2026 Passport: If Honda gets this right, it’ll be a home run!

[@lane5686]

The 2026 Passport is what the new 4Runner should’ve been

[@davidglad]

Great to hear your day job keeps you productive! Keep doing what's right for you, friend.

[@joshjamescars]

Thank you! And yes, almost too productive. 😅

[@FatalAnimal]

When I read the Honda forums for the pilot/passport everyone talks about disabling the VCM for long term reliability. Back in the day this scared me away from the pilot. I read lots of stories about having engine troubles etc. I realize this is a mature technology, but I really hope Honda has resolved these issues. Even today when someone posts that they purchased a used pilot the first post is usually instructions on how to disable VCM. I wonder if people are just paranoid, or those concerns are real. New passport looks good so far...I even like the current generation of passport well enough.

[@PWCDN]

VCM doesn't enable when you drive in sports mode (least the current gen of the MDX). So I am assuming it is the same for the Pilot but that's just my assumption. I just put the car into sports mode when I enter the highway where VCM is enabled the most. Some guy (just google, it was on an MDX forum) proved it by connecting a device that monitors engine activity and he proved VCM NEVER enables when under sports mode on an MDX. It was on a Type-S but I would find it weird Honda would use different "rule sets" just because its a turbo-6 and not the regular natural aspirated one. I'm sure if someone has that same monitoring tool, can make the same experiment on a Pilot/Passport/Odyssey to confirm.

[@FatalAnimal]

@@PWCDN Interesting! Thanks for sharing =)

[@LuisUrbieta]

Bring back the turbo less V6.​@@FatalAnimal

[@joshjamescars]

@PWCDN Oddly enough, the MDX has always used a much older version of the J35 (Y5) than the new Pilot and Passport (Y8), and actually even the last pilot and passport (Y7, I believe). It’s never been clear to me why that was but that to say as Pilot and Passport use a different, newer version of the engine that behavior may be different.

[@joshjamescars]

@FatalAnimal I’d say that’s 99% ignorant paranoia from the same people who I talk about in my warranty video who have no idea that their engine is the LEAST technologically complicated thing in their car. 98% of Pilot and passports are bought by non-car people who have no idea what VCM is and I see them running around out there with hundreds of thousands of miles. There’s a reason Pilot has the reputation for being the SUV you buy if you want to use and abuse it for family hauling-they last. So I wouldn’t be concerned. If you really want to look into the data, look and see how many TSBs have been issued by Honda related to VCM in the J-series. I’m guessing you won’t find many from the last 8 years.

[@ceek2329]

Check out car care nut video on the honda pilot. Definitely one of, in my opinion, the most trusted car reviewer on youtube due to his experience as a mechanic and hes not afraid to say whats bad. In the video he states its never a good idea to have cylinder deactivation on a vehicle. Im assuming its for that version of the J series and the ones before that has given the VCM a bad reputation. We can only hope things have gotten better with this new version as I really want to feel confident in getting the passport or pilot with the latest version of this engine since its a NA V6 and toyota no longer offers a NA V6.

[@joshjamescars]

This is my advice to anyone and everyone: listen to what people on KZbin say, but take it with a grain of salt and do your own homework and gather the data (not from forums, but actual, factual data). Having been at this for a while, I’ve noticed that Boomers and Gen-X in general can’t believe that technology can ever mature to the point of reliability. They’ll tell you VCM was bad on day one and is still bad now. But people said the same thing about hybrids when they came out. What I always recommend to folks is that they actually do the homework and look up what recalls and TSBs (technical service bulletins) have been issued for Honda’s V6s over the past 10 years. See if any RECENT product has had a recall or TSB issued that is directly related to VCM. Then go and look up the reliability scores from industry bodies like JD Power and Consumer Reports. I’ve done this myself and I can tell you that since VCM has been out for so long now, it’s a mature technology. The reality is-you can buy this or a turbo-I4. Those are our options today, and IMO the NA V6 with VCM is a far better choice.

[@JohnnyBoy919]

​@@joshjamescarsthe thing is, does VCM even make that much of a difference if any? Atleast give us the option to disable it. Or maybe make it only come on in econ mode or something.

[@joshjamescars]

@JohnnyBoy919 there’s a misunderstanding generally about mpg versus emissions. Emissions (tailpipe VOCs and CO2) is what matters most to government regulators. It’s why we see Toyota moving to turbo hybrid I4s to replace V6s and V8s. They get the same mpg but cut emissions significantly. Honda’s VCM does that as well. Also, sadly, if it’s choosing between satisfying the customer and satisfying regulators, automakers will always choose the regulator over the customer.

[@JohnnyBoy919]

I hope the new ridgeline looks like this. Give it alittle more ground clearance and get rid of the VCM.

[@joshjamescars]

VCM isn’t going away… it’s why Honda can keep the V6. So it’s that or buy a turbo I4.

[@JohnnyBoy919]

@joshjamescars if that's the case I may get the vsm disabler, or hold off a few years and get the new tacoma after any issues get sorted out. Still waiting for the release of the new 3rd gen ridgeline.

