Honda’s more serious push into the adventure-SUV market now comes with a higher price. The refreshed 2027 Passport TrailSport starts at a Canadian MSRP of $58,740, but Honda’s published selling price rises to $62,119 once freight, pre-delivery inspection and applicable listed charges and fees are included. Sales taxes, licensing, registration and certain paint charges remain extra. The increase arrives with meaningful hardware rather than a simple model-year reshuffle: Honda has substantially redesigned the suspension, lifted the Passport by 35 millimetres and made its TrailWatch camera system available on the entry TrailSport. With a naturally aspirated V6, torque-vectoring all-wheel drive and a more serious off-road specification, Honda is asking buyers to view the Passport less as a conventional family crossover and increasingly as an adventure vehicle that can still handle Monday morning.
The $58,740 Sticker Price Is Only the Starting Point
Honda Canada lists the 2027 Passport TrailSport at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $58,740. The company’s published selling price is $62,119, creating a $3,379 difference between the headline MSRP and the number Honda presents after its applicable charges. Included within that selling price is $2,000 for freight and pre-delivery inspection. Honda says the figure also incorporates the air-conditioning charge, dealer fees, regulatory fees and other applicable levies and duties used in its published calculation.
That still is not necessarily the amount written on the final cheque. Honda specifically excludes applicable sales taxes, licensing, insurance and registration, while premium exterior or interior colours can also increase the total. Dealer fees can vary by dealership and province, and Honda notes that dealers may sell for less. For shoppers comparing advertised prices, that distinction matters. A vehicle marketed at less than $59,000 has effectively crossed the $62,000 threshold before provincial sales tax when Honda’s own published selling-price methodology is used. The financing or leasing calculation can also differ from the cash selling-price presentation.
Honda Has Raised the MSRP by $1,750
The 2026 Passport TrailSport arrived in Canada with a $56,990 MSRP, making the 2027 version $1,750 more expensive before freight and other charges. That works out to an increase of roughly 3.1 per cent. Honda’s original published selling price for the 2026 TrailSport was $60,158 when the redesigned model reached Canadian dealerships in May 2025. The company’s current online specifications page subsequently showed a slightly higher $60,243 selling price as charges evolved.
The increase is easier to assess because the fourth-generation Passport itself is still relatively new. Honda comprehensively redesigned the SUV for the 2026 model year rather than carrying an aging platform into 2027 and simply increasing the sticker. Buyers deciding between remaining 2026 inventory and a new 2027 therefore face a genuine equipment question. The older vehicle already has the new-generation V6, all-wheel-drive system, all-terrain tires, skid protection and rugged styling. Spending more on the 2027 primarily buys another layer of off-road engineering and additional standard equipment, making discounted outgoing inventory potentially interesting for drivers who do not require the extra ground clearance.
The Biggest Change Is Underneath the Passport
Honda did considerably more than install taller springs for 2027. Ground clearance increases from 210 millimetres on the 2026 TrailSport to 245 millimetres, or approximately 9.6 inches, for 2027. That 35-millimetre gain required extensive suspension revisions because simply raising the body could have negatively affected steering geometry, ride quality and handling. Honda says nearly 70 per cent of the major suspension components were redesigned, including the springs, dampers, control arms, stabilizer bars and knuckles.
Altogether, 28 suspension and related chassis components are redesigned, reengineered or new. Honda also changed the front subframe and rear driveshafts to accommodate the additional height and wheel travel. The geometric gains are measurable: approach angle increases from 23 degrees to 25 degrees, departure angle rises from 23 to 25 degrees and breakover angle improves from 20 to 23 degrees. Those numbers can sound abstract until a vehicle crosses a steep crest or drops into a deep trail depression. A few additional degrees can determine whether the tires clear an obstacle cleanly or the underside contacts the ground.
TrailWatch Moves Down to the Base TrailSport
One of the more practical improvements has nothing to do with horsepower. Honda is making the TrailWatch camera system standard on the regular 2027 Passport TrailSport after reserving it for the more expensive TrailSport Touring in the 2026 Canadian lineup. TrailWatch uses exterior cameras to provide front, rear, side and 360-degree views, with on-screen tire-placement graphics designed to make obstacles easier to judge when the driver cannot see them directly.
