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The all-new 2026 Honda Passport has been named one of Autotrader’s “Best New Cars of 2026,” with the publication’s editors strongly recommending both the 2026 Passport and the Passport TrailSport to buyers. The adventure-ready SUV was honored for its rugged design, spacious cabin, V6 power and class-leading combination of genuine off-road capability and refined on-road performance.
The award-winning fourth-generation Passport has been a runaway success since its introduction early last year, posting multiple monthly sales records and its best year in 2025, up nearly 70% with Passport TrailSport accounting for around 80% of the trim mix.
What Autotrader Said About the 2026 Honda Passport:
In a crowded field of 2-row SUVs, the Honda Passport has never really stood out – until now. Honda brought out the straight edges and gave the Passport a more rugged, boxy exterior and a clean-cut, almost utilitarian interior – without going too far.
“I love the rugged good looks of the Passport, especially in the TrailSport trim, but what really appeals to me is the interior. It’s elegant but built to handle the rigors of daily life, spacious, easy to reconfigure, and comfortable,” said Senior Editor Allyson Harwood.
Senior Editor Matt Degen is also a fan. “The new Honda Passport looks like it went to the gym and is better for it. Yet even with its rugged attitude, the Passport is still manageable to drive, has all the tech and safety systems you want, and retains a tried-and-true V6 engine,” Degen said. “I was also impressed with the sheer amount of room in this thing. If I wanted to go car camping, this would be among my first choices.”
To determine the “Best New Cars” of the year, Autotrader’s editorial experts test-drive and evaluate hundreds of new and redesigned vehicles, recognizing the most innovative models that deliver exceptional value.
To learn more about the Autotrader’s Best New Cars of 2026 Awards click here.
2026 Honda Passport
Designed, developed and built in the U.S. using domestic and globally-made parts, the all-new 2026 Honda Passport is the ultimate Honda adventure SUV, packed with standard equipment, including V6 power and torque-vectoring i-VTM4® all-wheel drive. The 2026 Passport is available in three very well-equipped and capable primary trim levels – RTL, TrailSport and the first-ever TrailSport Elite.
The new Passport TrailSport is the most off-road capable Honda SUV ever, with standard rugged features, including an off-road tuned suspension, expanded all-wheel drive system capabilities, robust steel underbody skid plates, exposed bright orange heavy-duty recovery points, specially-engineered all-terrain tires, and more, to get weekend adventurers even farther down the trail or up the mountain. The top-of-the-line TrailSport Elite combines authentic off-road capability with top-level feature content, including a new TrailWatch™ camera system, perforated leather seating and a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system.