Quick Facts:
- Topic: Passport first drive results for the 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport.
- Ground clearance: 9.65 inches, up 1.38 inches from the 2026 TrailSport (8.27 inches).
- Approach angle: 25 degrees, up from 23. Departure is also 25 degrees; breakover is 23, up from 20.
- Suspension: Honda says nearly 70 percent of the major components changed.
- Test venue: Overland Experts, Troy, North Carolina.
- Not fixed: No low range, no larger tires, and 20 mpg combined per Car and Driver.
- Best for: 2026 TrailSport owners and shoppers weighing the 2027 model.
6 min read
In This Article
Overview
Passport first drive reviews from Car and Driver, MotorTrend, Edmunds, Jalopnik and The Drive went live this week, and they point in the same direction. The 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport scrapes less on the trail than the 2026 model. Edmunds and The Drive both flag fuel economy, which the lift left alone, and Honda added no low range. If you own a 2026, keep it unless you scrape often. Shoppers get an easier pick in the 2027.
Honda hosted the event at Overland Experts, a 200-acre training campus in Troy, North Carolina, beside Uwharrie National Forest. According to MotorTrend, Tony Cerruto, who oversees Overland Experts, rated the trails upper intermediate. Jalopnik also drove a 2026 TrailSport back to back with the 2027.
We did not drive this truck ourselves, so each finding below names the outlet behind it. The spec numbers come from Honda’s release. For trim pricing, see our 2027 Passport TrailSport price breakdown.
Car and Driver reports the stock 275/60R18 size carries over, so the tires did not grow. Testers drove on placard pressure, and the truck has no onboard compressor. If you plan to air down on rough sections, you carry the gear yourself. A digital controller such as the MORRFlate Air Hub sets pressure for you.
For a manual setup, the ARB ARB505 Deflator Kit handles airing down. The VIAIR 400P Portable Air Compressor refills the tires afterward. The Boulder Tools Tire Plug Kit repairs a tread puncture. A sidewall cut like the one MotorTrend reported needs the spare.
Gear for airing down and trail repairs
ARB ARB505 Deflator Kit 10-60 PSI Tire Pressure Gauge Rapid Air Dow…
What Honda Changed for 2027
Ground clearance rises from 8.27 to 9.65 inches, according to Honda. The approach angle grows from 23 to 25 degrees, and the departure angle also rises from 23 to 25 degrees. Breakover improves from 20 to 23 degrees.
Honda says nearly 70 percent of the major suspension components changed. The list includes springs, dampers, control arms, stabilizer bars and knuckles. Also, MotorTrend reports about 0.31 inch more rebound stroke in front and 0.35 inch more in the rear.
Edmunds places the new clearance between the 4Runner TRD Off-Road and the 4Runner TRD Pro. For a fuller matchup, read our Passport TrailSport vs 4Runner off-road analysis.
Passport First Drive Findings on the Trail
The lift helps most on rough ground. For example, Jalopnik found the 2026 truck covered the same terrain with far less ease and far more scraping. Edmunds reports Trail mode and steady throttle carried the 2027 through ditches and moguls.
The reviewers split on how much the lift solved. MotorTrend says the belly still scraped at times, and the AWD system took a moment to sort itself out. Car and Driver tested the skid plates and saw tires lift off the ground, because the four-wheel independent suspension limits articulation.
Tires took damage too. For instance, MotorTrend describes a sidewall cut on quartz, and the crew fixed the tire in minutes with the full-size spare. Meanwhile, Car and Driver reports a blown tire. The Drive found the front camera hard to read for depth, and says the truck lacks low-range grunt and long-travel stamina.
On pavement, Jalopnik felt no difference between the two model years, while MotorTrend says cornering roll might be slightly more pronounced.
What the Lift Did Not Fix in the Passport First Drive
Fuel economy is the clearest miss. Car and Driver, MotorTrend and The Drive list 20 mpg combined, and Edmunds says the changes do not address the lackluster numbers.
However, the truck still has no low range. Edmunds and The Drive describe Trail mode and torque-vectoring clutches doing the work instead. Jalopnik calls the naturally aspirated V6 antiquated, while Car and Driver lists the V6 among its highs.
