2026 Honda Passport Review

A Born Wild concept is brought to life in the bold new design of the 2026 Passport. It’s rugged, even muscular in appearance. With aggressively flared fenders and all-new bodywork, the Honda SUV’s adventure-ready character draws on a unique backpack design theme. 

A bold grille fronts for a longer hood with an aggressive hood scoop. A broader, tall stance helps it out on the road and on the trail. Bigger 31-inch tires and a sleek rear roof spoiler are standard. Trailsport features include power-fold mirrors and an ice-busting heated windshield.

In addition to shortening the front overhang and increasing ground clearance, Honda hides the exhaust tips to keep them out of harm’s way when off-roading. LED DRL lighting creates a defining light signature, adding amber to set the Trailsport apart even at night.  

Detailing, such as the unique matte black finish in the rear roof section, is specifically designed to resist scratching. The Trailsport fog lights are mounted high to keep them out of danger on the trail.

If you want to see new Honda SUVs in person, your Earnhardt store is a leading Honda dealer in Phoenix metro. Find directions.

No matter how much adventure lies ahead, an SUV is nothing if it doesn’t offer a spacious, refined cabin. For the 2026 model year, the new Honda Passport has been reimagined to give everyone a more comfortable perch. 

The makeover starts with premium materials applied throughout a clean, uncluttered interior. There are plenty of soft touches, high-quality switchgear, and advanced dash tech tools.

Honda front seats are engineered for Body Stabilizing care. They are power adjustable, heated, and memory-enabled. The second row gains even more legroom, adding another 1.3 inches of wiggle room.

Drivers and passengers can stay organized with the two-tier door bins, dashboard shelf, and a large multi-use tray.  The new center console can hold larger items, such as a full size tablet. 

TrailSport standard features are ready when you bring the outdoors into the cabin. Dressed up with orange stitching, the special synthetic leather upholstery is easy to clean. Protective floor mats are ready to keep sand and mud off the carpet.  

As the top model, the Honda Passport Trailsport Elite is a luxury liner where advanced ambient lighting sets the scene.  Its ventilated seats are covered in perforated leather upholstery. The driver gains a heated steering wheel while second-row passengers benefit from their own climate controls and window shades. 

Growing by more than 50 percent, the dash touchscreen is 12.3 inches. This perfectly complements the 10.2-in digital instrument screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless. Advanced software ensures lagfree performance. The main screen has a finger rest that helps stabilize your touch. 

Google built-in makes this infotainment system one of the best on the market, providing Google Maps, Google Assistant and Google Play functions. A complimentary data plan covers the first three years of ownership. A 5G WiFi hotspot is available on all trim levels.

2026 Passport Trailsport trim levels have special off-road technology. Readouts can tell you the Honda SUV’s roll, pitch and elevation. 

All trims have a wireless charger with room for two smartphones. TrailSport Elite models add a 12-speaker Bose audio system. Custom-made for the cabin, it features Centerpoint technology and SurroundStage processing, and a larger capacity subwoofer. 

A TrailWatch™ camera system provides tire path graphics that help TrailSport Elite drivers avoid obstacles and enjoy off-roading with more confidence. You can watch the front, rear and sides as well as see a 360-degree view of your surroundings with this 4-camera set-up.

With its emphasis on adventure, this SUV is built to haul.  Thanks to its tough build and stout engine, 2026 Passport towing capacity tops out at an excellent 5,000 pounds. Standard features include the helpful new tow mode and a trailer hitch that’s been designed to ride above the debris on the trail. 

Redesigned from stem to stern, the Passport offers the most cargo capacity ever. Cargo holds have grown by 2.8 cu ft to a generous 44 cubic feet capability with a bigger underfloor storage area. This cargo space is so wide that you could lay a baby stroller or full-size golf bag sideways. 

Folding the seats flat, the area grows to 83.5 cu ft. With this increase of 5.8 cu ft, an owner could haul two mountain bikes with front wheels removed.

The backpack design, which includes a more robust C-pillar, makes the roof rails stronger and more capable of hauling gear. With its strong underpinnings, the front and rear recovery points are capable of moving twice the weight of this Honda SUV.  

