The 2027 Honda Passport arrives with its most significant off-road upgrade in the model’s current generation. The TrailSport, which already accounted for more than 80 percent of Passport sales entering the model year, gets a suspension overhaul involving 28 redesigned or new components, lifting ground clearance to 9.65 inches and pushing approach and departure angles past what several dedicated off-road competitors offer. The RTL base trims are largely unchanged beyond a minor price adjustment and a new exterior color. The result is a Passport lineup where the buying decision is essentially a question of how much off-road capability and trim content you need, with the TrailSport family now doing more legitimate off-road work than the nameplate has ever offered. This guide covers dealer invoice prices for all six 2027 Passport configurations, what you get at each trim level, and how to put that information to work in a negotiation.
The table below shows MSRP alongside the dealer invoice price for all six 2027 Passport trims. All share standard all-wheel drive. Prices are pre-destination. Honda’s destination charge on the Passport is $1,595.
| Trim | Drivetrain | MSRP | Dealer Invoice | Dealer Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RTL | AWD | $45,195 | $43,900 | $1,295 |
| RTL Towing | AWD | $45,895 | $44,580 | $1,315 |
| TrailSport | AWD | $49,995 | $48,545 | $1,450 |
| TrailSport Blackout | AWD | $51,495 | $49,995 | $1,500 |
| TrailSport Elite | AWD | $53,695 | $52,100 | $1,595 |
| TrailSport Elite Blackout | AWD | $55,195 | $53,540 | $1,655 |
Note: AutoFinder’s current data shows invoice matching MSRP on the Passport, which reflects strong early-model-year demand on a refreshed TrailSport. The figures above are estimates based on the Passport’s historical invoice-to-MSRP spread of approximately 2.8 to 3 percent, consistent with Honda’s typical front-end margin structure on this vehicle. Confirm current invoice figures with an up-to-date source such as AutoFinder, Edmunds, or TrueCar before you negotiate, as pricing can shift as inventory builds through the model year.
At roughly $1,300 to $1,650 of front-end margin across the lineup, the Passport carries thinner dealer margins than many midsize SUVs. These are pre-holdback figures; Honda’s quarterly holdback payment to dealers provides some additional room below the numbers above. On a truck sitting on the lot for more than 30 to 45 days, or when competing quotes are in hand, buyers can often reach near or at invoice even on a vehicle with tight nominal margins.
Every 2027 Honda Passport uses the same powertrain: a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 producing 280 horsepower at 6,100 rpm and 258 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters and shift-by-wire. All-wheel drive is standard on every configuration. Honda’s second-generation i-VTM4 AWD system distributes torque actively between the front and rear axles and, on TrailSport trims, adds Trail Torque Logic for low-traction surface management.
The naturally aspirated V6 is a deliberate choice in a segment increasingly populated by turbocharged four-cylinders. The 3.5-liter delivers its power smoothly across a broad rev range rather than in a narrow torque band, which translates to predictable throttle response both on-road and in trail conditions where precise modulation matters. The tradeoff is fuel economy: EPA ratings are 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined on the RTL and RTL Towing, dropping slightly to 18 city / 22 highway / 20 combined on the heavier TrailSport family. The 18.5-gallon fuel tank gives the Passport a real-world highway range of roughly 400 miles on a fill for RTL buyers.
Towing capacity is 5,000 pounds on all trims. The RTL Towing variant adds a wiring harness, Class III hitch receiver, and trailer brake controller provisions not included on the base RTL, making it the starting point for buyers who plan to tow regularly.
The RTL is the entry point and the mainstream daily-driver configuration of the Passport. Standard equipment across all 2027 Passport trims includes a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster, 12.3-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Google built-in, Honda Sensing suite (adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation braking, lane keeping assist, road departure mitigation), push-button start, heated front seats, Trailer Stability Assist, Hill Descent Control, and LED headlights. The RTL rides on 18-inch Shark Gray alloys wrapped in 265/60R18 all-season tires and delivers 8.3 inches of ground clearance. It is the only configuration without the TrailSport’s raised suspension, all-terrain tires, or off-road-tuned chassis. For buyers who want the Passport as a comfortable family hauler and do not plan to go off-road, the RTL at approximately $43,900 invoice is the value starting point.
