Telemetry apps that log throttle position, brake pressure, and lap times have mostly lived in the sports car world. Porsche’s Track Precision app and Chevrolet’s Performance Data Recorder both built loyal followings among enthusiasts who wanted hard proof, not just a feeling, when it came to lap times, G-forces, braking points, and cornering lines.
Honda has now taken that same idea, but moved it from the track to the trail.
The Honda Trail Experience, or HTX for short, is now available as the automaker’s first off-road-focused app, a free download through the Apple App Store. Honda engineers created it for the 2026 TrailSport models of the Pilot, CR-V, and Passport, incorporating input from more than 1,500 Passport TrailSport owners during development.
- Base Trim Engine
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3.5L V6 Gas
- Base Trim Transmission
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10-speed automatic
- Base Trim Drivetrain
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All-Wheel Drive
Key data points for situational awareness
Highlight reels add to the fun
Honda’s North American Automotive Development Center created HTX with members of the 2026 Passport development team. The app pulls 11 data points from the vehicle while off-roading, including:
- Elevation, pitch, roll.
- Latitude and longitude.
- Brake pressure, throttle position, speed.
- Engine temperature, outside temperature, tire angle.
Pitch and roll angle data are increasingly important off pavement, where they can flag a vehicle approaching its limits before a driver feels it. Pitch tracks how steeply the nose tilts up or down on a climb or descent, while roll measures side-to-side tilt across uneven terrain.
Watching both in real time gives a driver early warning before a wheel loses contact with the ground, a margin that is helpful to know when rock crawling or visiting an off-camber trail.
Quiz
Honda Passport
Read on and test your knowledge
How well do you know Honda’s adventure-ready SUV
HistoryPerformanceFeaturesTrailSportDesign
In what year did Honda first introduce the Passport nameplate?
That’s right! The Honda Passport made its debut for the 1993 model year.
It was actually a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo sold through Honda dealerships in North America, giving Honda a
body-on-frame SUV option during the SUV boom of the 1990s.
Not quite — the Honda Passport first arrived for the 1993 model year.
Interestingly, it wasn’t built by Honda at all; it was a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo, making it one of Honda’s
more unusual product partnerships of that era.
After the original Passport was discontinued, how many years passed before Honda
revived the nameplate?
Correct! The original Passport was discontinued after the 2002 model
year, and Honda brought the name back for the 2019 model year — a gap of about 18 years. The modern
Passport is a very different vehicle, now built on Honda’s own unibody platform.
The gap was actually about 18 years. Honda discontinued the original
Passport after 2002, then revived the nameplate for the 2019 model year as a completely reinvented,
Honda-engineered midsize SUV positioned between the CR-V and Pilot.
What engine powers the current-generation Honda Passport?
Exactly right! The Honda Passport is powered by a 3.5-liter naturally
aspirated V6 engine producing 280 horsepower. This engine is shared with the larger Honda Pilot and
gives the Passport a smooth, refined power delivery well-suited for both highway cruising and light
off-road use.
The correct answer is the 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6. This engine
produces 280 horsepower and is shared with the Honda Pilot. Honda opted for a V6 rather than a
turbocharged four-cylinder to prioritize smooth, linear power delivery in the Passport.
Which of the following is a key distinguishing feature of the Honda Passport
TrailSport trim?
You got it! The TrailSport trim comes equipped with all-terrain tires
and enhanced ground clearance compared to standard Passport trims, making it better suited for venturing
off the beaten path. It also features unique exterior styling cues and an i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system
tuned for off-road capability.
The correct answer is all-terrain tires and increased ground clearance.
The TrailSport doesn’t swap in a different engine or a hybrid system — instead, Honda focuses on
suspension tuning, all-terrain rubber, and a capable all-wheel-drive setup to give it genuine off-road
credentials.
What is the maximum towing capacity of the Honda Passport when properly equipped?
Nice work! The Honda Passport is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds when
properly equipped, which is a competitive figure in the midsize SUV segment. This makes it a practical
choice for owners who need to pull a small boat, camper trailer, or utility trailer on weekends.
The Honda Passport can tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
That capacity edges out several rivals in the midsize SUV class and makes the Passport a genuinely
useful hauler for folks who need to tow a boat or trailer on weekends.
How does the Honda Passport’s wheelbase compare to the three-row Honda Pilot?
