Off-Roading in the 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite vs Jeep Grand Cherokee

When shopping for an SUV capable of venturing off the pavement, it’s easy to assume your options are limited to the Jeep lineup. After all, this automaker was born out of necessity when it answered the bid from the American military for a vehicle to aid in World War II. Known then as Willys, Jeep set the cornerstone of its legacy. However, Honda is ready to prove that Jeep isn’t the only adventure-ready brand in the industry, especially for those looking for the Honda Passport for sale.

Redesigned for 2026, the Honda Passport is more rugged than ever, with top-tier trims like the TrailSport Elite destined to venture off the pavement and challenge esteemed rivals like the Grand Cherokee. But can an SUV from an automaker known for its reliability, practicality, and comfort put the ultimate family-friendly adventurer to the test? The 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite is up for the challenge, seeing Honda blend its classic practicality with an adventurous spirit.

Brand Reputation: Past and Present

Before diving into the very components that make the 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite a worthy off-roader, there’s a more obvious point to consider: brand reputation. Jeep was born from necessity in the early 1940s when the American military needed a light reconnaissance vehicle. Only three automakers answered the call, combining their efforts to build the Willys Quad. By the end of the war, Willys expanded to the civilian market, eventually rebranding as Jeep.

A decade after Jeep aided the American military, Honda ventured beyond its native Japan to America, treating drivers to a new blend of practicality, reliability, and performance. Honda’s automobiles were a welcome entry into the landscape, with sedans like the Civic and Accord laying the framework for an ever-evolving lineup that would eventually give us crossovers like the CR-V and adventurous SUVs like the Passport.

These legacies remain intact today, but it’s impossible to ignore Jeep’s current state of affairs under the Stellantis umbrella. Jeep’s reputation is solid, while Honda likewise remains stable, offering the same reliability that’s defined its lineup for decades with modern twists that give us more capable SUVs like the Passport TrailSport Elite. So, how does it compare to its biggest rival?

Capability On and Off the Pavement

The 2025 Grand Cherokee Laredo A starts the lineup, setting the baseline for capability as a rear-wheel-drive SUV with a great suspension and minimal features. There’s nothing genuinely special about the Grand Cherokee Laredo A because it’s not readily customizable. Instead, it’s a sparsely equipped base trim that boasts Jeep’s award-winning 3.6L Pentastar V6 engine. Even then, it’s not adept at handling life beyond the pavement, with Jeep requiring you to spend far more for the capability expected of the brand.

As you dig deeper into your wallet, trims like the Grand Cherokee Laredo and Laredo X venture into familiar territory by offering Jeep’s four-wheel drive system as an optional upgrade. Again, it’s an upgrade, so expect the Grand Cherokee’s already mile-high price tag to skyrocket. Unfortunately, this is the case until you reach a mid-tier trim like the Grand Cherokee Overland, the first to roll off Jeep’s production line with a Quadra-Trac II four-wheel drive system and off-road suspension. While the combination makes the Grand Cherokee Overland agile on more rugged terrain, you’re compromising your budget and could’ve spent far less on a more reliable and well-equipped SUV like the Passport TrailSport Elite.

The all-new 2026 Passport TrailSport is the most rugged SUV in Honda’s history, with the automaker offering a progressive lineup of capabilities with trims like the first-ever TrailSport Elite. This trim rolls off Honda’s production line with an off-road-tuned suspension, underbody skid plates, heavy-duty recovery hooks, and specially engineered all-terrain tires for exceptional handling and traction on more technical terrain. These components are standard, meaning you don’t have to spend more for this all-wheel-drive adventurer.

The TrailSport’s off-road prowess is intricately tied to its build, with Honda strengthening and reinforcing the frame. This updated design improves the Passport’s ride quality and handling on and off the pavement, but the SUV’s engine and all-wheel drivetrain are the real showstoppers. Honda’s torque-vectoring i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system is standard across the Passport lineup, making the TrailSport more responsive and competent on various terrains. Honda adds seven selectable drive modes—Normal, Sport, Econ, Snow, Sand, Tow, and Trail—that let you fine-tune the SUV’s handling to the situation.

Ingenious Tech for Tackling Terrain

Technology plays a prominent role in your experience behind the wheel, whether running errands around town or venturing beyond the pavement. Honda and Jeep recognize as much, equipping the Passport and Grand Cherokee with the latest features. Yet, the 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite outshines its Jeep rival by utilizing its technologies to instill confidence and offer a transformative experience wherever the road or trail leads.

The 2025 Grand Cherokee features a modest 10.1-inch center touchscreen with Jeep’s Uconnect 5 infotainment system. While smartphone integration via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard, Honda ups the ante and equips the 2026 Passport with a 12.3-inch infotainment system with Google Built-In, complementing the standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There’s even a wireless phone charging pad.

The Passport TrailSport Elite’s center touchscreen is also home to the SUV’s multiview camera system, TrailWatch, which uses four exterior cameras that provide a comprehensive view of the SUV along the front, sides, and rear. The 360-degree surround view enhances your situational awareness and makes it easier to navigate technical terrain, whether maneuvering in a tight parking space downtown or keeping your distance from a steep edge on the trail. TrailWatch gives the Passport TrailSport Elite an obvious advantage, especially with its larger touchscreen offering better visibility and clearer views of what’s around you.

Practicality Throughout the Week and Weekend

The Passport and Grand Cherokee are midsize SUVs that offer ample room for passengers and cargo. However, Honda’s reputation for practicality shines in the 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite, making it more versatile and accommodating for every on and off-road adventure.

The 2025 Grand Cherokee with a two-row layout offers 37.7 cu.ft. of cargo space behind the second row or 70.8 cu.ft. total. Alternatively, the 2026 Passport has significantly more room for your gear, with 44 cu.ft. behind the second row and 83.5 cu.ft. total. That difference seems slight on paper, but it could mean the benefit of carrying another sleeping bag, tent, and additional provisions for a weekend getaway in the woods.

The 2026 Passport gains an even wider lead because of its thoughtful design, with elements offering greater convenience and comfort without adding to its price tag. For example, Jeep asks drivers to spend more for premium leather seating in a top-tier Grand Cherokee, but Honda outfits the Passport TrailSport with a blend of leatherette and cloth seating with trim-exclusive orange stitching and accents. The TrailSport Elite also features heated and ventilated front seats, integrated rear sunshades, power front seats with driver memory, all-season floor mats, a heated windshield, smart entry, and ambient lighting throughout the cabin.

These elements offer plenty of comfort regardless of the terrain. Moreover, Honda recognizes that the 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite isn’t destined solely for life beyond the pavement. Instead, it’s also built to handle your life throughout the week, offering next-level convenience with features like its power tailgate that offers hand-free accessibility and closes when you walk away. Even the second row folds down at the touch of a button, with a 60/40 split that lets you optimize the space for passengers and cargo.

Rooting for the Underdog: A Surprise on the Trail

As drivers, we often want the best of both worlds; we want an SUV that’s efficient and practical but also satiates our penchant for adventure and our need to explore the unknown. For decades, Jeep has led the industry as the go-to brand for four-wheel-drive models, but Honda is ready to challenge the status quo and introduce drivers to a unique blend of practicality, reliability, and all-terrain capability. That combination is at the heart of the 2026 Passport TrailSport Elite, the most rugged SUV in Honda’s history and an underdog worthy of the spotlight.