[@spartus56996]

I also strongly prefer a NA V6 over a boosted 4 cyl, but it seems the trend with all of the manufacturers is a move to 4cyl turbo. The few brands that delay this move and offer NA V6 will be in demand, IMHO

[@joshjamescars]

If you’re in the market, buy one now! And treat it well. I can almost guarantee it will be your last V6.

[@eduardojimenez2044]

It's about fuel economy mandates. A 4-cyl engine weighs less. As CAFE mandates keep turning the screws on automakers, we'll see more of them trying to use lighter, turbocharged 4-bangers

[@TEQLC]

No worries my liege! We know this channel is your fun hobby. ;).

[@joshjamescars]

Haha thank you! And thanks as always for coming back to watch!!!

[@chrissiemens]

Thanks for this excellent video. I have been thinking about getting the upcoming Passport, but was not fully confident in the changes to the engine for this generation. But this info was super helpful.

[@joshjamescars]

My rule of thumb of waiting until the second model year definitely still applies, but the nice thing about doing so is if you waited until the second year of passport production, the engine will have been out for 3 years by then in the pilot and we should have a good amount of data since Pilots are bought by families who need a good car that they can use and abuse so those will be real world mileage by folks who don’t take good care of their cars and Pilot has historically survived those kinds of owners really well over time.

[@fahima2879]

My folks got the 2023 Honda Pilot AWD Touring last year and it’s been great the past year. Went on a 1000+ miles road trip with no issues. The J35Y8 engine has been good (knock on the wood) so far. They updated it with Hydrolic Lifters so no need for a Valve Adjustment like the previous J35 engines which can cost upwards up to $700. Glad Honda is putting it in the Pilot. Who cares about 4 cylinder engines with Turbo just to save a couple of miles per gallon.

[@knn85]

Ya Nissan dropped the V6 in the Murano but it’s still available in the Pathfinder. The VQ V6 is old school but it has direct injection and no cylinder deactivation which has been a disaster for all brands including Honda. Thanks for your great videos!

[@joshjamescars]

Probably not for long since the QX60 dropped it for 2025 as well, and the Pathfinder is likely to be considerably bigger or linger than the passport.

[@steffenworldcitizensurf5926]

I wish there was a precise release date. I am definitely in the market.

[@joshjamescars]

It’s a 2026 model year and new model year vehicles come out the summer of the year prior. I always recommend if possible to wait out the first model year. But if you have to buy something sooner, that’s when they’ll probably hit lots.

[@juanseaforth5111]

I totally agree with you on the engine side however I really hope they do a lot with the interior.

[@joshjamescars]

Personally I like Honda’s interiors. They’re simple and straightforward with excellent ergonomics which I think is perfect for the kind of vehicle the Passport is. And the Google OS is fantastic. If you want something more stylistically oriented, that’s what Hyundai/Kia are for.

[@juanseaforth5111]

@ I’m a Honda guy and I love the engineering. it was just an observation. Have a good weekend.

[@wonderboy1998]

Welcome back Yeah I noticed you've not be around... Tell your company that your YT subs need you they will understand If Honda keeps their V6...its going to be a home run for them, but to be honest what will make folks side eyeing Honda passport is the price , Passport is couple of dollars less than Pilot, and folks go towards Pilot instead of passport. But this is going to be a slap for Toyota dropping their reliable V6 for a freaking 4 cylinder.

[@joshjamescars]

Hello!!! Good to be back, and I know seriously at my day job. 😂 As for Pilot and Passport, I agree at the price probably won’t be that different but I think what Honda is doing right is making the 2-row a different vehicle than the 3-row and judging by the comments and emails I get, there are a lot of people who want a midsize crossover but will never need or want a third row, so for them the Passport will make a lot of sense even if pricing is similar. And I completely agree at it being a slap for Toyota. I think we’ll see a fair amount of people buying passport instead of the 4Runner, Highlander, and maybe even Crown Signia.

[@wonderboy1998]

@@joshjamescars That part. Passport is the perfect size for a young buyer/family. Folks should do like back in the day in having 2 cars(if they can afford) midsize car and a 2 row SUV like passport.

[@wonderboy1998]

@@joshjamescars And can I be honest...car that should be a nice competition for Passport and 4runner ...Ford explorer

[@TheyCallMeMidnight]

The rumored Toyota FJ cruiser has a huge task on its hand in order to competitive with this passport

[@joshjamescars]

It won’t compete with passport anyway because it will be in a different size class. The rumored FJ is a sub-compact or small compact SUV that would be more similar in size to Corolla Cross or Rav4. This is in the same size class as a 4Runner.

[@crazyelf1]

About 2:30 - the reason why the coupe shape is used is because they are more aerodynamically efficient, which results in favorable fuel economy for gas cars and longer battery range for EVs. There is a trade-off between less drag and a shape that increases interior volume / practical shapes for cargo.

