The 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport is all new this year and has impressive capabilities. To prove it, Honda flew me to North Carolina to get firsthand experience during the company’s off-road training. Located at Overland Experts in Troy, North Carolina, the 200-acre property includes some truly challenging terrain.
9/10
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Passport
- Engine
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3.5-liter V-6
Initially it was a way for engineers to safely test prototypes. Over time, it grew into a company-wide initiative that trains everyone from engineers to executives. I spoke with Honda chief engineer Pete Langseth about how the program started and how it is an important part of Honda’s commitment to off-road vehicle development.
Consistency in testing
The Overland Experts grounds host everything from one-on-one lessons to military training, with trails constantly changing due to this constant and varied use. It turned out to be the perfect place for Honda to start testing off-road vehicles. “We were moving more and more into the off-road market,” says Langseth. As the scope of Honda’s off-road development increased, so did the need to get everyone on the same page.
“We knew testing had to be done in a safer and more controlled manner. Not just people from any background just going out and doing things.”
– Pete Langseth, Chief Engineer, Honda
As time passed, Langseth and a team of engineers put together a curriculum to establish company-wide safety standards. It’s training that not only helps Honda employees learn what vehicles like the Passport TrailSport can do today, but also gives them ideas about what they could do in the future.
Designed for beginners and experts alike
While some vehicles cater only to hardcore off-roaders, the Honda Passport TrailSport customer is more diverse. It includes those who spend most of their time on pavement with only the occasional off-road adventure and those who place a higher priority on off-roading.
“You have to test it twice. You have to test it with different mindsets each time and make sure it satisfies both.”
– Pete Langseth, Chief Engineer, Honda
It’s not just about how the vehicle behaves. The off-road features that allow customers to enjoy off-road driving should not be overwhelming and complicated, especially for beginners. “You want it to be helpful but not intrusive and make both people feel comfortable and confident in what they’re doing,” says Langseth.
Training for everyone
While it may seem like only the engineering team needs off-road experience to design better vehicles, there was a good reason to extend the capability to the entire company. Executives who have had time to ride trails themselves can better understand why off-road features should be a priority in development.
“We do this with as many executives as possible so they understand why we are pushing for these positions.”
– Pete Langseth, Chief Engineer, Honda
This focus is also evident in recent Honda commercials, with a shift towards showing truly technical driving. It may look cool to see a vehicle blasting through the desert, kicking up sand or making a jump, but that’s not the reality of off-roading. The training that Honda employees receive ensures that the company approaches off-roading the right way.
“We teach PR people. We teach marketing people. We’ve even taught some contracting companies,” says Langseth. “For the commercials that you see, especially over the last two years, we worked very closely with them so that they wouldn’t just blow a car through the sand and snow and throw things in the air. That’s not off-roading.”
Unique Honda-only features
The front recovery hooks are a standout feature of the Passport TrailSport. “They are designed so that under tension, when you pull a vehicle out, they are ridiculously strong,” he said. “But if the vehicle hits something during compression, they could injure you or a pedestrian, so they need to sink on impact.” This is a unique feature of Honda and a point of pride for the technical team. There’s also a Trail mode, which automatically raises the TrailWatch camera to show tire trails and make it easier to navigate technical terrain. The system also adds gauges to the instrument cluster with pitch, roll and elevation displays.
“I developed those trail meters that automatically show up when you turn on trail mode. We had to find the sensors to make them work, make the electrical connections to make sure they get the signals they want, and then figure out how to display them so it makes sense,” Langseth said. It’s all about helping create the best off-road experience possible.
“If you make a vehicle that’s capable, customers, families or just a bunch of friends can go out and do things,” Langseth said. “It’s exciting to drive the route to reach a destination, and the more confident they are, the more they can do and the more they enjoy the vehicle and the experience.”
#Hondas #offroad #training #Passport #TrailSport #unstoppable