The Honda Passport name dates back to the 1990s, but the modern-day version is much different from the models of the past.
In today’s world, the Passport is a midsize, two-row SUV with the chops to handle some tough off-road challenges. This impressive SUV is ready to be upgraded for the 2026 model year, which will usher in the next generation. What will this new model include? So far, we’ve seen a teaser image of the new TrailSport model with block letters spelling out PASSPORT on the front, giving this SUV a more rugged and imposing style.
Where does the Passport fit in the lineup?
In the Honda SUV lineup, the Passport slots between the CR-V and the Pilot. The CR-V is the best-selling Honda SUV available, giving families of five a comfortable and useful crossover SUV to enjoy on the road. The Pilot is a midsize SUV meant or larger families. It has three rows of seats and has been one of the top choices in the Honda SUV lineup for many years.
The Passport returned to the market in 2019 to give the brand a real off-road SUV that can tackle some of the toughest trail challenges. It uses the Pilot platform but has a shorter wheelbase and only two rows of seats. This makes it ideal for riding up steep inclines, wading across streams, and driving through the wilderness.
Adventure Read and Capable
The Passport took things a little farther once it got its feet wet in the market. After establishing itself as a useful SUV, Honda added a new TrailSport trim to the mix to give this SUV more off-road capabilities than ever before.
The current TrailSport is more rugged than other Passport models, which mostly appear to be Pilot SUVs with a shorter wheelbase. The rugged appearance package differentiates this trim from the rest. The TrailSport comes with:
- 18-inch wheels with all-terrain tires
- Off-Road suspension
- LED fog lights
- Roof rails
- Orange interior stitching
- Navigation system
Honda says the new 2026 TrailSport trim will have:
- A more rugged design
- Authentic off-road capability
- Next-level versatility
- Innovative features
Although nothing about what’s coming is concrete, it gives us an idea of what to look for when the next-generation Honda Passport arrives.
The big tease
Based only on the teaser video and images provided by Honda, it looks like we’re getting a much more rugged and capable SUV. While the Pilot is mostly made for family hauling on the street, the Passport is supposed to be a capable and impressive off-roader. The teaser video shows an SUV that appears to be more squared-off and rugged than the current model, but it’s hard to tell for sure.
When we look at the image of the front fascia, it matches up with what Honda has to say about this new TrailSport model. This new Passport features the block lettering that’s becoming a staple of the most off-road-focused trim for every vehicle. Additionally, a set of amber-colored LED daytime running lights gives the front a slightly sinister feeling.
Will the engine change?
Some drivers applaud the changing market wit more hybrids than ever before while others hate it. The new Honda Passport should arrive for the 2026 model year with the 3.5-liter V6 engine that makes 280 horsepower, which is the same engine found in the Pilot. There’s no reason for Honda to mess with success and change this SUV dramatically.
Fewer new vehicles use V6 engines today, and keeping this classic engine setup for the Passport could be the ideal power plant. A big change that we might see in this new midsize SUV is a ten-speed automatic transmission. The nine-speed transmission isn’t nearly as dynamic or as useful as the new model, which has one more gear.
Could the Ridgeline benefit from the Passport?
The new design elements we will see for the Passport could signal important upgrades for the Ridgeline, which could be changed in the next few years. The added ruggedness we’ll see in the new Passport TrailSport could easily show up in the pickup truck as well. These two vehicles are meant for off-roading fun and should have similar styling elements.
Could we see a hybrid Passport?
Once the new Prelude arrives, it is possible that Honda will change to more hybrid vehicles going forward. Toyota is in the midst of making these changes, and waiting just a couple more years could give Honda an edge when it’s time to bring hybrids to the market, starting with the Prelude.
Will the new 2026 Honda Passport be everything you want in the next generation of this SUV? We’ll have to wait and see what the next round of teasers has to show us.
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