Orange recovery hooks dress up the exterior and hide a secret. Thanks to a patented design, these Passport features can break away in the event of a forward collision. This is a segment-first, automotive-first capability.

Always ready for some fun, the Passport off-road capability comes partly from their new, trail-ready build and their standard all-wheel drive system with a dedicated trail mode. To allow it to push harder, the rear drive unit is made to handle 40 percent more torque. Hill Descent Control is a new standard feature.

The AWD system sends as much as 70 percent of the torque to the rear axle, which can be divided between the wheels or sent exclusively to a single wheel. The i-VTM4 AWD system has trail torque logic to make the most out of the engine’s powerful performance at slower speeds.

A new antenna design was chosen for its trail friendliness and cargo readiness. It is tucked into the rear passenger window, keeping it out of the way for those loading the roof or taking to the trail. TrailSport and TrailSport Elite boast special tire designs that include sunken valve stems. 

Improved for the new year, General Grabber all-terrain tires are specially designed for this ride. Robust skid plates ensure that Passport Trailsports are tough enough for adventure. Plus an off-road tuned suspension helps with big bumps and slow maneuvers.

This is the first year for the TrailSport Elite which combines off-road capability with luxury-level interior refinement and the top technologies, such as TrailWatch cameras.

The 2026 Honda Passport in Phoenix has a powerful new V6 engine. This system spits out 285 horsepower and controls it with a 10 speed automatic transmission. Seven standard selectable drive modes refine output to suit the needs of different situations.

Honda enhances ride quality and handling in many different ways. Noise absorbing materials and sound exclusion techniques keep out road noises and vibrations.

Stronger suspension fortification, re-tuned MacPherson front struts, and a new rear multilink suspension assist with everything from responsive feel to confidence-inspiring handling. The lengthened wheelbase sits on a wider track to ensure cornering stability. 

Honda engineers improved steering with a revised variable ratio, a stiffer column, and a stiffer torsion bar. Larger front rotors and larger calipers are part of the improved braking power. Highway fuel efficiency is improved with Variable Cylinder Management™ which also reduces emissions.

This new generation updates the safety systems, including a revised ACE inner body structure and eight advanced airbags for occupant protection. Parents get a bit of assistance from the new Rear Seatbelt Reminder before departure and Rear Seat Reminder at arrival.

Helping drivers avoid trouble is even more meaningful. That’s why Honda Sensing Features are standard, and it’s also the reason that these have been improved for the new generation.

Seeing more makes a system more capable. So the front camera system now has a wider 90-degree field of view, a 40-degree increase. Likewise, the wide-angle gains 70 degrees for 120-degree field of view. These systems work together to recognize objects; therefore, these wider angles help the system identify a bicycle, pedestrian, curb or road sign more accurately and possibly quicker.

The blind spot monitoring system has an improved radar range as well, extending an extra 72 feet for the new generation. Honda has likewise updated adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assist. Other standard features include Traffic Sign Recognition and Traffic Jam Assist.

Everything about this ride is geared toward fun. Hinting at the Honda SUV’s adventure readiness, the front storage bins are lined with a topographic map design. Exclusive Honda accessories include specially designed MOLLE, modular light-weight load-carrying equipment.

If you want a built-in table, there’s a versatile cargo shelf that can be used to seat four people. A Baja topographic map design dresses up its grippy rubberized surface.

There are other accessories aimed at overlanding and off-roading, such as an aluminum front scuff plate and exciting rock sliders. A cargo roof board is designed to maximize the roof’s carrying potential. 

2026 Passport prices start in the mid-$40,000s. If they aren’t yet in our dealership, it is possible to pre-order. Please check with our staff about pre-orders and the 2026 model release date, set for 2025. 

Trim levels for the 2026 model year include the well-equipped RTL, exciting TrailSport and leather trimmed TrailSport Elite. You can find out how much your ride is worth with this Kelley Blue Book tool.

Earnhardt wants to be your Honda dealer in Phoenix, and we work hard to prove our worth. Customer service is at the heart of all we do. Give us a call or come see us seven days a week. Schedule a test drive.