The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport is ready for adventure, but can it handle the max? While most owners tow campers, boats, or ATVs, my long-term test focused on pushing the SUV to its 5,000-pound towing limit. Unfortunately, winter weather cut short a family road trip, so I improvised with a U-Haul car hauler and my son’s manual Honda Civic Coupe. The combined weight? Approximately 4,800 pounds—just shy of the SUV’s rating. Factor in passengers, and we might have nudged past the limit. Oops.
My day-long test included highway and city driving, along with real-world maneuvers like gas station stops and drive-thrus. While I can’t speak to how the Passport handles a 7% incline in Colorado (Indiana’s terrain is, well, flat), I can share what to expect when towing consistently at the limit.
Real-World Towing Performance
For this test, I aimed to evaluate the Passport’s handling characteristics under max towing conditions. The setup was simple: hook up the U-Haul car trailer, load the Civic, and hit the road. The process was straightforward—let the trailer drop onto the hitch’s ball, lock the pin, secure the chains, connect the lights, test the lights, and you’re off. Right away, I felt the weight behind me, more due to the suspension than any power loss.
The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, churning out 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. This powertrain proved more than adequate for the task, handling the 4,800-pound load with ease in all driving scenarios, including highway and city traffic.
Trailering Setup and Convenience
Honda’s trailering setup in the Passport is identical to the one in the Ridgeline, as my colleague Joel Feder highlighted in a recent blog. The safety chain loops are perfectly sized—not too thick, not too thin, and easy to reach. The seven-pin connector for the lights is positioned next to the hitch, which, while not as convenient as pickups with connectors near the license plate, reduces cable tension and minimizes wear.
Hooking up the trailer was a breeze, a process most drivers are already familiar with. The simplicity of the system underscores Honda’s attention to detail in making towing as hassle-free as possible.
Previous Passport TrailSport Coverage
- Welcome Passport: Specs, test details, and the ultimate goal
- First Impressions Analysis: Features and equipment overview
- 5,000-Mile Review: Long-term performance insights
- The Honda Passport Wave Is a Thing: Community and market reactions
- Let’s Chat: Q&A with the editor
- 10K Miles, Snow, and a Trip to the Dealer: Winter testing and maintenance
- Off-Road Towing Duty: Performance in rugged conditions
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