That feature can be useful well beyond dramatic rock crawling. A long hood can hide a surprisingly large area immediately ahead of an SUV, whether it contains a trail obstacle, a parking curb or the edge of a narrow track. Honda is also making a heated steering wheel standard across Passport TrailSport trims for 2027, a feature with obvious appeal during a Canadian winter. The changes improve the value of the least expensive trim because buyers no longer have to move to the Touring primarily to obtain the off-road camera system. At $62,119 before tax, greater standard equipment also helps Honda make the higher base price easier to justify.
The Naturally Aspirated V6 Remains Central to the Formula
Honda has not used the 2027 refresh to replace the Passport’s conventional gasoline powertrain. The fourth-generation model continues with a 3.5-litre V6 and the latest generation of Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system. The powertrain introduced with the 2026 redesign produces 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque and uses a 10-speed automatic transmission. Honda’s 2027 announcement identifies the same V6 architecture and does not announce a new engine or hybrid system.
The all-wheel-drive hardware is an important part of the Passport’s positioning. When Honda introduced the current generation, it said the upgraded rear drive unit could handle 40 per cent more torque and react 30 per cent faster than the previous version. Up to 70 per cent of available engine torque can be directed rearward, with the system capable of sending all of that rear-axle torque to either rear wheel when conditions demand it. Seven selectable modes—Normal, Econ, Sport, Snow, Sand, Tow and Trail—were also incorporated into the redesigned platform. In an industry rapidly shifting toward turbocharged four-cylinders and hybrids, the Passport’s naturally aspirated V6 is becoming a comparatively unusual proposition.
Added Capability Brings a Small Fuel-Economy Penalty
The increased ride height arrives with a modest deterioration in official fuel consumption. Honda lists every 2027 Passport trim at 12.7 L/100 km in the city, 10.5 on the highway and 11.7 combined. The 2026 TrailSport was rated at 12.6 L/100 km city, 9.9 highway and 11.4 combined. The largest change is therefore on the highway, where consumption rises by 0.6 L/100 km.
The difference appears small on an individual trip but accumulates with distance. At the official combined ratings, covering 20,000 kilometres would theoretically require about 2,340 litres of fuel in the 2027 versus approximately 2,280 litres at the 2026 rating—a difference of roughly 60 litres. Real-world consumption can differ considerably depending on temperature, speed, cargo, terrain and driving behaviour, something Natural Resources Canada and Honda both caution about. The trade-off is understandable: taller ride height, rugged all-terrain hardware and off-road capability rarely improve aerodynamic or rolling efficiency. Buyers attracted to the Passport primarily as a highway family vehicle may therefore want to weigh how often the additional 2027 capability will actually be used.
Practicality Remains a Major Part of the Passport’s Appeal
The current Passport was not designed solely around trail specifications. When Honda introduced the fourth generation for 2026, the wheelbase grew by 70 millimetres to 2,887 millimetres, while rear-seat legroom increased by 33 millimetres. With the second row folded, Honda quoted as much as 2,356 litres of cargo volume behind the front seats, an increase of 156 litres compared with the preceding model. The cabin also gained a 12.3-inch centre touchscreen, a 10.2-inch digital instrument display, Google built-in and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The useful details can be less glamorous than suspension articulation but matter during ownership. Honda incorporated large interior storage areas, 10 cupholders and space for one-litre bottles, while the accessory catalogue includes roof platforms, MOLLE-style storage solutions, rock sliders and a cargo shelf that can function as a picnic table. Independent testing of the 2026 model also highlighted its spacious cabin and comfortable road manners. The 2027 suspension changes are intended to retain that everyday behaviour. That balancing act is critical because most Passports will likely spend far more kilometres travelling on pavement than crawling over rocks.
Honda Is Charging Less Than a Comparable 4Runner, but More Than an Outback Wilderness
Pricing becomes more meaningful when placed beside other adventure-oriented SUVs available to Canadian shoppers. Toyota lists the 2026 4Runner TRD Off Road Premium at an estimated vehicle price of $68,870 before sales tax, substantially above the Passport TrailSport’s $62,119 published selling price. The Toyota is not a direct mechanical equivalent—it uses a body-on-frame platform and aims more explicitly at traditional off-road buyers—but the two vehicles increasingly compete for customers attracted to rugged design and genuine trail ability.
At the other end, Subaru’s 2026 Outback Wilderness is considerably cheaper. Subaru currently lists an MSRP of $49,195 and a selling price around $51,985 before tax, depending on the applicable published fees. It also provides 240 millimetres of ground clearance, only five millimetres less than the newly lifted Passport. The Honda counters with its larger cabin, V6 powertrain and different all-wheel-drive architecture. That leaves the Passport in an interesting middle ground: more expensive and larger than an Outback Wilderness, but cheaper than some of the most obvious Toyota 4Runner configurations shoppers may cross-shop against it.
