Honda plans export of U.S.-built Passport SUV to Japan

Honda announced plans to export the U.S.-built Honda Passport TrailSport Elite to Japan in the second half of 2026, expanding its SUV lineup for the Japanese market.

Honda has announced plans to bring the U.S.-built Passport SUV to the Japanese market, marking an unusual move in which a vehicle designed and manufactured in the United States will be sold in Japan. Sales are expected to begin in the second half of 2026 as the company expands its domestic lineup with a model focused on off-road capability.

For Japan, the vehicle will be offered exclusively in the TrailSport Elite trim. According to Honda, the export models will match the specifications of the U.S. version, including a left-hand-drive layout. This is notable for the Japanese market, where right-hand-drive vehicles are standard, but Honda intends to keep the model’s original configuration.

The fourth-generation Passport debuted last year and quickly became a strong performer in the United States. During 2025 the SUV set multiple monthly sales records and ultimately delivered the best annual result in the model’s history. Notably, around 80 percent of sales come from the off-road-oriented TrailSport version, highlighting strong demand for more rugged variants.

The Passport was created and engineered in the United States. Its design was developed in California, engineering work was carried out in Ohio, and production takes place at the Honda Alabama Auto Plant in Lincoln. The same facility also manufactures the engine used in the SUV. The plant has operated since 2001 and has the capacity to build up to 340,000 vehicles and 340,000 V6 engines annually, producing models such as the Pilot, Odyssey and Ridgeline alongside the Passport.

The SUV is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a displacement of 3471 cubic centimeters, producing 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. For the Japanese market this engine will represent a new offering, as Honda has not previously sold vehicles there with this powertrain.

The TrailSport Elite version emphasizes off-road capability. It includes off-road-tuned suspension, reinforced skid plates, all-terrain tires, front and rear recovery points and the TrailWatch camera system, designed to help drivers monitor the surroundings of the vehicle when navigating difficult terrain. The SUV also uses the i-VTM4 all-wheel-drive system, which distributes torque between the rear wheels. In its second generation the rear drive unit has 40 percent greater torque capacity and 30 percent faster response, improving traction in challenging driving conditions.

The Passport name itself dates back to the early 1990s. The first generations were produced from 1993 to 2002 and were developed during Honda’s cooperation with Isuzu. After a long pause, the model returned to the brand’s lineup in 2019 as a midsize SUV positioned between the CR-V and the larger Pilot.

Exporting vehicles built in the United States has long been part of Honda’s global strategy. The company began shipping American-made vehicles overseas in 1987 and has since exported more than 1.75 million Honda and Acura vehicles worldwide. Nearly 300,000 of those vehicles have been exported to Japan. As early as 1988, Honda became the first Japanese automaker to import its own U.S.-built vehicles into Japan.

The new Passport has already been displayed at events such as the Tokyo Auto Salon and Osaka Auto Messe, where the company reported strong visitor interest. Against this backdrop, bringing the SUV to Japan appears to be a logical next step as Honda broadens its SUV offering and introduces a model with stronger off-road credentials than most vehicles currently available in its domestic lineup.