Honda’s TrailSport badge has come a long way. It evolved from a faux off-road option into something that signifies serious off-roading. It arguably reached its peak with the arrival of the updated Passport in 2026.
It’s a bit surprising then that Honda is already offering an updated version of the Passport TrailSport for 2027, with more ground clearance and heavily revised suspension components. Even more surprising is that the changes genuinely improve its abilities both on- and off-road.
You might think you need a transfer case or a ladder frame to tackle your local trails, but this tricky TrailSport suggests otherwise.
Pros
Better Ground Clearance, Smart AWD System, Looks Great
Cons
Makes Power Up Top, No Rear Locker
The Same Formula, Just Better
Photo by: Honda
Honda’s changes to the 2027 Passport TrailSport are mostly under the skin, but there are a few things to point out on the exterior. A set of amber lamps sits in the otherwise decorative hood scoop, the fender flares are a dash wider, and the front fascia gets a slight nip and tuck.
Inside, there are two major upgrades. One is the addition of a heated steering wheel as standard equipment on the lower TrailSport trim, and the other is Honda’s new Honda Trail Experience (HTX) app.
HTX is free to download to your phone and lets you record your trail runs. Even better are the added displays on the main screen via the CarPlay system, which show stuff like brake pressure, throttle position, pitch, roll, elevation, engine temperature, and even your latitude and longitude. And you can overlay that information on your trail run video.
Under the hood is the same 3.5-liter V6 engine as last year, paired with a ten-speed automatic gearbox. Output is rated at 280 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and it’s sent to all four wheels via Honda’s second-generation i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system.
Photo by: Honda
Photo by: Honda
Photo by: Honda
Photos by: Honda
It’s a rather smart setup, with an open differential up front and a twin-clutch unit that vectors torque to the rear wheels. Up to 70 percent of the available torque can be sent out back, and of that, up to 100 percent can be shifted to the right or left.
The system maintains steady throttle pressure over obstacles, shifting power as needed to get you up and over trail features. Or you can apply a dash of brake and a bit of throttle to build torque on the front axle as needed.
Once you understand how i-VTM4 works, you’ll feel like a superstar on surprisingly tough trails.
Tackling Tough Trails In The Updated TrailSport
Photo by: Honda
The Uwharrie National Forest covers more than 50,000 acres of beautiful North Carolina land. It’s home to a company called Overland Experts (OEX), which teaches everyone from general off-road lovers to badass military special forces teams how to properly wheel their machines. I’m talking about everything from off-road basics to top-level techniques and recovery procedures.
Honda has been working with OEX for years. The automaker sends its engineers here to help them learn how far they can push their vehicles, what to do when they push too far, and how they could improve what they’ve built.
It’s the perfect setting to see just how much better a bit more ground clearance and reworked suspension can be on the Passport. Spoiler alert: the results are almost shocking.
Photo by: Honda
Photo by: Honda
Photos by: Honda
The refreshed Passport scrambles up, around, and over the sort of obstacles you’d assume were relegated to vehicles wearing Jeep or Land Rover badges. The reworked springs, dampers, control arms, knuckles, and stabilizer bars increase rebound stroke for more travel, while the updated steering delivers solid steering feedback on the trail.
Honda had a 2026 Passport TrailSport on hand for us to test, and while it made it through most of the same trails, it didn’t clear each obstacle as easily. The side sills would scrape a bit, the nose might touch in some sections on the way down, and it was just a bit more work than the 2027.
Photo by: Honda
On the technical side, the 2027 TrailSport gains 1.38 inches over the 2026 model. That brings it to 9.65 inches of ground clearance, which bests the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road and the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch.
That gain in ground clearance also delivers increased off-road angles: 25 degrees on approach, 25 degrees on departure, and 23 degrees on breakover. Those numbers are 2, 2, and 3 degrees better than the 2026 model, respectively.
Sure, those figures might seem small, but the added capability allows you to conquer a few more obstacles than before. It also makes your off-road adventure more comfortable and less stressful, and allows you to venture even further.
Verdict: Small Improvements That Pay Off Big Time
Photo by: Honda
Honda already had a hit on its hands when it launched the redesigned 2026 Passport TrailSport. The level of off-road capability surprised me when I first drove it in 2025. Fast forward a bit, and I’m even more impressed with the updated 2027 Passport TrailSport.
In fact, it’s downright shocking just how capable the 2027 model is. Despite conventional thinking that would suggest you’d need lockers and a proper transfer case to handle some of what we traversed, the Passport TrailSport handled it all
That said, even Honda knows some of those upgrades could take the TrailSport line even further. A true locking rear differential could unlock another level of capability, while better low-end power delivery could help manage throttle applications out on the trail.
But that would also add cost to a vehicle that starts at $51,590 (the non-TrailSport RTL starts at $46,790 but doesn’t feature the same suspension system). As it sits now, I’m not sure the average Passport TrailSport buyer needs more anyway. You can take one right off the showroom floor, head to some of your favorite trails, and have the confidence to get out there and back home again.
If you bought a 2026… it might be time to check your trade-in value and put it towards a 2027.
Honda Passport TrailSport Competitors
Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch
Subaru Outback Wilderness
Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road
2025 Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road: The Good and the Bad
The 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness Is Lovable Overkill: Review
Jeep’s First Electric Off-Roader Is Fun, Capable, And Already Behind The Curve: Driven
The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Is Tougher Than You Think: First Drive Review
| 2027 Honda Passport | |
| Engine | 3.5-Liter V6 |
| Output | 280 Horsepower / 258 Pound-Feet |
| Transmission | 10-Speed Automatic |
| Drive Type | All-Wheel Drive |
| Ground clearance | 9.65 Inches |
| Angle of repose | 25.4 Degrees |
| Departure angle | 25.3 Degrees |
| Weight | 4,676 Pounds |
| Seating Capacity | Five |
| Efficiency | 18 City / 22 Highway / 20 Combined |
| Base Price | $51,590 (TrailSport) |