The 2026 Model Had Already Proven It Could Leave the Pavement
The extra ride height addresses an area where the redesigned Passport was already more capable than its predecessor. MotorTrend’s testing of the 2026 TrailSport found that it could handle rocks, loose terrain and uneven surfaces while retaining a comfortable ride on pavement. The publication praised the effectiveness of the torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system and noted that the SUV remained composed despite its General Grabber all-terrain tires and off-road suspension calibration.
Car and Driver reached a broadly similar conclusion, describing the 2026 Passport TrailSport as genuinely adventure-ready while remaining useful as a five-passenger family vehicle. Its testing also highlighted the roomy cabin, ride comfort and comparatively quiet operation for an SUV riding on aggressive tires. The 2027 model theoretically builds on those strengths by addressing the earlier version’s relatively modest 210-millimetre clearance. Independent testing of the lifted 2027 suspension will ultimately be more useful than manufacturer claims for determining the real-world effect, however. More clearance can improve obstacle capability, but suspension tuning determines whether the vehicle remains pleasant during the thousands of ordinary kilometres between trail outings.
The Rest of the 2027 Lineup Quickly Moves Past $60,000 MSRP
The $58,740 TrailSport is only the first step in Honda’s four-model Canadian lineup. TrailSport Blackout carries a $60,240 MSRP and a published selling price of $63,619. TrailSport Touring rises to $62,290 MSRP and $65,669 selling price, while the TrailSport Touring Blackout reaches $63,790 MSRP and $67,169 under Honda’s published selling-price calculation. In every case, taxes, licensing, registration and applicable premium-colour charges remain additional.
The Blackout versions primarily appeal to customers looking for a darker appearance, with black 18-inch wheels, Honda badges and newly blacked-out front and rear fascia elements. Touring has traditionally supplied more comfort equipment, with the fourth-generation model introducing features such as perforated leather seating, ventilated front seats, rear climate controls and a 12-speaker Bose system at that level. The pricing ladder illustrates how quickly a Passport can approach $70,000 once taxes and options enter the equation. It also makes the increasingly well-equipped base TrailSport strategically important: Honda needs the least expensive version to feel complete rather than simply serving as an entry point to more profitable trims.
Honda Is Updating the Passport While Demand Is Strong
Honda says the fourth-generation Passport has generated multiple sales records since arriving in early 2025, giving the company an incentive to strengthen the formula rather than radically change it. The broader market response has also been encouraging. Car and Driver named the redesigned Passport to its 2026 10Best Trucks and SUVs list for the first time, while independent road tests have generally praised its combination of practicality, ride quality and legitimate off-road equipment.
That context helps explain the unusually rapid suspension overhaul. The 2026 Passport represented a major redesign, yet Honda returned only a year later with 35 millimetres of additional clearance and dozens of revised chassis components. Rather than waiting for a conventional mid-cycle refresh, the manufacturer appears to be sharpening the qualities that distinguish Passport from ordinary two-row crossovers. The gamble is that buyers will accept the accompanying price and fuel-economy increases. For someone regularly heading to remote campsites, rough cottage roads or winter recreation areas, the improvements have a clear purpose. For a buyer who rarely leaves pavement, the remaining 2026 inventory may offer much of the same experience for less money.
The $62,119 Figure Is the Number Canadian Buyers Should Remember
Honda’s $58,740 MSRP will naturally appear in advertisements because it is the simplest way to communicate the Passport TrailSport’s starting point. The more useful number for a cash-price comparison is $62,119, Honda Canada’s published selling price before taxes, registration, licensing, insurance and applicable premium-colour charges. That figure places the Passport firmly into the territory where buyers will compare not just capability but cabin quality, fuel consumption, long-term operating costs and resale expectations.
What makes the 2027 update notable is that Honda has attached tangible engineering to the price increase. Ground clearance reaches 245 millimetres, three critical off-road angles improve, TrailWatch becomes standard on the least expensive TrailSport, and a substantial portion of the suspension has been redesigned. The familiar V6, spacious five-seat cabin and torque-vectoring AWD remain at the centre of the package. Whether those changes justify more than $62,000 before tax depends heavily on how the Passport will be used. Honda has made the SUV more capable; Canadian customers now have to decide how much that extra capability is worth.