Gear needs remain too. Edmunds calls the dealer-installed rock sliders, listed at $865, a must for hard trails. Car and Driver points to a $50 pantograph jack for the lower jacking point. Our rock sliders and skid plates guide explains how the two differ.
What This Means for You
If you own a 2026 TrailSport
Honda offers no off-the-shelf upgrade for a 2026 TrailSport, according to Jalopnik. MotorTrend says a retrofit is technically possible but not cost-effective, and points to the aftermarket.
Owners on Reddit and the Passport Forum name two lift kits: JSport at 1.5 inches and HRG at 2 inches. They report roughly $600 for the JSport kit and $800 for the HRG kit, before installation and alignment. Owners also warn spacer-style lifts limit up-travel, and some dealers refuse to install them.
A bolt-on kit does not match the factory work on springs, dampers, arms and bars. Many 2026 owners say the older truck already handles everything they do, so 1.38 inches does not change their plans.
If you are shopping now
Car and Driver lists “you bought a 2026 model” among its lows. Therefore, if a dealer still holds a new 2026 TrailSport, ask for a price reflecting the missing lift. No single Passport first drive settles the question. Drive the 2027 on pavement before you sign, since MotorTrend said roll might be more pronounced and Jalopnik felt no change.
Tires deserve a look too. Car and Driver saw 32-inch tires on a prototype at Overland Experts, but Honda offers no larger option.
Plan for recovery as well. Testers cut a sidewall and blew a tire, and without low range a stuck Passport depends on traction and a pull. Soft shackles and a kinetic rope handle the pull, and the Rhino USA Synthetic Soft Shackle Rope 2-pack in 3/8 inch and the Rhino USA Kinetic Recovery Rope in 1 inch by 30 feet are two options. The MAXTRAX MKII Vehicle Recovery Board adds traction. Check each rating against your truck’s weight before you buy. Our kinetic rope and soft shackles guide covers sizing and safe use.
Recovery gear for a truck without low range
If you are cross-shopping a 4Runner
Owners who cross-shopped the 4Runner say the Passport won on ride comfort, cargo space and price when similarly equipped. Having owned five Jeeps, including Wranglers and a Gladiator, I measure any trail vehicle against low range. The Passport has none. I have not driven it, so I go by what the five outlets and owners report: the 2027 TrailSport suits graded dirt, snow and moderate rock, and it does not replace a Wrangler.
Final Thoughts
If your trips mix long highway days with graded dirt, snow and moderate trails, the 2027 TrailSport fits the job better than the 2026 did. Across the Passport first drive reports, Jalopnik and Edmunds found the added ground clearance cut scraping, and MotorTrend said the extra 1.38 inches makes a difference.
The trade-offs are plain. Fuel economy sits at 20 mpg combined, Jalopnik calls the V6 dated, and Honda added no low range or larger tires. For serious rock work, I would send you to a 4Runner or a Wrangler instead.
If you shop, the 2027 is the easier recommendation. For 2026 owners, keep your truck unless you scrape often, since an aftermarket kit costs less than a trade. Either way, carry a way to air down and a recovery kit before you leave the pavement.
FAQ
How much ground clearance does the 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport have?
Honda lists 9.65 inches, up from 8.27 inches on the 2026 model. The 1.38-inch gain also raised the approach angle from 23 to 25 degrees.
Does Honda offer the 2027 lift for a 2026 Passport TrailSport?
No. Jalopnik reports Honda has no off-the-shelf upgrade. MotorTrend says a retrofit is technically possible but not cost-effective, so owners turn to aftermarket kits.
Does the 2027 Passport TrailSport have low range?
No. Edmunds and The Drive both say the truck relies on Trail mode and torque-vectoring clutches instead of a low-range gearbox.
Do you need rock sliders on the 2027 Passport TrailSport?
Edmunds calls the $865 dealer-installed sliders a must for hard trails. Car and Driver also notes a $50 pantograph jack for the lower jacking point.
What is the gas mileage of the 2027 Passport TrailSport?
MotorTrend and Car and Driver list 20 mpg combined. Jalopnik lists 21, so confirm the figure on the window sticker.