Honda Passport TrailSport vs. Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road: Honda's New Suspension Means Better Off-Road Specs

The Passport TrailSport's revised suspension gives it a leg up on the midrange off-road-focused 4Runner

written by David Gluckman
edited by Steven Ewing
9/14/2026
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What's new: Honda upgraded the Passport TrailSport's suspension for 2027, improving ground clearance along with the approach, departure and breakover angles.
Why it matters: The new specs along with the TrailSport's existing goodies make it a credible competitor to the midrange Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road trims.
Edmunds says: Honda may have a serious contender with the revised TrailSport model

Ground clearance is apparently important enough to car shoppers that Honda overhauled the Passport TrailSport's suspension just one year into the current generation. The result is a 1.4-inch increase, putting the new figure at a respectable 9.7 inches. Those changes put the 2027 Passport TrailSport in a more competitive stance against the Toyota 4Runner, specifically the TRD Off-Road version. (Yes, the TRD Pro exists, but it has no analog in the Passport lineup.)

We're taking this opportunity to see how the truck-based body-on-frame 4Runner TRD Off-Road compares to the most capable version of Honda's unibody two-row SUV yet. Spoiler alert: The Honda surpasses the Toyota in some important measures.

Power and fuel economy

There are no changes to the Passport's sole powertrain for 2027 — still no hybrid option for this, the Pilot or the Ridgeline — so Toyota wins on choice. The TRD Off-Road is one of a select few 4Runner trims available with either the base four-cylinder or the hybrid version; lesser trims are gas-only and the more expensive ones only come as hybrids.

Although you can get some 4Runners with rear-wheel drive should you insist, the TRD Off-Road appropriately comes standard with four-wheel drive. Every Passport uses the same all-wheel-drive system.

Honda hasn't shared updated fuel economy ratings for the 2027 TrailSport, but the increased ground clearance may result in a slight decrease. The less-tall 2026 TrailSport has EPA ratings of 20 mpg combined, 18 mpg city and 23 highway, numbers that the TRD Off-Road beats only slightly. In Edmunds' real-world testing, a 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite managed 20 mpg.

If you actually want to take one of these off-road, you'll be interested in the angles and clearances. With its newfound height, the TrailSport beats the TRD Off-Road's 8.8 inches of space underneath. The 2027 TrailSport's 25-degree approach and departure angles and 23-degree breakover angle compare very favorably to the TRD Off-Road's 19-degree approach and 24-degree departure and breakover angles.


Spec	Passport TrailSport	4Runner TRD Off-Road	4Runner TRD Off-Road Hybrid
Engine / motors	3.5-liter V6	turbocharged 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder	turbocharged 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder with one electric motor
Horsepower	285 hp	278 hp	326 hp
Torque	262 lb-ft	317 lb-ft	465 lb-ft
Transmission	10-speed automatic	eight-speed automatic	eight-speed automatic
Drive type	AWD	4WD	4WD
Fuel economy	20-21 combined mpg (18-19 city/23-25 hwy)	21 combined mpg (19 city/25 hwy)	23 combined mpg (23 city/24 hwy)

Interior

TRD Off-Road buyers don't have the option for a third row, so this is a straight five-seat competition. The gas 4Runner has the most cargo room, while the hybrid's electric components reduce usable volume to just below what the Passport offers. The Toyota has a little more front-row headroom and legroom, but the Honda turns the tables in row two, with a noticeable 6-inch advantage where legs and feet go. It comes down to a choice between people space and cargo space.

Both interiors have a functional look to them, although the Honda's shapes are softer compared to the chunky controls and details found in the 4Runner. Of the four TrailSport trims, the lesser two come with a combination of synthetic leather and cloth upholstery, while the more spendy ones get perforated leather. The 4Runner TRD Off-Road features cloth, but if you spring for the TRD Off-Road Premium, you'll be treated to Toyota's faux leather. As of 2027, all TrailSport trims come with a heated steering wheel, something Toyota reserves for the Premium level. The TRD Off-Road's standard front seats are unheated compared to included heat for lower TrailSports; heat and ventilation come with the upper Honda trims and the Off-Road Premium.


Spec	Passport TrailSport	4Runner TRD Off-Road	4Runner TRD Off-Road Hybrid
Number of seats	5	5	5
Headroom (front/2nd row)	39.1 / 39.6 in	39.7 / 37.8 in	39.7 / 37.8 in
Legroom (front/2nd row)	41.1 / 40.9 in	41.8 / 34.8 in	41.8 / 34.8 in
Cargo volume (2nd row up)	44.0 cu ft	48.4 cu ft	42.6 cu ft
Cargo volume (2nd row folded)	83.2 cu ft	90.2 cu ft	82.6 cu ft

Technology and safety equipment

All Passports come with a 12.3-inch center touchscreen and a 10.2-inch digital instrument display. The plain 4Runner TRD Off-Road makes do with an 8-inch middle screen but has a 12.3-inch gauge display, and the Premium version ups the touchscreen to 14 inches. Both infotainment systems support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Opting for the TrailSport Elite or TRD Off-Road Premium adds a nifty off-road camera system — Honda's is called TrailWatch; Toyota's is Multi-Terrain Monitor. Both let you select from various front, rear and side camera views so you can spot obstacles that aren't visible from the driver's seat. It may seem gimmicky, but all TrailSports come with a washer for their rear camera, and the Elite adds a front-camera sprayer — both would be helpful in a dusty environment.

On the safety front, both the Honda (Honda Sensing) and the Toyota (Toyota Safety Sense 3.0) come standard with long lists of driver aids. Either will get you adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assistance, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning and trailer sway control. The Passport comes with standard parking sensors, while Toyota's blind-spot awareness can account for an attached trailer, among other differences.

Trims and pricing

Honda hasn't released 2027 Passport pricing yet, but expect it to be a little higher than the 2026's $50,145 entry cost. Trading up to the TrailSport Elite costs an extra $4,000 for 2026.

Toyota charges $52,285 for the 2026 4Runner TRD Off-Road with the base gas engine and $58,065 for the Premium version. Opting for the hybrid powertrain runs $55,085 for the standard model and $60,865 to go Premium.

So, besides having more ground clearance, better approach and departure angles, a roomier back seat, and a larger infotainment screen, the Honda will likely be a little less expensive than the Toyota. Add in the Honda's much more compliant ride and better on-road manners, and the Accord's distant cousin looks like a better option than a Tacoma-based SUV for a lot of buyers.

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by David Gluckman

David has years of experience as a writer and editor for print and digital automotive publications, including Car and Driver and Road & Track. He can parallel-park a school bus, has a spreadsheet listing every vehicle he's ever tested, and once drove a Lincoln Town Car 63 mph in reverse. When not searching for the perfect used car, he can be found sampling the latest gimmicky foodstuffs that America has to offer.

edited by Steven Ewing

Steven Ewing is Edmunds' director of editorial content. An automotive journalist for more than half of his life, Ewing's been on staff at Winding Road magazine, Autoblog, Motor1.com, CNET, and he was the U.S. correspondent for Top Gear magazine. He's also contributed to publications like Automobile magazine, Car and Driver, The Drive, Jalopnik, Porsche Panorama, and more. Ewing has worked in the automotive industry since 2003. From testing prototype cars in the Arctic Circle to spilling a beer on a Formula 1 driver at the 24 Hours of Le Mans (oops), he's always got an interesting story to tell.

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