Honda has focused on marketing the latest Passport as a two-row SUV that’s adventure-ready yet still family-friendly and readily capable of daily kid-hauling duties. The model’s rugged TrailSport trim is proving especially successful because the company reports that as of the first quarter of 2026, 80% of Passport buyers opt for this off-road-focused trim level. The popularity has helped push the SUV’s sales up 20.1% during Q1.
Base Trim Engine
3.5L V6 Gas
Base Trim Transmission
10-speed automatic
Base Trim Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive
Base Trim Horsepower
285 hp @ 6,100 rpm
Base Trim Torque
262 lb-ft @ 5,000 rpm
Base Trim Fuel Economy (city/highway/combined)
19/25/21 mpg
Segment
Midsize SUV
Despite the latest version of the Passport TrailSport only debuting for the 2026 model year, Honda is preparing additional rugged updates for it to make the SUV even more capable off the pavement. “They are giving [the Passport] more testosterone. It’s a little more masculine,” a person familiar with the design told Automotive News. The changes are supposed to arrive in late 2026, so there’s a short wait before the revisions premiere. The revisions are supposed to make the model a closer competitor to Toyota’s rugged TRD offerings.
A Honda spokesperson confirmed to CarBuzz that an updated Passport is coming, without providing additional details. “We will introduce additional capability enhancements later this year and look forward to sharing more details in the coming months.”
An Even Tougher Passport TrailSport
Honda HRC Passport TrailSport conceptHonda
Honda is making sure that the updated Passport performs as well off-road as it does on the highway. The upcoming tweaks include a roughly one-inch increase in ride height for the TrailSport. For context, all trims of the 2026 Passport currently offer 8.3 inches of ground clearance. If the revised SUV achieves 9.3 inches of clearance, it would offer a figure on par with the current Subaru Outback Wilderness at 9.5 inches. In comparison, the Toyota 4Runner offers 9.0 inches for its Off-Road grade and 10.1 inches in the TRD Pro and Trailhunter trims.
The higher stance would let the Passport clear taller obstacles while off-roading and would also improve the approach and departure angles. The revised SUV would also receive suspension tweaks with an emphasis on better off-road performance.
The Passport TrailSport is also reportedly getting some styling tweaks, which seems early for a vehicle that’s still fresh on the market. The SUV is allegedly receiving revisions to the front and rear fascia and new wheel designs.
The report doesn’t indicate whether Honda would introduce a new, tougher trim to the Passport lineup, or whether this would be a new, even tougher trim slotting above the existing TrailSport.
The Passport TrailSport: In Perspective
Honda HRC Passport TrailSport conceptHonda
The current Passport is the nameplate’s fourth generation. The new model received a boxy appearance that looks more like a traditional SUV. The bold PASSPORT wordmark at each end makes it an easy vehicle to identify. Up front, bracket-shaped running lights surround the headlamps, and they feature an amber color on TrailSport, giving it a distinctive appearance.
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The current TrailSport trim also includes all-terrain tires, orange recovery hooks, steel skid plates, and revised suspension tuning. The TrailWatch camera system provides a better view of the path ahead.
Inside, the SUV comes with a 12.3-inch infotainment screen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. Buyers can upgrade to a 12-speaker Bose stereo. There’s 44 cubic feet of rear storage space with the rear seats in place or 83.5 cubic feet when they are folded out of the way.
All Passports come with a 3.5-liter V6 making 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It hooks up to a 10-speed automatic running to a torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system.
The 2026 Passport TrailSport is available in four flavors. The base model starts at $48,650 (before a $1,495 destination fee). The TrailSport Blackout is $49,850. The TrailSport Elite with additional luxury features begins at $52,650, and the TrailSport Elite Blackout is $53,850.
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CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Honda HRC Passport TrailSport conceptHonda
The latest Passport TrailSport is quickly carving out a space for itself in the rugged SUV segment. Honda is not usually a brand folks consider for hardcore off-road rigs, but the company is taking the fight to Toyota and Subaru with this new offering. Adding more ground clearance and a revised suspension will only make it more competitive.
People clearly want rugged Hondas, given how popular the Passport Trailsport grade is. We could imagine seeing more models getting a lifted ride and improved suspension in the future.
Source: Automotive News
