Honda finally priced the redesigned 2026 Passport like it wants to steal a few shoppers from people who were halfway to buying a 4Runner just because it looked tougher in the parking lot. Honda’s official build-and-price tool currently lists the RTL at $44,950, the TrailSport at $48,650, and the TrailSport Elite at $52,650 before you start piling on accessories and blackout fluff. For most buyers, that middle TrailSport trim is where the Passport story gets interesting.

That is because the regular TrailSport appears to deliver the actual hardware that changes how this SUV feels and what it can do. Honda says the TrailSport gets all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, steel skid plates, and high-visibility recovery hooks, while every 2026 Passport gets standard AWD. Step up to the Elite and you mostly buy nicer creature comforts like the upgraded Bose audio, extra camera tech, and more cabin polish. Nice stuff, sure. But if your goal is to get the rugged Passport without paying luxury-adjacent money just to look adventurous at Trader Joe’s, the plain TrailSport seems like the smarter call.

The rest of the math is solidly shopper-friendly. Honda’s official specs page says every Passport uses a 285-hp 3.5-liter V6, a 10-speed automatic, and can tow up to 5,000 pounds, which matters because a lot of midsize SUV buyers still want a real engine and occasional trailer duty without moving into full-size-truck territory. Fuel economy lands around 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined, and cargo space stretches past 104 cubic feet with the seats folded. In other words, this is not just a costume change. It is still a family-hauler underneath, which is exactly the point.

If you are cross-shopping the new Passport, the buyer move is pretty simple. Start with the TrailSport if you actually care about trail roads, camping weekends, bad-weather confidence, or just getting the version that best matches the new tougher styling. Stay with the RTL if you want the V6, AWD, and space but have zero interest in pretending you are headed for Moab. As Kelley Blue Book noted in its pricing coverage, Honda clearly pushed this redesign in a more rugged direction. The good news is you do not have to buy the most expensive trim to get the part that matters.