Honda Passport RTL or TrailSport: which fits Owings Mills drivers?
Pick the Honda Passport RTL if your Owings Mills driving is mostly commutes, errands and highway miles and you want the lower starting price. Pick the TrailSport if you take weekend trips onto gravel, dirt or trail roads and want the off-road hardware. Group 1 Honda Owings Mills sells both trims.
Some differences show up on the spec sheet, and some only show up on a trail.
Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Owings Mills. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.
The Passport RTL fits Owings Mills commutes; the TrailSport fits trail weekends
The TrailSport is the trim built for rough ground. It comes with all-terrain tires, an off-road tuned suspension and an underbody skid plate, and the RTL carries none of those three (Honda, 2026). That hardware is why the TrailSport suits trail weekends, while the RTL’s all-season tires suit weekday driving.
The RTL rides on 265/60R18 all-season tires marked M+S (Honda, 2026). The TrailSport steps up to 275/60R18 all-terrain tires. Honda says they were developed with General Tire to grip sand, mud, rock and snow while staying quiet on pavement (Honda, 2026).
The TrailSport also gets heavy-duty front and rear recovery points, rated to hold twice the vehicle’s weight, which the RTL does not have (Honda, 2026). Its 18-inch wheels have sunken valve stems to keep them safe from trail damage (Honda, 2026). For a driver who spends weekdays on pavement, the RTL’s tires are the right match. A weekend on gravel is where the TrailSport’s equipment earns its place.
How much more does the Honda Passport TrailSport cost than the RTL?
Honda lists the 2026 Passport RTL at a starting MSRP of $44,950 and the TrailSport at $48,650 (Honda, 2026). Those are starting prices, so the cost of any extras comes on top of them.
The TrailSport also starts above the RTL Towing and the RTL Blackout, which Honda lists at $45,650 and $46,150 (Honda, 2026). The question is whether the trail hardware is worth that difference to you. If your weekends stay on pavement, the price difference buys equipment you will not use.
What does the Passport TrailSport add for off-road driving that the RTL lacks?
The TrailSport adds an off-road tuned suspension and an underbody skid plate, and the RTL has neither (Honda, 2026). The skid plate guards the underside of the vehicle when you cross rocks or ruts.
The extra height is not what separates the two trims. The suspension, the skid plate, the all-terrain tires and the recovery points do that work. A buyer who only needs more clearance should know the RTL already has the same amount.
How do Passport RTL and TrailSport fuel economy and acceleration compare?
The EPA rates the AWD Passport at 19 mpg city, 25 highway and 21 combined, and the AWD TrailSport at 18 city, 23 highway and 20 combined (EPA, 2026). Both trims share a 285-horsepower engine (Honda, 2026).
MotorTrend’s test of the RTL reached 60 mph in 7.1 seconds, and the TrailSport took 7.7 seconds (MotorTrend, 2025). The RTL pulls away from a stop a little quicker. That gap is small, and most daily commuters will not notice it on a typical drive.
What do Owings Mills commutes and Maryland winters ask of a Passport trim?
The average commute in Owings Mills is 29.4 minutes (Data USA, 2024). For a drive that long, every day, the RTL’s all-season tires are the practical match. TRIP puts the average Baltimore area driver’s loss to traffic congestion at 68 hours a year (TRIP, 2026).
Baltimore averages 19.3 inches of snow a year over 9.0 days, based on 1991 to 2020 (Current Results, 1991 to 2020). Both Passport trims are all-wheel drive (Honda, 2026). The TrailSport’s all-terrain tires add grip in snow, and the RTL’s all-season tires still carry the M+S marking.
Passport RTL and TrailSport specs a buyer weighs, trim by trim
Every Passport trim in the table tows up to 5,000 pounds (Honda, 2026).
| Trim | Starting MSRP (USD) | Max towing (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Passport RTL | $44,950 | 5,000 |
| Passport RTL Towing | $45,650 | 5,000 |
| Passport RTL Blackout | $46,150 | 5,000 |
| Passport TrailSport | $48,650 | 5,000 |
Every trim seats five and tows the same amount, so the choice comes down to price, tires and trail equipment.
Who should skip the Passport TrailSport, and who should skip the RTL?
Skip the TrailSport if your driving stays on paved roads and you want the lower starting price. The all-terrain tires, skid plate and recovery points are equipment a pavement-only driver will not use.
Skip the RTL if your weekends take you onto gravel, dirt or rough trail roads. It has no underbody skid plate, no off-road tuned suspension and no heavy-duty recovery points (Honda, 2026). For that kind of driving, the TrailSport is the Passport that fits.
FAQ
How many people and how much cargo does the Honda Passport hold?
Both trims seat five people (Honda, 2026). The RTL has 41.1 inches of first-row legroom and 40.9 inches in the second row, with 83.8 cubic feet of cargo behind the first row and 104.6 cubic feet at maximum (Honda, 2026). The TrailSport has the same legroom and the same cargo figures (Honda, 2026).
What drivetrain does each Honda Passport trim use?
Both the RTL and the TrailSport use all-wheel drive with a gasoline engine (Honda, 2026). All-wheel drive sends power to all four wheels, which helps traction on wet or snowy roads.
What warranty comes with a new Honda Passport?
The basic warranty runs 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first (Honda, 2026). The powertrain warranty runs 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first, and corrosion coverage lasts 5 years with no mileage limit (Honda, 2026).
What safety features come standard on the Honda Passport?
Honda Sensing, a suite of driver-assistive technologies, is standard on all Passport trims (Honda Info Center, 2026). It includes collision mitigation braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, and blind spot monitoring with cross traffic monitor. The suite includes more features than these.
What fuel does the Honda Passport TrailSport need?
Honda recommends 87 octane or higher unleaded gasoline for Passport models without the “PREMIUM RECOMMENDED” label (Honda, 2026). That covers the TrailSport when it lacks the label.
Does the Honda Passport TrailSport hold its resale value better than the RTL?
Kelley Blue Book lists a current resale value of $42,900 and a trade-in value of $39,100 for a 2026 Passport TrailSport (Kelley Blue Book, 2026). For the 2026 RTL Towing, it lists a resale value of $40,200 and a trade-in value of $36,300 (Kelley Blue Book, 2026).
Why buyers compare both Passport trims at Group 1 Honda Owings Mills
Group 1 Honda Owings Mills has a 4.5-star Google rating across 3,505 reviews, and 82 in 100 of them are five-star (Google, 2026). We sell new Honda models, including the Passport, so you can compare the RTL and the TrailSport in one visit.
In an August 2026 Google review, Eric S. wrote: “Great Car-Buying Experience I had a great experience purchasing my car from Karl Smith. Karl was professional, knowledgeable, and made the entire process easy and stress-free. He took the time to answer all of my questions, made sure I was comfortable with my decision, and never made me feel pressured. I really appreciate the excellent customer service and how smoothly everything went from start to finish. I’m very happy with my new car and would definitely recommend Karl Smith to anyone looking to purchase a vehicle. Great experience all around!”
For a buyer weighing two trims, that is the visit Eric describes: time to ask questions and no pressure to decide. Start with the trim that matches your weekends, then bring your remaining questions to Group 1 Honda Owings Mills at 9701 Reisterstown Rd, Owings Mills, MD 21117.
Group 1 Honda Owings Mills answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Owings Mills showroom, or call (667) 622-9990.
Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact Group 1 Honda Owings Mills for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.
