Table of Contents
2026 Honda Passport: More than Just a Mid-Cycle Update
Exterior Design: Rugged Refinement for the New-Age Explorer
Interiors and Tech: Comfort Meets Almost Seamless Connectedness
Powertrain and Performance: Surefooted Power on the Road and the Trail
Off Roading: Explaining i-VTM4 and Trail-Sport Credentials
Safety Redefined: The Newest Honda Sensing Suite
Trim Level Breakdown: Sport, TrailSport, and Elite
Direct Rivals: How the Passport Compares
The Last Word: Who Should Purchase this SUV
2026 Honda Passport: More than Just a Mid-Cycle Update
The Mid-Sized SUV segment is a bloody one. You have fancy ones, outright rude ones, and a dozen that play things super safe. The Honda Passport has for years played the part of a no-nonsense, rugged, capable, friend who can go on an adventure to a trailhead and also make a run to Home Depot with you. In 2026, Honda is not only refreshing this fan favorite but also redefining its entire identity.
Growth is purposeful with the 2026 Honda Passport. This is a vehicle that appeals to active families, weekend warriors, and anyone who sees a dirt road as a challenge, and not an obstacle. While the changes are not a complete redesign, they are significant enough to warrant paying attention: technology, refinements, and a focus on adventure. Having spent time with older models and analyzed Honda’s current direction, this update will aim to address the complaints and encourage enthusiasts. The focus is on maintaining everyday practicality while enhancing the “go anywhere” capabilities that set the Passport apart.
2. Exterior Styling: Rugged Refinement for the Modern Adventure
The Passport has had a pleasingly blocky, purposeful stance. For 2026, Honda’s designers have taken that foundation and added refinements they add sophistication.
The previously busy chrome-lined grille has now been replaced with a mesh grille. This provides the Passport with a sleeker black look. It gives the 2026 Honda Passport a more confident look. This elegant look complements the redesigned headlights. The thinner, more aggressive headlights wrap into the front fenders. Passport also has a new look on the sides. The wheel arches remain as in previous years, but the latest 18- or 20-inch alloy wheels further complete the look.
The most noticeable changes are now at the rear. Expect new LED rear taillights. The new rear, along with the lower bumper restyling, gives the Passport a more complete look, overall appearing more ‘planted’. The TrailSport version takes the changes a step further with exclusive design elements, like copper-colored tow hooks, trail-ready tires, and other all-terrain features. This design, more than the other trims, gives the Passport a look of rugged, off-the-beaten-path camping, long road trips to the Beartooth, or to the middle of nowhere.
3. Interior & Tech: Where Comfort Meets Next-Gen Connectivity
From the first step into the new model, the upgrades are noticeable. The company has responded to concerns about the cabin materials and tech integration. The hard, scratchy plastics that used to fill the lower area of the dash have been replaced with soft-touch materials, textured vinyl, and stylish stitching.
The new 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system, located in the newly designed dash, is a standard feature (upgrades are available on higher trims). Now, you’re not just getting a larger screen; you’re getting a system expected to use Honda’s new software with better graphics, wireless integration with Apple and Android devices, and the ability to update remotely. The long wait times to log in to the system and the frustrating menu navigation were commonplace in the 2026 Honda Passport, but are a thing of the past. Honda has received feedback that will help the driver’s new display system be larger and better organized, providing the info that is most important during travel.
Nothing has changed in Honda’s reputation for extreme practicality. The expansive rear, undivided cargo area, and flat-folding that make this area of the vehicle’s box like will still be among the largest in the vehicle’s Passport’s other competitors. New in 2026 will likely be a more powerful wireless charger and additional USB-C charging ports. This is the signature Passport, now with a more modern and Premium feel and great tech integration.
Powertrain and Performance: Confident Power for Pavement and Trail
As the 2023 Honda Passport prepares for a redesign for the 2026 model, Honda will use the Passport’s 3.5-liter V6 engine, which produces about 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. It will also feature a 9-speed automatic transmission, providing a comfortable drive.
Competitors of the Honda Passport include cars with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. However, people have said that turbocharged four-cylinder engines deliver less power and a less comfortable drive than V6s. Honda’s Passport drives smoothly, giving confidence while switching lanes at higher speeds. Honda’s Passport, which uses a torque vectoring all-wheel-drive system (named i-VTM4), also provides confidence while driving. i-VTM4 is the opposite of a passive system that transfers torque from the front to the rear. It can control the back of the car and provide 70% of the back axle’s torque to a wheel, then transfer that torque from the back axle to either back wheel. This control offers excellent traction and control in slippery conditions, such as sandy deserts and muddy roads.
Against rivals with turbo-four engines, the 2026 Honda Passport’s fuel economy is relatively weak, with an expected 19 mpg in the city and 24 mpg on the highway. There is something to be said for that type of gross, naturally aspirated power, though.
6. Off-Road Prowess: unpacking i-VTM4® and TrailSport Credentials
This is where the Passport really shines. It is not a body-on-frame rock crawler by any means, but, especially in TrailSport form, the 2026 Honda Passport is arguably the most capable vehicle in its class for light to moderate off-roading.
The i-VTM4® system is the clear standout among the competition. In Sand or Snow Mode, on the drive Mode selector, the vehicle’s programming adapts to provide maximum traction for AWD. Rather than a disruptive electronic braking intervention, the system stalls and vector brakes to the wheel, losing traction. It feels more mechanical and proactive.
