2027 Honda Passport TrailSport: 9.65 Inches of Ground Clearance
The High Desert is not kind to low-slung vehicles. Washboard roads, sandy washes, and rutted access trails all punish clearance. For 2027, Honda gave the Passport TrailSport a taller, reengineered suspension, and the numbers are worth a closer look.
- 9.65 inches of ground clearance, up 1.38 inches
- 25° approach and departure angles, each up 2 degrees
- 23° breakover angle, up 3 degrees
Table of Contents
- What Honda Changed Underneath
- What the Angles Mean Out Here
- TrailWatch: Seeing What You Cannot
- The Honda Trail Experience App
- A Tougher Look
- What It Is and What It Is Not
- Common Questions
What Honda Changed Underneath
This is more than a spacer lift. Honda says nearly 70 percent of the major suspension components were redesigned, including the springs, dampers, control arms, stabilizer bars, and knuckles. In total, 28 suspension and chassis parts were redesigned, reengineered, or are new. The front driveshafts and subframe were also modified to make room for the added ride height and wheel travel.
The result is a TrailSport that sits 1.38 inches higher than the 2026 model, at 9.65 inches, with improved articulation, which is how well the suspension keeps tires on uneven ground.
What the Angles Mean Out Here
Ground clearance tells you how high the underbody sits. The three angles tell you how steep an obstacle you can meet before something scrapes.
| Angle | 2027 TrailSport | Change vs. 2026 | Where you notice it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Approach | 25° | +2° | Climbing out of a wash or onto a steep driveway apron |
| Departure | 25° | +2° | Dropping off a ledge or leaving a rutted trailhead |
| Breakover | 23° | +3° | Crossing a crest or hump in the middle of the road |
Ground clearance and angle figures are Honda-published specifications for the 2027 Passport TrailSport.
For drivers heading toward Stoddard Valley, Johnson Valley, or the dirt roads in the Mojave National Preserve, those few extra degrees and inches are the difference between rolling over a rut and listening to it scrape.
TrailWatch: Seeing What You Cannot
The TrailWatch™ camera system is now standard on every Passport TrailSport, not just the Elite. It offers four viewing angles: front, rear, side, and 360-degree. Tire placement graphics help you line up around obstacles, and the system is designed to help with blind crests, deep ruts, and the edge of a trail.
Honda also made the heated steering wheel standard on all TrailSport trims, which is a small thing you will appreciate on a cold winter morning in Hesperia.
The Honda Trail Experience App
Honda offers the free Honda Trail Experience (HTX) app to owners of the 2026 and 2027 Passport TrailSport, along with Pilot TrailSport and CR-V TrailSport owners. Honda developed it with input from more than 1,500 existing owners. It can show real-time vehicle data and record it over video, including:
- Elevation, pitch, and roll
- Speed, throttle position, and brake pressure
- Engine and outside temperature
- Tire angle and GPS coordinates
You can export video with the data overlay and capture still photos, so a weekend trail run turns into something worth sharing. The app is available on the Apple App Store.
A Tougher Look
The 2027 styling matches the hardware. Front and rear fender flares are more pronounced, the lower front fascia is darker and resculpted, and two amber LED lights sit in the hood scoop. The Blackout Package adds black front and rear fascias and black 18-inch alloy wheels, and Smoke Blue Pearl is a new exterior color for 2027.
What It Is and What It Is Not
A taller suspension makes the Passport TrailSport more capable, but it is still a comfortable SUV built for families and road trips, not a dedicated rock crawler. It is at its best on graded dirt roads, washes, and light trails, and the right tires and good judgment still matter.
The added capability also comes with a small fuel economy cost. The Passport TrailSport trims are rated 18 city, 22 highway, and 20 combined mpg, compared with 19, 25, and 21 for the RTL trims.
EPA-estimated fuel economy; use for comparison purposes only. Actual mileage will vary with how you drive and maintain your vehicle, driving conditions, and other factors. AWD cannot provide traction in every situation. Always drive for the conditions.
Common Questions
Q: How much ground clearance does the 2027 Honda Passport TrailSport have?
9.65 inches, up 1.38 inches from the 2026 TrailSport at 8.27 inches.
Q: What are the approach, departure, and breakover angles?
25 degrees approach, 25 degrees departure, and 23 degrees breakover. That is 2, 2, and 3 degrees better than the 2026 TrailSport.
Q: How much of the suspension changed?
Honda says nearly 70 percent of the major suspension components were redesigned, with 28 suspension and chassis parts redesigned, reengineered, or new.
Q: Does every TrailSport have the TrailWatch camera system?
Yes, on the 2027 model. TrailWatch is standard on all TrailSport trims.
Q: What is the Honda Trail Experience app?
A free app for 2026 and 2027 Passport TrailSport, Pilot TrailSport, and CR-V TrailSport owners that shows and records real-time vehicle data such as elevation, pitch, roll, speed, and throttle position, with video and photo export.
Q: Is the 2027 Passport TrailSport at Valley Hi Honda?
The refreshed 2027 models are starting to arrive at dealerships. Call (760) 962-9600 to ask about current availability and timing.
Ready to see what the extra clearance feels like? Come check out the Passport TrailSport and ask about the 2027 arrivals. Visit Valley Hi Honda at 15710 Valley Park Ln in Victorville or call (760) 962-9600. You can also browse new Honda inventory or value your trade.
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