Correct! The Honda Passport shares its platform with the Pilot but rides
on a shorter wheelbase, which is part of how Honda carved out a distinct two-row SUV niche for it. The
shorter wheelbase also contributes to a slightly more maneuverable feel compared to its larger sibling.
The Passport actually has a shorter wheelbase than the Pilot, even
though both vehicles share the same underlying platform. Honda shortened the Passport to create a
two-row SUV that feels sportier and more maneuverable while still offering a spacious cargo area.
Which all-wheel-drive system does Honda use in the Passport to help distribute
torque to individual rear wheels?
Well done! The Honda Passport uses Honda’s i-VTM4 system, which stands
for Intelligent Variable Torque Management 4-wheel drive. This system can send up to 70 percent of
engine torque to the rear wheels and even direct torque left or right at the rear axle, improving
cornering stability and traction on slippery surfaces.
The correct system is i-VTM4 — Intelligent Variable Torque Management.
SH-AWD is found in Acura models, while Real Time AWD is used in smaller Honda vehicles like the CR-V.
The i-VTM4 in the Passport is a more sophisticated setup capable of vectoring torque between the rear
wheels for better handling.
Which Honda model does the current Passport sit between in Honda’s SUV lineup?
That’s right! Honda deliberately positioned the current Passport between
the CR-V and the Pilot. It offers more cargo space and a more rugged character than the CR-V, but
without the third row and extra length of the Pilot — making it a sweet spot for buyers who want
capability without full-size SUV bulk.
The Passport slots between the CR-V and the Pilot in Honda’s lineup.
It’s larger and more rugged than the CR-V but lacks the third-row seating of the Pilot. Honda
essentially created the Passport to capture buyers who wanted a two-row SUV with a more adventure-ready
personality.
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Drivers can display up to six of those data points on the interior touchscreen at once, swapping the layout based on what matters most on a given trail. Interactive maps and recorded data let owners revisit a route afterward, turning a single trail run into a reference for the next one. That kind of playback is useful for remembering which line worked through a rock garden, or how steep a climb actually was compared to how it felt in the moment.
HTX also captures video, using the iPhone’s camera and microphone to record footage with map and performance data overlaid. Capture is controlled from the vehicle’s touchscreen, so the phone can be mounted anywhere on or around the Honda SUV: inside, outside, or in the hands of someone filming nearby. The app also supports still photos, and no separate editing software is required.
Clips are ready to post straight to social media, with the climb, speed, and route already built into the footage. Years later, that footage holds more than just technical data: a record of how the kids reacted to a steep grade, who was riding along that day, and the exact spot where the family decided to stop for a picnic.
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TrailSport owners helped design the app
Users are encouraged to provide feedback
In January, Honda’s development team brought beginner, novice, and expert off-roaders to The Overland Company in Troy, North Carolina, for a day of real-world testing. The group included Passport TrailSport owners as well as drivers of other popular off-road vehicles. Their feedback shaped the functionality of the HTX app and will be applied to future versions.
However, Honda wants to hear from everyone who downloads HTX. The “Share Feedback” feature inside the app lets Honda owners send comments directly to the development team. That direct feedback line is important because the off-pavement conditions HTX covers will vary from region to region. Continued feedback also gives Honda a way to catch issues and refine features after launch.
One app, three SUVs, iPhone required for now
HTX is available now as a free download from the Apple App Store for owners of the 2026 Passport TrailSport, Pilot TrailSport, and CR-V TrailSport. While HTX is only available to Honda owners with iPhones at launch, an Android version is coming, although no release date has been set.
As for the vehicles covered by the HTX app, the three-row Pilot TrailSport has a 3.5-liter V6 with 285 horsepower and standard all-wheel drive. It starts at $50,595. The CR-V TrailSport switches things up with a two-motor hybrid system rated at 204 horsepower and is more affordable than the larger Pilot, with a starting MSRP of $38,800.
The Passport TrailSport sits between the two on price, starting at $48,650. It shares the Pilot’s V6 following an extensive redesign for the 2026 model year, one that already has the rugged SUV beating some pricier rivals in the midsize segment.
In addition to its off-road capability, the Passport TrailSport also made this year’s joint list of the safest new vehicles for teen drivers from the IIHS and Consumer Reports.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
