Honda Lifts the 2027 Passport TrailSport Higher for Rougher Trails

Honda’s most popular Passport now sits taller. For 2027, the Passport TrailSport gets a reworked factory suspension lift, a tougher look, and two features that used to be reserved for the top trim. Below, you’ll find what changed, what stayed the same, and what each trim costs.

• The TrailSport’s new suspension adds 1.38 inches of ride height, for a total of 9.65 inches of ground clearance.
• A heated steering wheel and the TrailWatch camera system move from the TrailSport Elite down to the standard TrailSport.
• Prices start at $45,195 for the RTL and $49,995 for the TrailSport, before a $1,595 destination and handling fee.

A Taller Stance Straight From the Factory

Honda reengineered the TrailSport’s suspension for 2027, and the number to remember is 1.38 inches. That’s how much ride height the trim gains, which brings total ground clearance to 9.65 inches. The Passport rides on a unibody platform, and this lift comes straight from the factory, so there’s no need to hunt down an aftermarket shop.

That extra height gives the Passport TrailSport more room underneath than two of its natural rivals, the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road and the Subaru Outback Wilderness. If you’ve ever heard a rock scrape the underside of your SUV on a rough trail, you’ll understand why those inches count.

The suspension work also improves the approach, breakover, and departure angles. Those numbers tell you how steep a slope or ledge the SUV can handle before the bumpers or belly hit the ground. The new setup allows more suspension articulation too, which helps each wheel stay in contact with uneven terrain. Off-road compliance gets better as well.

The focus on this one trim makes sense. The TrailSport accounts for more than 80 percent of all Passport sales, so Honda is putting its effort where most buyers already are.

New Styling and More Standard Trail Gear

The taller stance comes with a fresh look. TrailSport models get wider front and rear fender flares, a darker and resculpted lower front fascia, and a pair of amber LED accent lights mounted in the hood scoop. Together, those changes give the SUV a more rugged face.

Shoppers who like a darker look can add the new Blackout Package, which is available across the TrailSport lineup. It adds dark front and rear bumper fascias, black 18-inch alloy wheels, and blacked-out badges. There’s also a paint change for every 2027 Passport trim. Smoke Blue Pearl replaces Obsidian Blue Pearl on the color list.

Some of the best news is on the equipment list. The standard TrailSport now comes with a heated steering wheel and Honda’s multi-view TrailWatch camera system. Both were previously limited to the TrailSport Elite. A camera system with several views can be handy off the pavement, where rocks and ruts near the bumper are hard to see from the driver’s seat.

The Same V6 and All-Wheel Drive

Nothing changes under the hood. Every 2027 Passport uses a naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 engine. Each one also gets Honda’s torque-vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive as standard equipment, so you don’t have to step up to a pricier trim to get it.

Production stays at the Honda Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Alabama. Honda also plans to export the American-built Passport TrailSport Elite to the Japanese domestic market for the first time, with that move expected later this year.

How the 2027 Passport Lineup Is Priced

The entry-level Passport RTL starts at $45,195. The TrailSport, which is the trim most people buy, starts at $49,995. At the top, the TrailSport Elite Blackout costs $55,195.

All three prices exclude the $1,595 destination and handling fee. Add that charge when comparing trims or checking a dealer quote.

The refreshed Passport is arriving at Honda dealerships across the country.

Plan a Back-to-Back Test Drive

Start by thinking about how you’ll use it. If most of your driving happens on paved roads, the RTL still gives you the same V6 and the same all-wheel drive system for less money. If you head to trailheads, campsites, or snowy back roads often, the TrailSport makes a stronger case than it did last year. You now get extra ground clearance, better trail angles, a heated steering wheel, and the TrailWatch cameras without paying for the top trim.

Before you visit a dealer, decide if the Blackout look matters to you, and remember to budget for the destination fee. Then drive the RTL and the TrailSport back to back. You’ll quickly feel whether the taller stance fits the way you drive.