Honda Passport 2025 or 2026: which model year fits Sacramento drivers?
The 2026 Honda Passport suits Sacramento drivers who want the newest design and technology, and the 2025 suits drivers happy with the previous generation. Capital City Honda sells the new Passport on Fulton Avenue, in Sacramento itself.
Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Sacramento. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.
The 2026 Passport suits Sacramento drivers who want the newest design and tech
The 2026 Passport is the bigger change. The 2026 Passport carries a 10-speed automatic where the 2025 has a 9-speed, and a standard 12.3-inch touchscreen where the 2025 has an 8-inch screen. According to Honda’s 2026 Passport press kit, the new touchscreen is 54% larger and comes with Google built-in as standard.
The redesign is more than the screen. Honda’s press kit says the wheelbase grew 2.7 inches, with overall length up 2.4 inches and width up 0.8 inches. The body is broader, with flared fenders over 18-inch wheels and 31-inch tires. Drivers who want the current look and the current cabin should start with the 2026.
How do the 2025 and 2026 Passport handle Sacramento commutes and Tahoe trips?
Both years carry a 5,000-pound maximum tow rating on the maker’s specification sheets. The 2026 makes 285 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 262 lb-ft of torque; the 2025 is rated 280 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The EPA rates the 2025 AWD at 19 city, 24 highway and 21 combined.
For a commute, the figures barely separate the two years. Sacramento’s average commute is short. The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey puts the mean travel time to work for Sacramento city workers at 25.3 minutes (data.census.gov).
A Tahoe trip is a different test. Driving from Sacramento to Lake Tahoe takes about two hours, depending on the route. Trippy puts the nonstop drive at 105 miles and 1 hour, 59 minutes. Both model years have the same 5,000-pound tow rating, so a boat or trailer load does not split them.
How much cargo and passenger room do the 2025 and 2026 Honda Passport offer?
Passenger room is nearly identical. The 2026 RTL lists 41.1 inches of first-row legroom and 40.9 inches in the second row, and seats five. The 2026 Passport’s wheelbase is 113.6 inches, according to Edmunds.
Cargo is where the buyer should look hardest. The 2026 RTL lists 83.8 cubic feet behind the first row and 104.6 cubic feet at maximum. Honda’s 2025 specifications list 77.7 cubic feet behind the first row, standard, and 100.8 cubic feet at maximum. A family hauling gear to the Sierra gets more room from the 2026.
What does the 2026 Honda Passport change in design and technology?
The 2026 Passport adds a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster next to its 12.3-inch touchscreen. Honda says the touchscreen carries wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with standard Google built-in. The 2025 used an 8-inch color touchscreen with customizable feature settings.
Honda’s press kit describes the new body as rugged and broad shouldered, with a shorter front overhang and a hidden rear exhaust. The redesign gives the 2026 a new look, not a new drivetrain.
What does a 2026 Honda Passport cost in Sacramento compared with a 2025?
The 2026 Passport starts at $44,950 for the RTL, the lowest-priced trim, according to Honda. The 2026 TrailSport starts at $48,650. The 2025 EX-L (AWD) started at $42,400 and the 2025 TrailSport (AWD) at $45,000, according to Honda News.
Used 2025 Passports are listed in Sacramento below the new 2026 starting prices. A used 2025 Passport TrailSport with 44,096 miles was listed at $36,160 in Sacramento, and a 2025 EX-L with 17,685 miles at $32,900 after a discount, according to Trovit’s listings for Sacramento County. Kelley Blue Book estimates a 2025 TrailSport in excellent condition at $37,310 privately.
Sales tax applies on top of the sticker price. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s CDTFA-95 schedule sets Sacramento city’s rate at 8.75%, a full point above the 7.75% rate for Sacramento County.
