With a bold new design and off-roading capability, the next-generation 2026 Honda Passport brings more to the table than ever before for buyers. It's a return of sorts to the roots of the vehicle, when started as a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo in the mid-1990s.
"Our completely redesigned Passport redefines Honda rugged design and capability with tough new styling and substantially increased off-road performance for fun adventures without losing its everyday ride comfort," said Jessika Laudermilk, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales in a press release.
The fourth-generation Passport was designed to project the image of a sport utility vehicle (SUV) that is capable of more than your average model. Its flared fenders shade 18-inch wheels, giving the look of a more planted stance than in the last generation.
Its wheelbase is 2.75 inches longer in this generation, which aids in making the Passport look sportier.
Uniquely, Honda's designers have installed a matte black finish to the SUV's rear roof. This area allows users to lean skis, fishing poles and other equipment against the SUV with no damage, the company said.
The company eliminated the roof antenna, switching to one in the passenger side rear glass, to allow owners to load and unload cargo without worrying about damaging the electronics.
Honda will sell the Passport in RTL, TrailSport, and TrailSport Elite trim levels. Rugged design features are enhanced as buyers move upward in the lineup with the top model featuring gloss black exterior components, General Grabber all-terrain tires, amber daytime running lights and metallic silver front and rear skid garnishes. Fog lights are now standard across the lineup.
Passport gets a nod from design of other brand's off-roaders with it now having font and rear recovery points, orange hooks that are powder coated and engineered to break away in the event of a collision. Because of this breakway innovation, Honda expects the Passport to be able to achieve high safety ratings.
The automaker is equipping the Passport with its 3.5-liter V6 engine, pairing it with a 10-speed automatic transmission. It is rated for 285 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. That's more power and less torque than the Hyundai Santa Fe and Nissan Pathfinder.
All-wheel drive is standard. Seven drive modes (Normal, Sport, Econ, Snow, Sand, Tow and Trail) allow drivers to utilize the system with confidence.
Designers worked to make the Passport cabin more comfortable and usable for families on the go. Two-tier storage bins in the doors, a storage tray ahead of the shifter that can fit two smartphones, rear under-floor storage, a large console bin that can fit a tablet and a passenger-side instrument shelf are among the solutions that lead to this Passport having the most cargo room in its model history.
It comes with a host of new interior features too, including the company's Body Stabilizing power-adjustable heated front seats, as standard equipment.
Thanks to the expanded wheelbase, second-row passengers will enjoy 1.3 inches more legroom in the new Passport than the earlier generation model.
Passport comes with a configurable digital instrument panel. When drivers are off-road, they're able to view measurements for elevation, pitch and roll on the display.
That display is paired with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen. A lip at the bottom of the screen is designed as a hand perch to make selecting screen options easier on the user. Like in other Hondas, the system utilizes Google Built-in on the back end, and comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.
Passport features the latest version of Honda's safety-focused vehicle architecture, new airbag technology and an expanded suite of safety and driver assistance technologies (Honda Sensing). It is designed to meet the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) Top Safety Pick+ rating and its new-generation Side Impact Crashworthiness Evaluation (SICE).
Enhancements to Honda Sensing come courtesy of new camera technologies that enable a wider field of view. The new angles improve collision prevention performance because they are better able to recognize object attributes, identifying bicycles, pedestrians, white lines, curbs and road signs separately.
They have also allowed blind spot object detection technology to gain 72 feet of detection area, which has made the company able to update systems like lane keeping assist and adaptive cruise control for more natural responses.
The Passport and its engine are made in Alabama. Pricing for the SUV is expected to start in the mid-$40,000s when it goes on sale in 2025.
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