The RTL Towing adds the trailer hitch package over the base RTL. At roughly $44,580 invoice, the $680 step up from the RTL is well worth it for any buyer who plans to tow a boat, camper, or trailer, since those provisions are not easily added aftermarket.
The TrailSport is where the 2027 Passport earns its updates. The suspension overhaul is the centerpiece: Honda redesigned 28 components including springs, dampers, control arms, knuckles, front driveshafts, and the front subframe. The result raises ground clearance from 8.27 inches on the 2026 model to 9.65 inches, increases approach and departure angles to 25 degrees, and raises the breakover angle to 23 degrees. All-terrain tires move to wider 275/60R18 General Grabber A/T Sport units. The TrailSport also gains a revised front fascia with more pronounced fender flares, amber LED hood scoop lights, and amber side running lights. For 2027, TrailWatch and a heated steering wheel are newly standard on the TrailSport, having previously been limited to the Elite. TrailWatch uses multiple cameras to show a top-down 360-degree view and front, rear, and side views on the center display in trail mode, with on-screen graphics showing wheel position relative to steering input. At roughly $48,545 invoice, the TrailSport is the volume trim of the Passport lineup and delivers a meaningfully different capability profile from the RTL.
The TrailSport Blackout adds black front and rear fascias, black badging, and 18-inch black alloy wheels over the standard TrailSport while keeping all the same mechanical upgrades. It is a styling package, not a capability upgrade — everything under the TrailSport Blackout is identical to the standard TrailSport. At approximately $49,995 invoice, the $1,450 premium over the TrailSport is entirely for the appearance treatment.
The TrailSport Elite steps up the interior content. Standard additions over the base TrailSport include a 12-speaker Bose premium audio system, ventilated front seats and heated rear seats, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto-dimming exterior mirrors with puddle lights, and a hands-free power liftgate. The Elite rides on 18-inch Berlina Black Machine Face alloys. For buyers who want the full comfort and technology package alongside the TrailSport’s off-road capability, the Elite is the complete-package configuration of the Passport lineup.
The TrailSport Elite Blackout applies the same black styling treatment to the Elite, adding black alloys and black exterior badging. Like the standard Blackout, it is a cosmetic variant of the Elite rather than a distinct capability tier.
The 9.65 inches of ground clearance on the 2027 TrailSport is the headline specification for a reason. At that figure, the Passport TrailSport clears the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road (8.9 inches), the Subaru Outback Wilderness (9.5 inches), and the Ford Bronco Sport Badlands with the Sasquatch Package (8.8 inches) in the standard manufacturer specs. Approach and departure angles of 25 degrees are competitive with dedicated off-road vehicles, and the 23-degree breakover angle allows the Passport to navigate terrain that would bottom out a standard crossover.
Beyond the suspension geometry, the TrailSport’s Trail Torque Logic AWD management and Hill Descent Control give it real trail capability that the RTL, with its standard all-season tires and lower ride height, cannot match. Honda’s TrailWatch camera system adds a practical visibility tool that most competitors reserve for higher trim levels or do not offer at all. For buyers who want one vehicle that handles both a daily commute and weekend outdoor use without modifications, the 2027 TrailSport delivers that combination more effectively than any previous Passport generation.
The TrailSport suspension overhaul is the dominant change. Honda redesigned approximately 70 percent of the TrailSport’s major suspension components, including 28 individual parts, to raise the ride height and improve articulation. This is an engineering investment well beyond swapping springs or fitting larger tires — the front subframe and driveshafts were revised to accommodate the new geometry. Ground clearance gains 1.38 inches to reach 9.65 inches, approach and departure angles each gain 2 degrees, and the breakover angle gains 3 degrees.
