Honda is showing off the off-road capabilities of the upcoming Passport TrailSport as part of pre-release testing.
The automaker posted a video on YouTube showing the upcoming SUV taking part in a desert test. The Passport TrailSport blazed down dirt roads, climbed rocks, and forded a river. This latter test included water covering a significant portion of the SUV’s grille.
The video, which had the purpose of showing the vehicle’s off-road capabilities, ended with it parked on the edge of a canyon.
Of course, this quick glimpse was only one example of the testing the TrailSport is undergoing ahead of its release. According to Honda, the SUV has taken on the sandy dunes of Western Michigan and the muddy trails of Appalachia.
This SUV continues to undergo rigorous testing as the Honda engineers prepare for its official reveal this fall. The TrailSport will arrive at dealerships in early 2025.
Honda has shared some details about the Passport TrailSport
As the colorful wrap in the video indicates, Honda is not yet ready to fully unveil its newest SUV. However, the automaker has provided some key details.
For example, the Passport TrailSport features a DOHC 3.5-liter V6 engine. This pairs with what Honda calls a high-strength 10-speed automatic transmission.
The Passport TrailSport includes the Honda i-VTM4 All-Wheel Drive system that distributes optimum torque between front and rear axles. This system, which Honda introduced in 2015, is available on the Honda Pilot. It’s standard on the Passport and the Ridgeline pickup.
Honda engineers built this system for wet and slippery conditions, as well as snow. The system determines how much torque to send to the respective wheels, as well as each side of the vehicle.
The all-wheel-drive system also includes drive modes for specific situations that change how it operates. For example, the snow setting starts the vehicle in second gear to reduce wheelspin. Trail mode has delayed upshifts to increase wheel torque.
Honda tested this i-VTM4 system in a variety of terrains. The list includes Dubai and the Imperial Sand Dunes in California. Honda also tested the system in Moscow, Russia.