2026 Honda Passport Review: Rugged Capability Meets Everyday Comfort

The 2026 Honda Passport is one of the most compelling midsize SUVs for drivers who want real utility and capability without moving into a larger three-row vehicle.

Honda completely redesigned the Passport for 2026 with standard all-wheel drive, a 285-horsepower V6, a 10-speed automatic transmission, more rugged engineering, increased cargo space, and significantly updated cabin technology.

At Anderson Honda in Kingman, Arizona, the new Passport is an especially interesting choice for drivers who split their time between daily pavement, long Arizona highway drives, towing, outdoor recreation, and roads that do not always stay perfectly smooth.

For 2026, Honda offers seven Passport configurations:

• RTL
• RTL Towing
• RTL Blackout
• TrailSport
• TrailSport Blackout
• TrailSport Elite
• TrailSport Elite Blackout

The 2026 Passport starts at $44,950 MSRP for the RTL.

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What’s New for the 2026 Honda Passport?

Almost everything.

The 2026 Passport represents a full redesign, with Honda placing much greater emphasis on ruggedness, off-road capability, cargo versatility, and technology.

Major changes include:

• New 285-horsepower 3.5L DOHC V6 engine
• New Passport-specific 10-speed automatic transmission
• Second-generation i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring AWD
• Seven selectable drive modes
• 8.3 inches of ground clearance
• Increased passenger and cargo space
• 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch touchscreen
• Google built-in
• Wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™
• Wireless phone charging
• More capable TrailSport and TrailSport Elite models

The result is a Passport with a much clearer identity. It remains comfortable enough to use every day, but the new generation is designed to offer considerably more capability when the pavement ends.

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2026 Honda Passport Performance and AWD Capability

Every 2026 Passport uses a 3.5-liter DOHC V6 producing:

• 285 horsepower
• 262 lb-ft of torque

The V6 is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters.

Honda also makes its second-generation i-VTM4™ torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system standard on every Passport.

This newer AWD system can respond faster and handle more torque than the previous generation. Instead of simply sending power between the front and rear axles, i-VTM4 can also vary torque between the left and right rear wheels to help improve traction and handling.

Every Passport also includes seven selectable drive modes:

• Normal
• ECON
• Sport
• Snow
• Sand
• Tow
• Trail

For drivers who regularly encounter changing road surfaces, dirt roads, loose terrain, or towing situations, that gives the Passport considerably more flexibility than a typical pavement-focused crossover.

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What Makes the Passport TrailSport Different?

The TrailSport is where the 2026 Passport’s rugged redesign becomes especially noticeable.

This is not simply a Passport with different badges and wheels.

TrailSport models add hardware specifically intended for more demanding terrain, including:

• General Grabber all-terrain tires
• Off-road-tuned suspension
• High-strength steel skid plates
• Heavy-duty front and rear recovery points
• Integrated Class III trailer hitch with 7-pin connector
• TrailSport-specific Trail Torque Logic
• LED fog lights
• Amber daytime running lights
• Panoramic moonroof

The steel skid plates protect important components including the oil pan, transmission, and fuel tank.

Honda also engineered heavy-duty recovery points into the Passport TrailSport. The distinctive orange front recovery points are functional components designed for vehicle recovery situations rather than cosmetic accents.

Trail Torque Logic works with the i-VTM4 AWD system and braking system to help manage wheelspin and send power where traction is available during challenging low-speed off-road situations.

For someone buying a Passport specifically because they intend to leave maintained pavement occasionally, those details matter.

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How Much Can the 2026 Honda Passport Tow?

The 2026 Passport can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

That opens the door to many:

• Small boats
• Campers
• Utility trailers
• ATVs and side-by-sides
• Other recreational equipment

Honda also includes Trailer Stability Assist across the Passport lineup.

The RTL Towing configuration adds a factory-installed Class III trailer hitch with a 7-pin connector, while TrailSport models include the integrated hitch as part of their standard rugged hardware.

For Arizona drivers who tow recreational equipment on weekends but still need an SUV that is comfortable during the workweek, the Passport lands in a useful middle ground between a conventional crossover and a pickup truck.

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2026 Honda Passport Fuel Economy

Considering every Passport has a naturally aspirated V6 and standard AWD, fuel economy remains reasonable for its capability.

EPA-estimated ratings are:

• RTL / RTL Towing / RTL Blackout: 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined mpg
• TrailSport / TrailSport Blackout: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg
• TrailSport Elite / TrailSport Elite Blackout: 18 city / 23 highway / 20 combined mpg

The Passport has an 18.5-gallon fuel tank and is designed to run on regular unleaded gasoline.

The TrailSport’s all-terrain tires and off-road-focused hardware come with a small fuel-economy tradeoff, but shoppers gain additional capability in return.

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Interior Space and Cargo Room

The Passport continues to focus on shoppers who want generous SUV space but do not need a third row.

Every Passport seats five passengers, with:

• 41.1 inches of front legroom
• 40.9 inches of second-row legroom
• 44.0 cubic feet of cargo space behind the second row
• Up to 104.6 cubic feet of maximum cargo volume depending on configuration

Honda also built additional usefulness into the cargo area with hidden underfloor storage, side compartments, and a configurable rear cargo space.

That makes the Passport particularly useful for drivers carrying camping equipment, luggage, coolers, sports equipment, tools, groceries, or other bulky cargo.

And because Honda concentrates all of that room into a two-row layout, passengers in both rows have generous space.

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Technology in the 2026 Honda Passport

Honda significantly modernized the Passport’s technology for 2026.

