The Passport is Honda’s mid-size two-row SUV, positioned between the Honda CR-V and the larger three-row Pilot. The latest Honda Passport is spacious, comfortable and practical for small families; however, it was last redesigned in 2019, so some changes are in store. Honda has teased an updated Passport for the 2026 model year, which will see a major exterior refresh and possibly a complete redesign.
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The teaser images have generated excitement about what the new Passport will bring, but with limited information from Honda at the time of writing, it’s too early to say for sure what the new Passport will look like or what it will come equipped with. However, we can make some guesses and hopes about the new mid-size SUV.
Honda has released two teaser images of the new Passport Trail Sports, suggesting that a new model is in the works, and that a trail-ready model will lead the way. The Passport will likely get all-new styling, a new grille (which will obviously prominently display the “Passport” name), new headlights, and possibly a hood scoop as well.
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The silhouette-style images reveal that the vehicle’s outline will be boxier, with more right angles than the current Passport, and the headlights may be rectangular. But apart from the new look, what will be different from the current model? What will be under the hood of the 2026 Passport, and will Honda add any new features to the interior?
A little more power and better fuel economy would be ideal.
One of the updates we hope to see in the new Passport is the engine. The current Passport uses a 3.5-liter V6 engine that produces 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, which is unchanged from 2019. The single overhead cam (SOHC) i-VTEC V6 is a strong engine, but it needs an update. Many rivals in this class offer hybrid powertrain options or more efficient and powerful turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Both of these options would be welcome additions to the new Passport. In terms of fuel economy, the Passport is only rated at 19 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 21 mpg combined, which is decent but not best in class.
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For 2023, the three-row Pilot, the Passport’s platform sibling, gets an all-new 3.5-liter dual overhead cam (DOHC) non-VTEC V6 mated to a new 10-speed automatic transmission. The V6 only adds 5 horsepower to the Pilot’s bottom line, bringing power up to 285 horsepower, but it does inject a bit of personality. Compared to the current Passport, the Pilot isn’t super efficient (its best fuel economy rating is 22 mpg combined), but it’s a small improvement. A hybrid powertrain (especially a plug-in hybrid) in the lineup would be welcome, but it’s not as likely as an updated V6 with a 10-speed transmission.
Needs a modern interior with more technology
A defining feature of Honda SUVs is their spacious, uncluttered interior. Many Honda SUVs feature large center console storage, numerous cup holders, and several small item storage solutions throughout the cabin. While the days of the CR-V picnic table are long gone (yes, the Honda CR-V had a picnic table built into the trunk), it’s worth exploring the various ingenious interior solutions. Honda’s pickup truck, the Ridgeline, shares its platform with the Passport, but it has a great flip-up rear seat that creates a ton of storage space inside the cabin. This is a unique feature that we wish the Passport had.
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The Passport’s interior tech is also due for an update and will likely receive many of the same updates that the Pilot recently received. The current Passport only has a single 8-inch touchscreen for infotainment. The Pilot offers a 7-inch touchscreen on the base model and a 9-inch touchscreen on the higher trim levels, the latter of which would be a welcome addition to the 2026 Passport. The Passport will also benefit from the Pilot’s 12-speaker Bose audio system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. These are all features not currently available on the Passport’s option sheet, but would be a great fit for the updated model.
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Further off-road performance is expected
For a unibody SUV, the Honda Passport is pretty good in the dirt, especially in the TrailSport trim. The current model’s TrailSport trim adds an off-road tuned suspension, better suspension articulation, all-terrain tires, special interior TrailSport branding, and contrast stitching on the interior. The Pilot, which Honda calls its “most rugged, off-road capable SUV,” goes even further.
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The Pilot has underbody skid plates to protect the oil pan, transmission and fuel tank from off-road damage, a feature we’d love to see on the Passport. The Pilot’s excellent TrailWatch system is also a feature we’d love to see on the Passport’s options sheet. The system uses four exterior cameras to help the driver navigate treacherous terrain, which is especially useful in tight spots.
Thinking a little outside the box of “What can I add to the Passport that the Pilot already has?”, there are some add-ons worth imagining. Bigger, more aggressive tires (even as an optional accessory), tougher side cladding (think the plastic on the sides of a current Subaru WRX), and unique bumpers that improve approach and departure angles all help increase the Passport’s off-road capabilities and popularity among the adventurous. Add in a weight-bearing roof rack that can support a large rooftop tent and you’re sure to attract the attention of weekend trail enthusiasts.
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