

The Trailsport sits nicely in the middle of the Passport lineup. Pricing starts at $44,750 and goes up to the $53,650.

Out tester had some white paint, and that’s about it. Which means you’re out the door for around $50,000.

2026 Honda Passport Trailsport AWD: Inside & Out

The first thing I noticed about the Passport was its size. For reference, it’s about six to 6.5 inches taller, wider, and longer than a 2025 CR-V. It’s even an inch or two wider and taller (respectively) than a 2025 Pilot, while the Pilot is over eight inches longer. It doesn’t feel all that large; maybe we’re so used to such big SUVs that it’s all relative. Either way, I like the overall size.

The Trailsport gets some unique bits to set it apart from the lineup.

• Unique Trailsport styling accents
• Exclusive black grille and trim details
• Increased ground clearance
• 18-inch or 20-inch alloy wheels with off-road tires
• Skid plates for underbody protection
• Roof rails for additional cargo options

It’s beefy without being over-the-top. I love the wheel and tire combo, along with the orange accents. Again, subtle enough to be interesting without hitting you over the head with it.

Inside, I absolutely adore the interior. That’s a literal quote from my notes. The gray fabric on the dash looks great, love the orange stitching. It’s quite good, I love Honda’s latest iteration of simplicity and usability.

The sound system is excellent—great bass and solid overall sound quality. It reminded me that new car audio systems are much better than what I put together back in the day, even though it was upgraded. I had no trouble connecting to wireless CarPlay at first. However, at some point, it stopped working and everything froze. I had to turn it off and back on, then I ended up using the wired version. Likely a hiccup that would work itself out for most buyers.

The Passport served as both my office move-in vehicle and as the dreaded hockey practice transport vehicle. Its larger size (compared to the CR-V) helps, providing about 16.5 cubic feet of space with all seats in place. With the third row folded down, it increases to around 46.8 cubic feet. When both rear rows are folded (as shown in the pictures above), the maximum cargo capacity expands to approximately 100.7 cubic feet.

Summary

Out on the road, the standard 3.5-liter V6 engine produces 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It comes with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive is standard on all trim levels. It’s not quick, but acceleration is average for its size and class. I didn’t have any “oh shit” moments where I felt like I needed more oomph off the line or during a merge. The Passport has a super smooth transition when engaging the start/stop system. I didn’t really notice it.

Overall, the 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport is just a well-packaged vehicle. As Jeff said, it’s not a Wrangler Rubicon, but even most Wrangler drivers don’t use their off-roader to its full potential. What Honda has done is create a comfortable, usable, daily driver that looks cool. If you got it a little muddy, that’s a bonus.