The SUV That Could Be The Smartest New-Car Purchase This Year
The SUV market. Let’s face it: it’s positively brimming with options. At least in this country, it is. Now, that’s a good thing and a bad thing. On the one hand, it means you have plenty of options for a satisfying, box-ticking SUV. Be it a compact SUV or a full-size, body-on-frame example, you’ve got options. On the other hand, it means picking the right SUV can be something of a daunting task.
There is some good news, though. One recently updated Japanese SUV promises to deliver smart looks, standard all-wheel drive, and rugged, trail-ready performance without much compromise. Oh, and for you old-school SUV fans, it’s a gasoline-burning affair. You won’t find a battery-electric vehicle in this model’s lineup.
Plenty Of Options In The SUV Market
Americans love their SUVs. It’s a love affair that rivals the seemingly unstoppable romance between American car buyers and the pickup truck. As such, there are plenty of options out there in SUV land for the new car buyer. Want fuel economy above all else? Hybrid SUVs like the Honda CR-V Hybrid and the Hyundai Tucson Hybrid Blue promise savings at the pump. Need all the space you can fit on four wheels? Cavernous full-size options like the Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, and Jeep Wagoneer L will transport your big ol’ family, groceries, and football pads without much complaint. Better yet, some SUVs, like the Ford Bronco, Jeep Wrangler, and Toyota Land Cruiser, can flex their off-roading muscles with the best of them. Certainly in a manner that would leave your favorite sedan stuck.
What To Look For
So, what should you be looking for? For starters, just how much space do you need? Sure, the appeal of a massive, three-row SUV seems like the practical choice. But it often means a more difficult-to-park, thirsty, and cumbersome vehicle. And, considering the average American family is 3.15 people, a two-row, five-seat SUV is the smarter choice for the average family or working couple. Tired of looking at uninspired designs? Look for a more aesthetically pleasing option. Then there’s the balance between refined highway companion and trail-going off-roader. Ideally, you’ll want an SUV that can do both, seamlessly jumping from the grocery store to the campsite. Fortunately, Honda might just have it sorted with its newly redesigned, rugged mid-size SUV.
2026 Honda Passport: All-New Attitude In The Mid-Size SUV Segment
Starting At $44,950
Hondarolled out the Passport SUV to the U.S.market back in 1994. After two generations, Honda discontinued the model just to resurrect it in 2019. At that point, the Passport served as the mid-size midway point between the compact Honda CR-V and the full-size, three-row Pilot. The Passport had an issue, though: it lacked some of the brawniness you’d find in a comparable Ford Bronco or Toyota Land Cruiser.
For 2026, the Honda Passport receives a total makeover. Gone are the sober, sedate looks of the third-generation model. In its place, the 2026 Honda Passport receives an angular, rugged appearance, including boxier styling, revised lamps, and rugged-looking tweaks that make the updated model look much more trail-hungry than its predecessor. It starts at $44,950 and tops out at $53,850 before options.
The Interior Gets A Welcome Update As Well
Interior revisions focus on simplicity over garishness, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster. That center infotainment screen is much larger—4.3 inches larger, to be precise—than the one in the previous iteration. Then there’s the Passport’s party piece. With its updated suspension, chassis, and all-wheel drive system, the Honda SUV is comfortable making the transition between daily driver and trail companion without fuss.
A Smart New Look (And Platform)
For 2026, the Honda Passport gets an all-new exterior to better compete with the trend of rugged-looking mid-size SUVs. Take the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT or Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek, for instance. Both models add rugged-looking treatments, but aren’t natural off-roaders like the Ford Bronco or Jeep Wrangler. The mid-size Honda SUV does the same for 2026, but the Passport’s changes aren’t just skin-deep.
On the inside, the Passport ditches its small infotainment screen for a set of larger, brighter screens. The Passport isn’t flashy inside, but it emphasizes the appeal of a clean, simple interior layout. Easy-to-sanitize surfaces feature throughout, from the floor mats to the faux leather upholstery—a must for a bona fide off-roader. A naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V6 is the sole engine option, as is a 10-speed automatic gearbox. Then there are the tweaks that make the Passport trail-ready.
Rugged Enough For The Trails
The updated Honda SUV features a stouter suspension setup than the previous model. The fourth-gen Passport also gets an updated i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system with torque-vectoring and a stiffer, more rigid chassis. The Passport’s dimensions also changed. Honda lengthened the Passport’s wheelbase over the previous model. With off-roading in mind, the Passport also gets a shorter overhang than the third-generation model. Honda says that improvement enhanced the approach angle for crawling over nature’s obstacles. As a result, the Passport is more rugged than other SUVs like the Nissan Pathfinder Rock Creek Edition and the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT.
That said, it’s not going to challenge the likes of a Jeep Wrangler off-road, but it does provide a much more comfortable, refined daily runabout and a more civilized highway cruiser than the Jeep. Oh, and when you get to your campsite, the 2026 Honda Passport features an optional picnic table.
So, Should You Buy One?
The 2026 Honda Passport serves as a smart alternative to overly rugged mid-size off-roaders like the Jeep Wrangler and softer options like the Nissan Murano. With its updated looks inside and out, the Passport finally looks the part. And with its trail-ready tweaks, the mid-size Honda SUV lives up to its new rough-and-tough aesthetic. It will also out-tow rivals like the Hyundai Santa Fe and Chevrolet Blazer. Of course, if you need a third row, you’re simply out of luck with the Passport. Also, with no hybrid available and a V6 as the only engine option, the Passport’s 21 MPG combined fuel economy might be off-putting for some buyers. Still, the Honda SUV provides a do-it-all option in the midsize SUV segment for 2026.
Sources: Honda, Edmunds, The EPA
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