What Is the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite and What Makes It So Special?

The 2026 Honda Passport is arriving soon, and our customers are absolutely buzzing about the all-new TrailSport Elite trim. But what exactly is it? If you enjoy piecing together puzzles, you could find some of your answers by looking at past year’s trims. Previously, the Passport had the Elite, a luxury trim, and it had the TrailSport, an off-road trim. As you might have guessed, the TrailSport Elite combines the rugged off-road capabilities of the TrailSport with some of the more refined features of the Elite. The result is a vehicle that is simply a treat for off-road enthusiasts who also like the finer things in life. In this blog, we’ll cover some of the highlights that we know about in the 2026 Honda TrailSport Elite.

TrailSport and TrailSport Elite share their rugged tires, but the tires are new for the 2026 year, so they’re worth mentioning. Honda developed the new General Grabber all-terrain tires with General Tire, exclusively for the midsize Passport’s off-road trims. They’re designed to boost command and traction in mud, sand, and snow, as well as on rocky terrain. The real beauty is that they manage to be quiet and comfortable on the road, too, so you can use your Passport TrailSport Elite as your daily driver when you aren’t out adventuring in the forest or mountains, and it won’t feel awkward on paved roads.

You’ll also enjoy an off-road-tuned suspension in your TrailSport Elite, boasting optimized stabilizer bars, improved damping, and re-tuned struts, all to help your vehicle better handle the literal ups and downs of off-road environments. If you find yourself in a sticky situation (like stuck in the mud or sand), the trim’s bright orange recovery hooks make it easy for a helpful fellow off-roader to pull you out. Finally, the steel skid plates can keep the undercarriage of your Passport safe from damage, no matter what sorts of rocks and debris are flying up from below.

This might be one of the most exciting features, and it’s only available for the TrailSport Elite: the TrailWatch camera system. This advanced camera system is prepared to help you navigate off-road obstacles, even when they aren’t within your direct line of sight. It uses four exterior cameras to project front, rear, side, and 360-degree views onto your screen, including tire placement graphics.

When you’re navigating tricky terrain, like skimming the edge of a trail or coming around a blind turn, the TrailWatch camera system can help you see what your eyes can’t see yet, allowing you to make strategic maneuvers to keep you safe. The forward view camera will automatically turn on when you drive at speeds below 15 mph when Trail Mode is engaged.

Your dashboard will also provide off-road tech readouts to help you understand your vehicle’s performance. These include a readout for roll so you understand your side-to-side motion, pitch so you know your front-to-back angle, and elevation. All of these elements help you understand what is happening to your vehicle’s balance and stability so you can make informed maneuvers.

As for your more handheld technology, the Passport TrailSport trims get 110-volt power outlets in the center console and the cargo area. You can plug appliances like toasters, microwaves, electric pumps, and laptops into these chargers, making them great for camping adventures—or daily life.

Every avid off-roader knows that you need the right playlist to highlight the experience and get you pumped for your adventures. You also need a great sound system to enjoy it, and the 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite has it in the all-new Bose 12-speaker sound system. It can also bring those podcasts or audiobooks you like to listen to about off-roading to life. Plus, since we already know the trim’s tires are ready for regular roads, you can enjoy a better listening experience on your way to and from work. The sound system boasts Bose’s SurroundStage digital signal processing, which creates a center-of-the-music experience for every passenger, no matter where they’re seated.

Inside the TrailSport Elite, you’ll find a sliding panoramic sunroof, perfect for enjoying some rays or fresh air. This luxury off-road trim gets you perforated leather seating with piping (different from the synthetic leather in the standard TrailSport trim). Ventilated front seats and rear climate control help keep everyone comfortable no matter the outside climate. The heated steering wheel is a nice touch, too. Then, there are even rear door shades to create a nice, dark environment for post-hike naps.

The TrailSport Elite borrows the power folding mirrors and heated windshield from the standard TrailSport. So you can easily fold the outside mirrors out of the way or melt the frost off the windshield for improved visibility. All-weather floor mats are ready for whatever your passenger’s muddy, sandy boots drag in.

The exterior of the TrailSport Elite will turn heads. It has a gloss black grille and exterior trim, along with signature amber daytime running lights. Metallic silver front and rear skid garnishes make it as majestic as it is muscular. Meanwhile, LED fog lights mounted on the front fascia help you see better in low-light settings on the trail.

For the 2026 model year, Honda has created two new colors exclusive to the TrailSport trims: Sunset Orange and Ash Green Metallic. They combine the natural vibes and distinctly modern charm of the TrailSport trims and are designed for those who like showoff on the roads.

Is adventure calling your name? Then come get to know this terrific new trim with us! We’d love to take you for a test drive in this exciting new vehicle and show you the other features we didn’t cover today. As your Honda experts, we know the unique features of each Honda model and can help you determine if the all-new TrailSport Elite trim is right for you! We think that avid adventurers are really going to love the 2026 Passport. It’s more than ready for serious days on the trail but can also be your daily driver. If you were worried that you’d have to buy two vehicles—one for regular life and one for your off-road life—think again.

Our finance team can help you figure out how to pay for your 2026 Passport. Don’t believe that this rugged model is out of reach. Our finance pros will work with you, reworking the numbers until they land on a payment package that fits your needs and gets you out on the trails today! Honda might not historically be one of the big off-road brands, but it has definitely carved out a place for itself in the off-road market with the new TrailSport family. It has technology and hardware that competes with any of the off-road SUVs out there. If you’re a Honda lover who has been waiting for the brand to put out a great off-road vehicle, this is it. We’re ready to put you in it, so visit us, and let’s start exploring the rugged side of Honda together!