Honda Passport Trailsport Gets Rugged Overhaul

Honda debuted its Passport Trailsport earlier this week as a gussied-up off-road SUV. As things tend to go in the automotive industry, the Trailsport takes inspiration from the myriad of influencers and enthusiasts that spend time and money customizing their vehicles to gain more capability and different styling. To capitalize on that trend even further, Honda worked with a popular YouTuber to build a more rugged and capable version of the Trailsport for display at an upcoming overlanding conference.

Built to show off the 2022 Passport Trailsport, the Rugged Roads Project vehicle got several rugged exterior appearance upgrades. Honda wrenched on the SUV with YouTuber Jon Tuico from the JonDZ Adventuring channel and will show it off at the Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, AZ, from September 24 through 26. Honda will display the Rugged Roads Project alongside Tuico’s modified Passport at the show.

The Passport Trailsport may have an off-road look, but it’s more of an appearance package than a functional upgrade for the SUV. It brings unique exterior styling, pewter-painted 18-inch wheels, orange contrast stitching inside, and amber ambient interior lighting. The Rugged Roads Project aimed to add bark behind that bite with a series of off-road-ready upgrades.

The project involved adding components to the Passport Trailsport sourced from within Honda and the aftermarket community. A Jsport suspension lift kit provides a 1.5-inch lift up front and a .75-inch lift in back, while black 18-inch Honda wheels and Firestone Destination A/T2 all-terrain tires handle the rest.

Honda R&D custom fabricated Trailsport orange front recovery points and skid plates for the fuel tank and oil pan made from 3mm-thick stainless steel. The additional ground clearance provided by the lift kit provides better approach and departure angles for the Passport. At the same time, the skid plates protect the SUV’s undersides from damage caused by rocks and other obstacles.

Since it’s an overlanding rig, Honda added roof crossbars and a Roofnest Sparrow XL rooftop tent for overnight accommodations. A Dirt Complex tow-hitch tire carrier moves the spare outside to improve interior cargo space.

Honda also massaged a Ridgeline HPD (Honda Performance Division) pickup for the Overland Expo. Called Trail Tour Project Vehicle, the truck also gets several upgrades from the automaker and others. It is customized with a Jsport lift and spare tire carrier, custom recovery points and skid plates, and a rooftop tent setup.

Honda is the source of information for this article. It was accurate on September 23, 2021, but it may have changed since that date.