TrailWatch and the heated steering wheel moved from Elite-exclusive to standard on all TrailSport trims. That means buyers who choose the base TrailSport at approximately $48,545 invoice now get the surround-view camera system without paying Elite prices for it. The TrailSport Blackout and Elite Blackout packages are redesigned with black front and rear fascias in addition to the black badging and wheels from previous years. Smoke Blue Pearl replaces Obsidian Blue Pearl as a color option. The RTL and RTL Towing received minor updates and a small price increase of $245.
Honda’s Trail Experience (HTX) app, which provides digital trail guides and routing integrated with the vehicle, is compatible with the 2027 Passport TrailSport. The Passport continues to be built exclusively at Honda’s facility in Lincoln, Alabama.
The 2027 Passport measures 191.5 inches long, 79.4 inches wide, and 73.1 inches tall on the RTL, with the TrailSport standing 1.4 inches taller at 74.5 inches due to the raised suspension. The wheelbase is 113.6 inches on RTL trims and 113.8 inches on TrailSport trims. Cargo volume is 44 cubic feet behind the second row on all trims and 83.8 to 104.6 cubic feet with the rear seats folded on the RTL, with slightly less usable volume on the TrailSport due to the taller body. The Passport is a true two-row midsize, and without a third-row option, all of the interior volume serves five occupants and their gear rather than being divided for a rear bench.
The 2027 Honda Passport carries Honda’s standard warranty package: 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain, and 5-year/unlimited-mile corrosion perforation coverage. Honda also provides roadside assistance for 3 years or 36,000 miles. Complimentary maintenance coverage terms should be confirmed with your Honda dealer, as Honda’s maintenance offer has varied by model year. The TrailSport’s suspension changes are covered under the standard powertrain warranty terms.
The Passport sits in the competitive midsize SUV space where Honda has historically managed supply carefully enough to keep transaction prices close to MSRP on popular trims during the launch period. The 2027 TrailSport, arriving with its most significant off-road upgrade yet, is the volume configuration and will likely see the firmest pricing early in the model year. Buyers who are patient and shop three to six months after launch will generally find more room as initial demand normalizes and inventory builds.
Use invoice as your anchor. At approximately 2.8 to 3 percent below MSRP, Passport margins are thin relative to full-size trucks or luxury SUVs, but they are real money. On a $50,000 transaction, $1,450 of front-end margin plus holdback is a meaningful negotiating position. Opening at invoice is a defensible offer; on lot inventory that has been sitting for a month, a price at or slightly below invoice is achievable.
Compare offers across multiple Honda dealers in your region. Honda has sufficient dealer density in most markets that competitive bidding is realistic. Email-based quote requests before you visit let you establish a baseline price without spending a full day negotiating on the showroom floor. A quote in hand from one dealer is leverage at another.
Know the competitive context going in. The 2027 Passport TrailSport competes directly with the Toyota 4Runner TRD Off-Road, Ford Bronco Sport Badlands, Subaru Outback Wilderness, and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk. Dealers are aware that buyers are cross-shopping, and a competing quote in hand from one of those rivals is legitimate leverage even if you ultimately prefer the Passport. On ground clearance and suspension capability, the 2027 TrailSport makes a strong case, but bringing that comparison to the table in a negotiation positions you as an informed buyer rather than a captive one.
In the finance and insurance office, Passport buyers often face extended warranty and protection product offers. Decide in advance what you need. Honda Care extended warranty, if you want powertrain coverage beyond the standard 5-year/60,000-mile terms, is worth pricing directly from Honda rather than through the dealership’s F&I menu, where it is often marked up. Appearance packages and accessory bundles presented in the F&I office typically carry significant margins for the dealer. Treat each product as its own decision and know the invoice on any add-on before you agree to it.
Darryl Taylor Dowe is a seasoned automotive professional with a proven track record of leading successful ventures and providing strategic consultation across the automotive industry. With years of hands-on experience in both business operations and market development, Darryl has played a key role in helping automotive brands grow and adapt in a rapidly evolving landscape. His insight and leadership have earned him recognition as a trusted expert, and his contributions to Automotive Addicts reflect his deep knowledge and passion for the business side of the car world.
