Honda Passport TrailSport Gains More Ground Clearance and Off-Road Tech for 2027

• The 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport rides higher with 9.65 inches of ground clearance, a 1.38-inch increase over last year’s model.
• Every TrailSport trim now includes the TrailWatch camera system and a heated steering wheel as standard equipment.
• The updated SUVs reach Honda dealerships later this month, built at the Honda Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Alabama.

Honda Redesigned Nearly Every Suspension Part on the TrailSport

Honda has raised the ride height on its 2027 Passport TrailSport and TrailSport Elite models in the biggest suspension overhaul the fourth-generation Passport has received. Honda introduced this generation of the Passport in early 2025, and the changes push ground clearance to 9.65 inches, up 1.38 inches from the outgoing model, improving every angle that determines how far the SUV can climb before scraping its bumpers or undercarriage.

Honda engineers redesigned close to 70% of the major suspension components on the TrailSport, including the springs, dampers, control arms, stabilizer bars and knuckles. The front driveshafts and front subframe changed too, to accommodate the taller ride height and extra wheel travel. In total, 28 suspension and chassis parts are new or reengineered for 2027.

The extra height shows up in the numbers that off-road drivers care about. Approach and departure angles climb two degrees each to 25 degrees, and the breakover angle, the measurement that determines how steep a hill crest the SUV can clear without high-centering, improves three degrees to 23 degrees. Honda says the new geometry puts the Passport TrailSport ahead of the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road, Subaru Outback Wilderness and Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Sasquatch on ground clearance.

Honda engineers didn’t simply fit taller springs. The company says it redesigned the suspension geometry to keep the handling and ride quality drivers expect on pavement, then layered on the added capability for trails. Steering feel and response also improved for 2027, changes Honda says make the SUV more enjoyable to drive on an ordinary commute, not just a weekend trail run.

The Off-Road Camera System Moves to Every Trim

The TrailWatch camera system, previously reserved for the range-topping TrailSport Elite, now comes standard across every TrailSport trim. The system stitches together front, rear, side and 360-degree views, and overlays tire-placement graphics so drivers can see exactly where their wheels are heading over blind crests, deep ruts or a trail’s edge.

A heated steering wheel joins the standard equipment list too, another feature that used to require stepping up to the Elite trim. Buyers on the entry TrailSport now get both upgrades without paying for the top-spec model.

Honda also points to the Honda Trail Experience app, a free download for iPhone that launched this summer for TrailSport SUV owners. It tracks data such as elevation, pitch, roll, brake pressure, throttle position and GPS location while driving, then lets owners export video clips with that data overlaid, aimed at drivers who want a record of a trail run rather than just photos.

A New Color and a Tougher Look

Honda’s design studio in Los Angeles gave the TrailSport more pronounced fender flares, a resculpted lower front fascia and a pair of amber LED hood scoop lights that match the Passport’s existing amber daytime running lights. Buyers can also choose Smoke Blue Pearl, a color that debuted on the 2026 Honda Pilot and replaces Obsidian Blue Pearl on the options list.

The Blackout Package returns too, now with black front and rear fascias and black skid garnishes that pair with its existing black 18-inch alloy wheels and badges.

TrailSport Already Drives Most Passport Sales

The update arrives as Honda leans further into a trim that already dominates the lineup. TrailSport models have accounted for more than 80% of Passport sales as of June 2026, and Honda plans to export the Passport TrailSport Elite to Japan early next year to meet demand there too.

“Our team of passionate engineers is taking our ultimate Honda adventure SUV, the Honda Passport TrailSport, and making it even more capable and confident for 2027,” said Luis Guerra, assistant vice president of Honda National Auto Sales. “By enhancing both the driving experience and off-road capability, Honda Passport offers our customers an SUV for their daily life and next great adventure.”

The 2027 Passport and Passport TrailSport are built exclusively at the Honda Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln, Alabama, alongside the Ridgeline, Odyssey and Pilot. Honda hasn’t released 2027 pricing yet; the current Passport TrailSport starts in the mid-$40,000s before options. The updated models begin arriving at dealerships later this month.

Built in Alabama, Backed by 25 Years of Production

The Alabama plant marks 25 years of operation next month, and Honda counts the Passport as one of four models built there, alongside the Ridgeline pickup, Odyssey minivan and Pilot SUV. The plant has placed 44 vehicles in the top 10 of the Cars.com American-Made Index over the index’s 21-year history, more than any other factory, and Honda led all automakers in this year’s rankings with five vehicles in the top 10.

For shoppers cross-shopping the segment, the practical case for the TrailSport comes down to what’s now included rather than optional. A camera system and heated steering wheel that used to push buyers toward a pricier Elite trim are standard on every TrailSport for 2027, while the suspension changes address one of the most common criticisms of mid-size off-road SUVs: looking the part without the ground clearance or angles to back it up on an actual trail. Honda says the fourth-generation Passport, in production for less than two years, has already posted multiple sales records, and the TrailSport’s share of those sales suggests the update targets the buyers already driving the model rather than trying to win over new ones.