2026 Honda Passport TrailSport: First Drive Impressions and Features

Powertrain and Performance

• 🚀 The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque.
• ⚙️ It features a 10-speed automatic transmission and a torque-vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system retuned for improved off-road traction and on-road handling.
• ⛰️ Drive modes include Normal, ECON, Sport, Snow, Trail, Sand, and Tow, with a towing capacity of up to 5,000 lbs.

Exterior and Off-Road Capability

• ✨ The new design offers a more rugged and aggressive presence, with features like fog lights and front recovery points.
• 📏 It has 8.3 inches of ground clearance, a 23.0-degree approach angle, and a 23.1-degree departure angle.
• 🛠️ The TrailSport trim includes steel skid plates for underbody protection, covering the fuel tank and engine bay.
• 🛞 It rides on 18-inch matte Shark Gray alloy wheels with 275/60R18 General Grabber all-terrain tires.

Interior and Technology

• 🛋️ The interior boasts heated seats, auto climate control, and numerous physical buttons for ease of use.
• 📱 It features a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster.
• 🔊 An available 12-speaker Bose premium audio system is offered on higher trims.
• 🔌 A 115-volt, 150-watt AC outlet is available in the rear cargo area.

Space and Practicality

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The Passport offers ample passenger space, with the back seats folding completely flat for a large cargo area of 83.8 cu.ft. with seats folded.
• 📦 Honda offers various accessories, including a camping table that fits over the cargo section and rear cargo cages for gear storage.
• 🔋 A full-size spare tire accessory can be fitted in the cargo area, addressing the compact spare in some configurations.

Driving Impressions

• 💨 The V6 engine provides strong, torquey performance, and the 10-speed transmission offers good response, especially in Sport mode.
• 🛣️ Steering is well-balanced, offering ease at low speeds and good weighting at higher speeds, with minimal tramlining despite the wide tires.
• 🚗 Ride quality is described as great, with a comfortable and refined on-road experience, though some road noise is present with the all-terrain tires.
• 🚦 The Honda Sensing® suite and adaptive cruise control are noted as improved, feeling more natural and less intrusive.

TrailSport vs. Elite Trim

• 🧐 The TrailSport trim offers a good balance of on-road refinement and off-road capability with its specific tuning and tires.
• 📸 The Elite trim includes a 360-degree camera system with washer nozzles, which is a significant advantage for off-roading visibility and is surprisingly absent on the regular TrailSport at its price point.
• 💰 While pricing for the TrailSport starts around $48,450, the Elite trim adds about $4,000 but includes considerably more features.