The TrailSport features:
All-Terrain Tires: Enhanced traction in dirt, mud, and gravel.
Increased Ground Clearance: A crucial extra inch for clearing more obstacles.
Unique Tuning: Suspension and steering optimized for rougher terrain.
Underbody Protection: Vital components are guarded by skid plates.
Suppose you want to go to a new mountain bike trail for the first time. You drive on the pavement to the trail, and after a while, the road turns to gravel, then to rutted, muddy dirt after a storm. If you drive a regular crossover, you might be worried the whole drive, but in the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport, you switch to the correct drive Mode, and the system handles traction so you can focus on the road. Not many unibody SUVs can match the confidence the Passport inspires.
The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport is the first model year for the new Honda Sensing suite of driver-assist technologies. With Sensing, you can drive with confidence, knowing that safety is covered.
It includes:
Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS): Now with more pedestrian and cyclist enhancements.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC): With Low-Speed Follow, for crucial highway and stop-and-go traffic.
Road Departure Mitigation System (RDM): Helps keep you in your lane.
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS): Now with more steady steering, providing less “ping-ponging” than other systems.
The 2026 Honda Passport is one of the first models with the new Honda Sensing suite. It will probably be the first year with the Blind Spot Information System (BSI) with Cross Traffic Monitor, which will be standard on more trims.
A more advanced Driver Attention Monitor: Using a cabin camera to detect drowsiness.
This is a collaborative approach to establishing a safety net during each journey in the new Passport without the feeling of being surveilled.
7. Trim Level Deep Dive: From Sport to TrailSport to Elite
Knowing the different trim levels is an integral part of deciding which is most ideal for your needs and preferences. Below are probable features for each of the 2026 Honda Passport trim levels:
Sport: Although this is the most basic trim, it is not stripped of key features. The new 9-inch screen, Honda Sensing®, LED lighting, and cloth seats are included with this trim. It is ideal for a buyer looking for a more affordable trim that still offers essential features and modern technology.
EX-L: There is a considerable increase in levels of comfort here. This trim has a standard leather interior, a Premium Audio system, a power liftgate, and a sunroof. This trim level is the ideal choice for families who want an affordable option and comfort for everyday use.
TrailSport: This trim offers off-road capability. This is built on the EX-L and adds distinct features like a unique design, all-terrain tires, increased ground clearance, special-use driving modes, and improved off-road suspension. This is the ideal trim for people who have an active lifestyle.
Elite (or Touring): The best of the best for on-road comfort. It takes the EX-L and adds the items mentioned above, plus ventilation for the front seats, steering wheel heating, a surround-view camera, and advanced cabin silence. This one is for those who need Premium comfort while getting things done.
Which of these is best for you depends on your lifestyle. The TrailSport isn’t just for looks, though. It’s a real upgrade. On the other hand, the Elite is just focused on the cabin, turning it into a calm retreat.
8. The Real World Competitors: Where It Stands Against the Others
The 2026 Honda Passport depends on its competitors’ success, and it doesn’t exist in a vacuum.
vs. Ford Explorer: The Explorer has a more powerful engine, more engine choices, including a hybrid, and a more car-like interior. However, the 2026 Honda Passport usually has more intuitive controls, is easier to see out of, and offers a more reliable all-wheel-drive system. The Explorer feels like a family sedan on stilts, while the Passport feels more like a rugged tool.
vs. Jeep Grand Cherokee (2-row): Grand Cherokee has a much higher-end interior, much more high-end off-road capabilities (Trailhawk), and rides smoother. He’s a lot more expensive, though. The 2026 Honda Passport is cheaper and has fewer long-term ownership costs, and has more value, and that is what Honda is known for. He is more of a practical adventurer.
vs. Hyundai Santa Fe / Kia Sorento: Most other Korean rivals offer an outstanding balance of value, interior quality, and strong hybrid engines. What’s their weakness? They have an all-wheel drive system called “HTRAC”, but even with that, they are going to lack the genuine mechanical off-road intent and torque-vectoring prowess that the 2026 Honda Passport has. They are more suited for warm conditions and light off-road terrain. They are not for committed adventures.
9. The Final Verdict: Who This SUV Is Really For
Who is the 2026 Honda Passport for? Definitely not the person who wants all the luxury and who never leaves the suburbs, and it’s also not for the person who is really into hardcore off-roading.
The ideal buyer for this SUV is the 80/20 driver. They spend 80% of the time in the car on the asphalt, commuting, running errands, and going on road trips. They want 100% of the capability for the other 20% of the time, which in this example means going on a snowy ski trip, towing a boat to the lake, or going camping on a forest service road.
This SUV is also ideal for the family that brings hiking boots and a kayak, rather than just soccer cleats. It’s also perfect for the homeowner who wants to haul plywood just as much as they want to haul groceries. In 2026, they made adjustments to the tech and interior and added to the main areas where the car excels.
For the 2026 Honda Passport, your search should start and end there, especially if you’re looking for a spacious, comfortable, and reliable daily driver. In this case, the daily driver also has true ruggedness, plus the mechanical capability to be rugged, meaning it doesn’t come at the cost of actual discomfort or a steep luxury price. As a result, it is also one of the most well-rounded and capable in the segment
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