Road Test: 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport

The title of this review comes with a bit of an asterisk; typically when we write these, we include the brand name and model name in the title.

We’ve kind of done that here but every Passport sold in Canada for ’26 (and, likely, beyond) is a Trailsport model. What used to be a trim – and a pretty tame aesthetic one at that – is now a full model line at Honda in Canada (the US gets a few non-Trailsport models) and has been given a host of upgrades for added toughness and capability.

Exterior

The Passport Trailsport is all-new for ’26, and that’s reflected in its styling. The new truck is wider than previous, has more ground clearance (8.3 inches in total) gets a blockier front-end punctuated by a clamshell hood, square headlight lenses with LED DRLs as well as tri-bulb headlights, a front skidplate from which recovery hooks sprout out in bright orange and foglights. That skidplate is a window into how much underbody protection there is; the oil pan, radiator and gearbox all get extra protection and there’s also a rear skid plate. There’s even some added protection over the rear side windows, which serves the dual purpose of providing a surface on which to lean skis or fishing poles and recalls the latest Toyota 4Runner’s rollover rear side windows, a vehicle that Honda seems to be targeting with the Passport Trailsport.

The fenders and rocker panels have also been given added protection but the real highlight here are those wheels and tires. The wheels measure 18 inches (the only choice, though there is a selection of styles) and they sit surrounded by fat 275-section General Grabber A/T Sport off-road rubber. It’s a darn purposeful looking thing, this Passport Trailsport and it provides a clear stylistic departure from the previous model. It makes sense, too; if you’ll recall, the original Passport – circa 1994 – was a lightly disguised Isuzu Rodeo, a proper rough n’ tumble off-roader of the era.

Interior

Inside, we find seating for five (if you want more seating in your Honda, it’s the Pilot Trailsport for you) as well as standard digital gauge cluster, standard heated front seats and steering wheel, standard power liftgate and leatherette/cloth seating at base.

Storage-wise, the Passport Trailsport is an absolute champ. There’s a total of 10 cupholders, four of which are mounted nice and high in the doors. They are easily reachable and since there’s clear air above each one, fitting tall water bottles isn’t a problem. The centre storage bin is nice and deep, there’s a dash-mounted cubby perfect for wallets and below that, a standard wireless charger big enough to accommodate any smartphone. There’s also a little shelf ahead of the front passenger and in the rear cargo area, wall-mounted storage bins perfectly sized for a 12-pack of soda and underfloor storage with two access points. If you want even more space under the floor, you can have the full-size spare mounted in the trunk area instead of under the trunk floor. Pretty good.

While all Trailsport models look pretty much the same on the outside, Touring trim (one of four available trims: Trailsport, Trailsport Blackout, Trailsport Touring, Trailsport Touring Blackout) adds a number of interior goodies. These include perforated real leather steering, ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, forward-facing TrailWatch camera and 12-speaker Bose audio, up from nine speakers at base. A sprinkling of contrast-colour orange stitching and other interior bits that matches the Trailsport exterior badging adds brightness.

Infotainment

All Trailsport models come standard with a 10.25” digital gauge cluster and 12.3” central infotainment display. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto all come as standard and since it also gets Google Built-In tech, the native navigation system is done via Google Maps and there’s access to apps such as Google Assistant, Spotify and the Google Store. You can also log in to your Google account to curate your in-car experience.

Powertrain and drive

For 2026, the Passport Trailsport gets a single engine choice: a 3.5-litre V6 good for 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, fed to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic transmission. That’s five more hp than previous but equal amounts of torque, although the new transmission is more responsive than the previous model’s nine-speed unit. Since there’s no turbocharging, power is delivered in a nice, linear fashion and forward progress is hearty.

On the highway, the steering is responsive but I would have liked just a little more weight and feel. Blocky tires can dull feedback a little bit and that is the case here, but the Trailsport probably suffers a bit from unfair bias; Hondas typically have top-drawer steering and handling and when a Honda falls short, you can really tell. Of course, that’s probably mainly a problem for folks like me that drive many Honda and Acura products, but I couldn’t help but notice. There’s also just a little more noise entering the cabin at speed than the otherwise very quiet Passport allows, and it is noticeable.

For ’26, Honda has changed the spring rates, adjusted the damper valves, strengthened the steering knuckles, reduced the size of the front anti-roll bar and improved approach angles all in the name of making the Passport Trailsport more adventure-ready. There’s no mechanical locking differential but a stronger rear drive unit allows for up to 70 per cent of torque to be sent to the rear axle in Trail mode (which joins Normal, Econ, Snow, Sport, Sand and Tow, all selectable by an orange-painted toggle switch). Then, up to 100 per cent of that torque can be sent to whichever rear wheel has the best traction. This allows for quicker transfer of power and more stable progress from off-roading.

Conclusion

Is it going to go blow-for-blow with the body-on-frame 4Runner? Not quite, but with the styling  provided, the beefy chassis and powertrain design and an interior with room aplenty for both passengers and their overlanding cargo, Honda has proven adept at delivering a vehicle that can take the fight to that 4Runner, as wells as other leaders in the adventure-overlanding segment from Jeep, Ford or Subaru. Further, with the Passport Trailsport, you get the drum-tight interior fittings Honda has become known for as well as the brand’s heralded durability. It’s a very, very compelling package.

Quick Specs: 2026 Honda Passport Trailsport Touring
Price as tested: $63,1563
Configuration: Front-engine / All-wheel drive
Engine / Transmission: 3.5-litre V6 / 10-speed automatic
Power / Torque: 280 horsepower / 262 lb-ft of torque
Fuel (Capacity): Regular gasoline (70 L)
Fuel Economy (L/100 km): 11.4 combined (observed: 14.6)
Warranties: 3 years / 60,000 km (basic)
Competitors: Ford Bronco/Bronco Sport, GMC Terrain AT4, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Mazda CX-70, Nissan Murano, Subaru Outback Wilderness, Toyota 4Runner, Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport
Website: Honda Canada