Tested: 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport Is

The 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport is more capable off-road than its crossover roots suggest, according to a round of first-drive reviews published this week. Honda gave the midsize two-row SUV a taller, revised suspension just one model year after its full redesign. Reviewers who tested it on trails in North Carolina say the changes make a noticeable difference.

Honda re-engineered the TrailSport's suspension and subframe for 2027. The result is a 1.38-inch lift over the 2026 model and a maximum ground clearance of 9.65 inches, according to Motor1, The Drive and Kelley Blue Book. Honda's own materials describe it as a 1-inch lift for 9.6 inches of clearance. The updates apply only to the TrailSport and TrailSport Elite trims, so the base RTL is unchanged. TrailSport models also get standard TrailWatch cameras, a grille camera with tire path indicators to help drivers see over the hood, and a heated steering wheel. Underneath, the SUV keeps the 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6, the 10-speed automatic, all-wheel drive and a 5,000-pound tow rating. Honda rates the TrailSport at 18 mpg city, 22 highway and 20 combined.

Testers drove the 2026 and 2027 models back to back at Overland Experts' training facility in North Carolina's hills. Kelley Blue Book said the 2027 inspired much more confidence and daring on hills, ditches and uneven terrain, and The Drive called it genuinely good off-road rather than good for a crossover. The reviewers did note limits. The Drive said it has strong traction and low-speed dexterity but lacks the low-range grunt of a true off-road truck and the suspension stamina of a high-speed desert racer. Kelley Blue Book found the taller ride also adds some looseness on pavement, both in cornering and over bumps. The Passport TrailSport competes with off-road trims such as the Subaru Wilderness, Toyota TRD, Hyundai XRT, Ford Tremor and Kia X-Pro. Honda says about 80% of 2026 Passport buyers chose a TrailSport trim. Cars.com's test car, a TrailSport Elite, cost $55,290 with destination. Reporting comes from Motor1, The Drive, Kelley Blue Book, U.S. News and Cars.com.