Everyone’s going ‘macho’ these days – now so is Honda with the 2026 fourth-gen Passport. The SUV will go on sale in North America early next year and be offered in RTL, TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims starting in the mid-USD40,000s (mid-RM180k).
The spotlight is on the Passport TrailSport. Joining the Pilot TrailSport and Ridgeline TrailSport, this new Passport variant is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, with all-wheel drive, off-road tuned suspension and the rugged looks to match.
You’ll see flared fenders, robust steel skid plates, bright orange heavy-duty recovery hooks and specially-engineered all-terrain tyres, while underneath, there are stronger forged steel suspension arms and sturdy cast-iron knuckles.
The front MacPherson struts have been retuned and the multi-link rear suspension is all new. Honda touts increased ground clearance and a much shorter front overhang to yield an increased approach angle.
A 3.5 litre V6 sends 285 hp and 355 Nm of torque through a new 10-speed auto (retiring the previous nine-speed unit) to all four wheels through the i-VTM4 system with torque vectoring. Peeking through 18-inch wheels with 31-inch tyres are 350 mm front brakes, and towing capacity is in excess of 2,200 kg.
Inside, the new Passport gets more rear seat legroom, increased cargo space and more standard tech, including a 10.2-inch digital meter panel and a 12.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are also new front Body Stabilizing Seats that Honda says help reduce fatigue on long drives. The Honda Sensing safety suite comes as standard, as do eight airbags.
The TrailSport Elite gets the new TrailWatch system, which uses four exterior cameras to offer front, rear, side and 360 degree views along with tyre placement graphics to help drivers navigate unseen obstacles like blind crests, deep ruts and the trail’s edge. When driving in Trail mode below 24 km/h, the forward camera automatically turns on, deactivating above that speed and then reactivating if you dip below 20 km/h.
For those who like accessorising, Honda offers a wide range of options including different wheels, an aluminium front scuff plate, robust rock sliders with a stainless-steel plate, a cargo roof platform, MOLLE (modular light-weight load-carrying equipment) storage systems and a clever cargo shelf that transforms into a picnic table large enough to seat four.
The 2026 Passport is the work of Honda’s Los Angeles design studio, and the vehicle comes out exclusively of Honda’s Lincoln, Alabama plant, as does its 3.5 litre V6 engine.
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Why can’t we get nice things like this for RHD markets?
This Honda Passport looks way nicer than any of the Chinese “tough” 4×4 vehicles like the Tank 300, BAIC BJ40, and a host of other incoming Chinese jeeps
the great tank 300 will outperform this sushi car
So Honda made a Ford Explorer copy?
Jokes aside, Honda should make a petrol powered , RHD Ridgeline. Now that diesel has gone up. And most people don’t use pickups for hard core off-road anyway.
Back to the future
Well it’s a shame that the off road cars from Honda is only available in the U.S possibly Canada but mainly U.S