Honda‘s completely reengineered TrailSport suspension has been the open secret since September 9. Today the trucks are actually in showrooms. The 2027 Honda Passport begins arriving at dealerships today, leading with a TrailSport lineup that gains 1.38 inches of ground clearance over the 2026 model for a total of 9.65 inches, improved breakover and departure geometry, and better suspension articulation across uneven terrain.
That suspension revision is the substantive change here, and it lands on a nameplate that no longer needs much help. The 2019 Passport relaunch struggled to find its footing, but the fourth-generation model introduced in early 2025 has posted record sales. Honda sold 55,231 Passports in 2025, a 70 percent jump over 2024’s 32,527 units. TrailSport trims now account for over 80 percent of the mix, which explains why a redesigned suspension on the off-road variants is the refresh’s headline act rather than a mid-cycle footnote.
Six Trims, All Standard AWD
The 2027 lineup runs six trims, all carrying torque-vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive and the 3.5-liter V6 as standard equipment. Starting MSRPs, before the $1,595 destination charge: RTL at $45,195, RTL Towing at $45,895, TrailSport at $49,995, TrailSport Blackout at $51,495, TrailSport Elite at $53,695, and TrailSport Elite Blackout at $55,195. EPA fuel economy for the RTL trims is 19 city, 25 highway, 21 combined; the TrailSport variants rate 18 city, 22 highway, 20 combined, the difference reflecting the taller ride height and more aggressive tuning.
Beyond the suspension, the TrailSport and TrailSport Elite add more pronounced fender flares, a darker and resculpted lower front fascia, and a pair of amber LED lights in the hood scoop. The Blackout package, now available on both TrailSport and TrailSport Elite, extends to new black front and rear fascias that integrate with the black 18-inch alloy wheels and blacked-out Honda badges for a more monochromatic look than the 2026 version offered.
Two features that were previously TrailSport Elite exclusives drop down to the base TrailSport for 2027: the TrailWatch camera system and a heated steering wheel. Making TrailWatch standard on the entry TrailSport matters more than it sounds. The multi-angle camera suite is exactly the kind of feature that turns a confidence question into a habit on rough terrain. Buyers no longer need to spend up to the Elite to get it.
One new color joins the lineup for all trims: Smoke Blue Pearl replaces Obsidian Blue Pearl. A $455 premium paint charge applies to that finish.
Honda builds the Passport exclusively at its Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, which marks its 25th year of operations this year. The 3.5-liter V6 is also assembled on-site. Honda has committed to exporting the TrailSport Elite to Japan later in 2026, the first Passport variant headed to that market.
The 2026 Passport started at $44,950, so the RTL’s $45,195 opening price represents a modest $245 increase at the entry point. Honda has not announced whether the suspension revision adds to the TrailSport’s $49,995 price relative to its 2026 equivalent, though the added standard equipment with TrailWatch and the heated steering wheel on the base TrailSport make that price comparison straightforward enough. The 4Runner TRD Off Road and Subaru Outback Wilderness are the competitors Honda calls out on ground clearance; the Passport’s 9.65 inches exceeds both. That claim will hold up until someone runs the tape measure at a comparison test, but at this moment it’s Honda’s strongest off-road positioning since the nameplate came back.
Source: Honda. Images courtesy of Honda.