Every model includes:

• 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster
• 12.3-inch color touchscreen
• Google built-in
• Wireless Apple CarPlay®
• Wireless Android Auto™
• Wireless phone charger
• USB-C connectivity and charging
• Alexa Built-In
• HondaLink®
• Wi-Fi hotspot capability

Google built-in includes access to services such as Google Maps and Google Assistant directly through the vehicle’s infotainment system.

Honda also includes a three-year unlimited data plan for compatible in-vehicle Google apps.

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TrailSport Elite Adds Premium Comfort

The Passport may be designed around adventure, but the TrailSport Elite shows that rugged and comfortable do not have to be opposites.

TrailSport Elite adds features including:

• Perforated leather-trimmed seating
• Ventilated front seats
• Heated rear outboard seats
• Heated steering wheel
• Bose 12-speaker premium audio system
• Integrated rear door sunshades
• Expanded ambient interior lighting
• Hands-free access power tailgate
• Tri-zone automatic climate control

It retains the TrailSport’s off-road equipment while adding the comfort and convenience features expected from a more premium SUV.

That makes the TrailSport Elite particularly appealing for buyers who want one Passport for both longer road trips and outdoor adventures.

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TrailWatch™ Helps When the Trail Gets Tight

The TrailSport Elite also adds Honda’s TrailWatch™ camera system.

TrailWatch provides multiple exterior camera views and tire-path graphics that can help the driver see obstacles immediately around the vehicle when navigating more technical terrain.

That is useful because one of the challenges of off-road driving in a midsize SUV is simply seeing exactly where your tires are in relation to rocks, ruts, and other obstacles.

TrailWatch gives drivers another tool for navigating those situations more deliberately.

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2026 Honda Passport Safety and Driver Assistance

Every 2026 Passport comes with an updated Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies.

Features include:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System™
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Lane Keeping Assist System
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
• Traffic Sign Recognition
• Traffic Jam Assist
• Blind Spot Information System with Lane Change Assist
• Cross Traffic Monitor
• Low-Speed Braking Control
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Hill Descent Control
• Trailer Stability Assist

The Passport’s combination of highway driver assistance, AWD technology, trail-oriented systems, and towing support helps it cover a much wider range of driving situations than many midsize SUVs.

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Which 2026 Honda Passport Should You Choose?

Here’s the simple breakdown:

• Best value: RTL
• Best for regular towing: RTL Towing
• Best street-focused appearance: RTL Blackout
• Best for off-road capability: TrailSport
• Best rugged appearance package: TrailSport Blackout
• Best combination of capability and luxury: TrailSport Elite
• Most fully styled version: TrailSport Elite Blackout

For most buyers who stay primarily on pavement, the RTL provides the redesigned Passport’s most important features without paying for equipment they may never use.

Drivers who regularly tow should look closely at the RTL Towing.

The TrailSport is where the Passport makes the biggest jump in genuine off-road hardware, while the TrailSport Elite is the strongest choice for someone who wants that capability without giving up premium comfort and technology.

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Why the 2026 Passport Fits Kingman and Northwestern Arizona

The Passport’s redesigned personality fits the way many people actually use SUVs in Kingman and northwestern Arizona.

Around town, it offers the comfort, passenger room, cargo space, and technology expected from a modern midsize SUV.

But Kingman’s location also puts drivers at the intersection of I-40 and US-93, where longer-distance driving is a normal part of life. Trips toward Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City, Las Vegas, or destinations farther across Arizona can quickly add highway miles.

Then there is the other side of living in this part of the state: outdoor recreation.

Camping, boating, off-highway recreation, dirt access roads, trailers, and trips into less-developed areas are common reasons local drivers want something more capable than a conventional crossover.

That is where the Passport’s combination of:

• Standard i-VTM4™ AWD
• 285-horsepower V6 power
• Up to 5,000 pounds of towing capacity
• 8.3 inches of ground clearance
• Five-passenger space
• More than 100 cubic feet of maximum cargo capacity

starts to make a lot of sense.

And for drivers who regularly venture farther from maintained pavement, the TrailSport’s all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, recovery points, and off-road-tuned suspension give the Passport real hardware to back up its rugged appearance.

It is an SUV that can handle a commute during the week, carry gear for the weekend, tow recreational equipment, and still be comfortable enough for a long Arizona road trip.

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Is the 2026 Honda Passport Worth It?

For the right buyer, absolutely.

The Passport is not designed to be the most fuel-efficient compact crossover or a three-row family hauler. Honda has the CR-V and Pilot for shoppers whose priorities lean more heavily in those directions.

The Passport fills a different role.

It gives drivers:

• A naturally aspirated V6
• Standard torque-vectoring AWD
• Two-row passenger space
• Excellent cargo versatility
• 5,000-pound maximum towing capability
• Useful off-road technology
• Available genuine trail-focused hardware
• Modern everyday comfort and technology

If you want more ruggedness and capability than the average crossover but do not need the third row or additional size of a larger SUV, the 2026 Passport occupies a very appealing middle ground.

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Test Drive the 2026 Honda Passport at Anderson Honda

If you are looking for a midsize SUV that combines everyday comfort with real AWD and trail-ready capability, come experience the 2026 Honda Passport at Anderson Honda in Kingman, Arizona.

Compare the RTL, TrailSport, and TrailSport Elite configurations and find the Passport that best fits the way you travel, tow, explore, and drive throughout northwestern Arizona.

🚙 Shop Honda Passport Inventory

🏠 Anderson Honda

-TJ

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