Sacramento buyers can compare the 2025 and 2026 Passport on these specs
Use the table to set the two years side by side on the figures that matter in Sacramento.
| Spec | 2025 Passport | 2026 Passport |
|---|---|---|
| Horsepower | 280 @ 6,000 rpm (SAE net) | 285 @ 6,100 rpm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic, shift-by-wire | 10-speed automatic, paddle shifters |
| Max towing | 5,000 lbs | 5,000 lbs |
| EPA city / highway / combined (AWD) | 19 / 24 / 21 | 19 / 25 / 21 |
| Max cargo | 100.8 cu ft | 104.6 cu ft |
| Touchscreen | 8-inch color | 12.3-inch color, Google built-in |
Source: Honda Info Center 2025 Passport specifications; Honda 2026 Passport specifications.
When is the 2026 Honda Passport the wrong choice, and when the 2025?
The 2025 makes sense for a buyer who wants a used Passport with low miles at a lower price.
The 2026 makes sense for a buyer who wants the new screen, the 10-speed, and the larger cargo area for Sierra trips. Honda rates the 2025 Passport at five stars overall in NHTSA testing, according to GizmoDriver. Honda of Mentor lists the 2026 at 285 horsepower and 119.1 cubic feet of total passenger volume, against 280 horsepower and 114.9 cubic feet for the 2025.
Frequently asked questions
What trims does the 2026 Honda Passport come in, and what sets the TrailSport apart?
The 2026 Passport starts at $44,950 for the RTL, and the TrailSport starts at $48,650. The TrailSport adds the Off-Road Tuned Suspension and an underbody skid plate, and its tires are 275/60R18 General Grabber all-terrain tires, the largest ever fitted to a Honda SUV.
How does the Honda Passport compare with the Honda Pilot for a Sacramento family?
The Passport is the smaller of the two Honda SUVs. The Pilot Sport starts at $42,395 and seats up to eight, while the 2026 Passport seats five. Both are rated to tow 5,000 pounds in the Passport’s case and 3,500 to 5,000 pounds in the Pilot’s, depending on drive. Families who need a third row should start with the Pilot.
Does the Honda Passport come with all-wheel drive for Sierra trips?
Yes. Honda’s press kit says the new i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system is standard on all Passport trims. The system has a stronger rear drive unit that handles 40% more torque, according to Honda.
What safety features come standard on the 2025 and 2026 Honda Passport?
Honda Sensing is standard on all Passport trims in both years. The 2026 suite includes collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, and parking sensors front and rear. The IIHS named the 2026 Passport a Top Safety Pick+.
Capital City Honda, on Fulton Avenue in Sacramento
Capital City Honda is at 3630 Fulton Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95821, and it is the Honda store inside the city itself. The rest of the Honda stores in the area sit in Elk Grove, Rancho Cordova, Citrus Heights or Davis.
The store’s Google rating is 4.5 stars across 3,088 reviews, and 82% of those reviews are five-star. A recent Google reviewer, Raymund V., wrote in September 2026: “Six stars if I could. I came to Capital City Honda looking for a reliable used sedan for my son, and I left with a 2024 Accord and zero regrets. Gianni in Sales made the difference. He answered my questions honestly, sent me a clear out-the-door quote by email before I ever set foot on the lot, and respected the budget I gave him. No games, no surprise numbers at the desk. Matt in Finance kept that same standard. He walked me through the paperwork line by line, explained my options without pressuring me into add-ons I didn’t want, and moved fast so I wasn’t stuck there all night. Car shopping usually wears me out. This time it didn’t. Thanks, Gianni and Matt. I’ll send people your way.”
At Capital City Honda, we sell new, used, and certified pre-owned Honda vehicles, and we offer Honda leases, new Honda financing and pre-owned car loans. Buyers can shop, value a trade, and get pre-approved online, then finish in store. If you are comparing the 2025 and 2026 Passport, start with the 2026 at our Fulton Avenue store, bring your list of questions, and let us walk you through both years on the same day.
Capital City Honda answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Sacramento showroom, or call 916-514-4085.
Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact Capital City Honda for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.