2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Puts Toyota’s New 4Runner on Notice
Hailed as the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever built, the all-new Passport unveiled today will arrive in dealerships at some point during the first few months of 2025, offering Canadians a choice of two trim levels including TrailSport and TrailSport Touring.
Honda’s development team in California started with the concept of "Born Wild," looking to give their two-row midsize SUV a more rugged and more aggressive appearance.
- Also: Watch: 2026 Honda Passport Putting Toyota 4Runner in Crosshairs
- Also: Next-Gen Passport to Be Honda’s Most Capable SUV Ever
The shorter front overhang increases the approach angle and at the rear, hidden exhaust tips are protected on the trail. Flared fenders accommodate the new 18-inch wheels mounted on 31-inch General Grabber all-terrain tires and attached to an off-road tuned suspension, while wider tracks (+33 mm front, +38 mm rear) give the Passport TrailSport a more stable stance.
The new front recovery hooks in orange finish are powder-coated to resist corrosion and engineered to breakaway in the event of a front collision. Up top, the roof gets stronger rails in addition to a unique matte black finish on the rear section enabling owners to lean skis, fishing poles and other adventure equipment against the vehicle without damage. By the way, Sunset Orange is one of two new paint colours available along with Ash Green Metallic.
Slight Power Boost
Under the hood is the same 3.5-litre V6, except that power is increased from 280 hp to 285 hp. That’s not exactly something to get excited about. However, combined with the new 10-speed automatic transmission (shared with the Pilot but tuned differently), the 2026 Passport TrailSport promises to be more dynamic.
Honda says its new i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system features a stronger rear drive unit that can handle 40 percent more torque and provides 30 percent faster response. We’ll have to wait for the fuel consumption ratings, but the outgoing Passport was not impressive in that department with a combined 11.3 L/100 km.
New airbags and an updated suite of Honda Sensing driver assistance features enhance safety for all occupants. And for those planning more serious off-roading or perhaps overlanding expeditions, the company has created the broadest line of genuine Honda accessories ever, including a variety of wheels, rock sliders, front scuff plate and more.
More Space and Tech
Inside, the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport offers increased cargo capacity (+79 litres in the trunk, +156 litres overall) along with more generous rear-seat legroom (+33 mm), which is excellent news. Front-row occupants will enjoy new Body Stabilizing Seats for reduced fatigue, as well as a completely redesigned cockpit.
Taking centre stage is a 12.3-inch touchscreen with Google Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus a new TrailWatch system. Standard in TrailSport Touring trim, the latter uses four exterior cameras to offer four camera views (front, rear, side and 360 degrees) along with clever tire placement graphics to help drivers navigate obstacles outside their natural line of sight. That’s fantastic. A 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster is new, as well.
Other highlights you should know about include easy-to-clean synthetic leather upholstery with exclusive orange contrast stitching, a sliding panoramic sunroof and an available 12-speaker Bose premium audio system custom-engineered for the new interior. Oh, and there’s more storage throughout, particularly in the door panels and centre console.
Honda will announce pricing for the 2026 Passport TrailSport just before it goes on sale in early 2025. We can’t wait to see how it stacks up against the equally new 2025 Toyota 4Runner.