The V6 4WD we need in Australia! 2026 Honda Passport revealed overseas as a competitor to Toyota LandCruiser Prado, Hyundai Santa Fe XRT and Nissan Pathfinder

Honda has unveiled its most “off-road capable” SUV ever in the US, the fourth-generation Passport, but sadly there are no plans to launch it Down Under.

The 3.5-litre petrol V6 would undoubtedly be a hit with Aussies, particularly given the vacuum of (relatively) affordable V6 four-wheel drives locally.

Speaking of affordability, the Passport is expected to be priced between $45,000 ($A69,300) and $51,000 ($A78,610) for the three-variant line-up, which will consist of the entry-level RTL, TrailSport and top-spec TrailSport Elite.

If it were to arrive in Australia at those prices, that would put it in the ballpark of the V6 Ford Everest range, which starts at $74,640 before on-road costs for the 3.0-litre Everest Sport.

It’s slightly shorter than the Everest though, at 4803mm long, but trumps it by 76mm in width at 1999mm. Ground clearance is quoted at 210mm, considerably less than a Ford Everest Tremor which packs 252mm.

Power is quoted at 209kW and 335Nm, 25kW more than the Everest, with power transferred to all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic gearbox, the same configuration that is offered on Honda’s US-market large SUV – the Pilot.

2026 Honda Passport

The Passport uses Honda’s new torque-vectoring four-wheel-drive system which is claimed to deliver a 30 per cent faster torque-response than the previous generation, as well as a stronger reardrive unit with an extra 40 per cent torque capacity than the outgoing model.

Additionally, Honda has based the Passport’s new chassis on Honda’s US pick-up – the Ridgeline. That adds more rigid off-road suspension across the range, with a unique tune for the TrailSport variants as well as underbody skid plates.

General Grabber all-terrain tyres are standard on the TrailSport versions, which also get seven drive modes, including Sport, Trail and Tow. Speaking of towing, the Passport is rated for 2500kg.

2026 Honda Passport

Inside, features like heated seats, wireless charging and power-adjustable leather seats are standard, while the TrailSport steps up to synthetic, easy-to-clean materials, a panoramic sunroof and rubber floor mats.

The top-spec TrailSport Elite gets perforated leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, dual-zone climate, a heated steering wheel and a 12-speaker Bose sound system with a subwoofer.

A 10.2-inch digital driver’s display and a 12.3-inch multimedia display with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is 5G and Wifi hotspot capability.

2026 Honda Passport

It also gets the typical suite of advanced driver-assistance systems which includes automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind sport monitoring, adaptive cruise control and rear-cross traffic alert.

Production of the new Passport will commence in the US for the North American market – one of Honda’s biggest global markets – later this year, with the Passport set to go on sale in early 2025.