The all-new 2026 Honda Passport was unveiled on Wednesday, entering a new generation. What used to be little more than a 2-row version of the Honda Pilot now has a totally unique and rugged design that invokes its newfound off-road capabilities. Its closest GM rival is the ICE-powered Chevy Blazer, but the Blazer doesn’t have any off-road variants that compare to the new and improved Passport TrailSport.
The Passport still has a 3.5L V6 under the hood, but it’s been upgraded to make 285 horsepower, an extra five ponies over the outgoing model. It’s mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission that’s new to the model. A torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system comes standard.
“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,” Honda National Auto Sales assistant vice president Jessika Laudermilk said in a statement. “We top that off with the new Passport TrailSport, a new halo off-road vehicle that is the ultimate validation of our TrailSport concept, created to fully express Honda rugged design and capability.”
“Halo” is a strong word for a V6-powered unibody crossover, but Honda really did make the new Passport TrailSport a more serious off-roader than anything we’ve seen from the brand in recent memory. A few of its highlights include an off-road suspension system with exclusive spring rates and damper valve tuning, steel skid plates that can support the entire weight of the vehicle, front and rear recovery points, specially developed General Grabber all-terrain tires, and 8.3 inches of ground clearance.
The 2026 Honda Passport is the first Honda model to offer two different TrailSport trims. There’s TrailSport and TrailSport Elite. As its name implies, the TrailSport Elite trim is the fancier of the two, adding features like nicer wheels, a TrailWatch camera system, perforated leather seats (heated and ventilated in front), a heated steering wheel, and a Bose 12-speaker audio system.
The Passport’s new entry-level trim is RTL, borrowing the name from the Honda Ridgeline model range. The base model still comes pretty well-equipped with the Honda Sensing safety tech suite, a 12.3-inch color touchscreen, a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, and wireless charging.
Full pricing details are forthcoming, but Honda says the 2026 Honda Passport will start in the “mid-$40,000s,” which isn’t far off from the pricing of the outgoing generation.
We’re comparing the 2026 Honda Passport to the Chevy Blazer because there’s nothing in the GMC lineup quite like it. The GMC Terrain AT4 is quite a bit smaller, and the 3-row GMC Acadia AT4 is notably bigger. The Chevy Blazer is sized similarly to the Honda Passport, but as we mentioned, it has no off-road variant. Also, it’s unclear whether there will be a 2026 Chevy Blazer since it’s the only ICE vehicle currently built at the GM Ramos Arizpe plant in Mexico, where EV production is gradually ramping up.
The 2026 Honda Pilot will be built in Lincoln, Alabama, and available in early 2025.
Comments
That is not an off road vehicle, unless you don’t mind bending the unibody.
Sadly, its still more offroad worthy than the modern blazer. Still mad at what they did to my boy
So unibody=no off road chops? Land Rover & Jeep would like to have a word… You do realize a unibody is stiffer than a body on frame vehicle right? I am guessing you don’t based on your comment.
Will the ICE Blazer go beyond the 2025 model year, and if so will it still offer a V6?
In as much as everyone here hates to admit it, GM only has four off road capable vehicles and they’re all pickups. The Z71 Traverse has minimal chops by comparison.
I like this new iteration of the Passport. Looks good and seems capable, will sell very well in the market compared to the previous model. What will be lower case gm’s response?
Pricing starts around mid-$40K. Oof.
Getting so tired and weary of these blacked out drab cheap looking vehicles that keep touting toughness and off road driving even though the vast majority of these never see anything but pavement. Its one thing if its an optional package or one specific model for those that want that look but only offering it this way is a mistake.
I think if someone doesnt want to go offroad at all but wants a honda, they will get a CR-V instead of this. Not too much different in size and still a 2 row
Like it no 3rd row but like most off road” trim’s “loaded with every luxury car opt and required sun roof, dirt, sand roads might do ok to reach a camping spot now GM lets get something so we don’t have to buy this or 4runner which where most of us go for a midsize
Right? Literally just turn the Colorado into an SUV and take my money
Looks Fordish.
Is the engine transversely or longitudinally mounted?
I’m assuming transversely?
Looks like a rebadged Bronco without the ugly fender flares
Since GM has the EV Blazer in the marketplace as a family hauler now, they should update the ICE version as a Softroader only version. That will most likely be the best way to differentiate between the two.