This crossover wants to tackle real SUV stuff
The 2026 Honda Passport has taken a welcome step up in rugged capability. It’s still a crossover, but now it’s one you can do some mild off-roading with more confidently, particularly in TrailSport guise.
Building on this sturdier foundation, Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) in the United States has revealed the new Passport TrailSport HRC Concept at the 2025 SEMA Show. Honda says this beefier concept will “show a possible direction for an HRC Passport,” so what’s new? Here’s a closer look at this aggressive concept.
Related: I Drove the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport. Here’s My Honest Review
Passport Gets Even More Capable
Honda
The Passport TrailSport already gets extras like an underbody skid plate, an off-road tuned suspension, and all-terrain tires, but it’s a mild prospect alongside the Passport TrailSport HRC. Designed for overlanding exploration, its bumpers have been redesigned to improve approach and departure angles.
Extended aluminum skid plates and additional underbody strengthening protects components like the center bearing, rear drive unit, and prop shaft. A suspension lift of 2.36 inches increases ground clearance, as do tire diameters that have been increased by an inch. New front/rear dampers and a one-off exhaust system have also been introduced.
Giving it a tougher look as well as enhancing the Passport TrailSport HRC’s versatility when heading outdoors are upgrades like new fog lights, side camp lights, ditch and rear chase lights, a low-profile roof rack, and a swing-out full-size spare tire carrier, making it easier to access the spare in awkward spots. An 8,000-lb winch and integrated rear air compressor are available as well.
Along with all the extras, HRC has given this rugged Passport a matte Thermal Orange paint job, contrasted by a black roof. Inside, there are eye-catching blue Alcantara inserts and HRC accessory mounting panels.
Related: Here are the Top 5 Off-Road Capable SUVs Available in The USA
Just One Thing is Missing
Honda
Honda made no mention of any powertrain upgrades, so the Passport TrailSport HRC likely sticks with the stock model’s 3.5-liter V6, which produces 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. It will no doubt have all-wheel drive and the 10-speed automatic transmission, too.
As impressive as it is to look at, the Passport TrailSport HRC is still a crossover, so it’s missing a body-on-frame structure. This ultimately limits its capability and durability when tackling more intense towing and off-roading tasks. That’s because a separate frame has the ability to twist and flex, an advantage over uneven terrain or when towing anything heavy.
In fact, the absence of a proper SUV in Honda’s lineup is noticeable, especially as Toyota has several: The 4Runner, Land Cruiser, and Sequoia.
Considering that its TrailSport models have been a hit, perhaps it’s time for Honda to consider adding a proper SUV to its lineup, and if it looks anything like the Passport TrailSport HRC, even better.