[@joshjamescars]

That’s a downstream effect but the stylistic look of a coupe-UV is why they do that. Manufactures were making these kind of cars long before fuel economy was a major selling point. The Infiniti FX35 and Murano started the trend way back in the early 2000s and it was all about expression of style over practicality. The original FX45 had a raucous V8… it was definitely not meant for fuel economy. 😂

[@jfkbro7875]

Great video!! Love the walk through and explanation of J series

[@joshjamescars]

Thank you!

[@TacticalStrudel]

I’d consider this as a replacement for my 5th gen 4Runner. Dont like the looks of the 6th gen, like the looks of the 250 series but hate the battery hump and premium fuel. Pilot is too big. This is about the right size and a NA V6, and realistically good enough off road for what I actually need.

[@joshjamescars]

It would be a great replacement for a 5th gen 4Runner. And it’ll ride a lot better than a 4Runner on road because it’s a unibody.

[@phillyfathead]

Ur alway worth waiting for, thanks!

[@joshjamescars]

You are so very kind to say! Thank you!

[@elsaandnoah]

Hello from Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦 Josh! I love your channel. No worries - quality over quantity 😊 I’m still here undecided 🤷‍♀️ for my next vehicle. I’m tempted by last chance SUVs with automatic V6 engines: 2024 4Runner? And now, Honda Passport 🤔 possibly an older ICE V6 Highlander as I’ve heard they are rock solid

[@PWCDN]

Honda will be V6 for a while, I doubt they will make hybrids for large vehicles, be foolish now to get into that game when EV's are on the horizon (its same reason why Mazda partnered with Toyota for hybrid tech than to develop their own, now Toyota has cast a wider net with their hybrid tech and Mazda gets a life line against Honda). It's probably why Toyota's large hybrids are so expensive, they need to recoup all the R&D cost on the hybrid max. If you get a regular hybrid (non-max), sure you get fuel economy on lets say a grand highlander, Sienna, but its only 250 HP compared to near 300 HP on a V6 Honda. Problem with all Hybrid-max is they're all turbo 4's, which are all unproven long term, maybe give it 5 years (like when VCM came out for Honda)

[@joshjamescars]

@elsaandnoah Hello!! I would definitely try to get a V6. I can almost guarantee it will be your last V6 since they are likely to go away. Honda will probably keep it around for the next 4 years or so but I believe this engine is only EPA compliant up until 2030. 4Runner is great but in Vancouver you’ll want to go with the Limited to get the full-time 4WD system. All other trims are part-time 4WD (only meant for off road driving and only works up to 50mph). I’d probably skip the Highlander as the last year to get a V6 was 2022 which means you’re looking at a 2-3 year old car. They’re great, but aging out. My money would be on a 2024 4Runner or a new Passport, Pilot, or MDX if budget allows for that.

[@GotNoMoneys]

When will you get your hands on a crown Signia? I’m soo interested in how it compares to a nx hybrid in comfort, quality, materials. Keep up the great work.

[@joshjamescars]

Working on it! And thank you!

[@Cringer101]

it looks ok so far but they need to increase the ground clearance

[@joshjamescars]

I would disagree. This isn’t meant to go rock climbing despite what they show. For 95% of people it’ll never go off road and a reasonable (7-8 inches) amount of ground clearance will make for better on-road dynamics. But, if you need more ground clearance you can always add a lift kit, or buy an actual body on frame off-roader like a 4Runner or Wrangler. You’ll sacrifice nearly all on-road dynamics with those, but so is the trade off to get a real 4x4.

[@NoeC-b4i]

we were also considering honda but after reading reviews of owners stating they have transmission issues. Does anyone know anything about that?

[@saracha84]

I have a 2014 honda civic coupe with 339,000 miles on all original parts. Just changed back shock (replaced at 200,000 miles) and i replaced the timing belt at 100,000. Bought brand new. No problems whatsoever. Did schedule maintenance as required as well. My transmission is a cvt one. I love my honda.

[@joshjamescars]

They had some transmission issues with the nine speed they used for a few years in the Pilot, Passport, Ridgeline, and Odyssey. But they’ve largely. Also, don’t generalize “transmission issues” and “all Honda vehicles” together. Toyota is at present having transmission issues and failures in Sequoia, LX600, and Tacoma. Doesn’t mean all their cars are bad.

[@NoeC-b4i]

thank you for the feedbacks.

[@fahima2879]

Folks have a 2023 Pilot AWD for over a year now. The 10 Speed AT has been great so far (knock on wood) smooth gear changes. On a forum for the 2023+ Honda Pilot with hundreds of owners saw only 1 with a transmission failure. But I think the guy was towing (maybe exceeding the towing capacity?)

[@daniele.garneau2268]

I like how the 2025 Pilot Trailsport looks. Looks of 2026 Passport seem a bit different from front and rear view. Not sure I would like the exterior appearance quite as much.

[@notsodelusional]

Josh, future video idea. Would be interested once we know more details about the projected effects of proposed tariffs. Looking forward to the passport for the official reveal. Ty!

[@joshjamescars]

The tariffs hurt way more than they help. Even with the way imports are taxed today it’s why so many manufacturers choose to move production to Mexico (Toyota, Ford, VW, etc.) and IMO if we allowed Chinese cars into the US that’s the stiff competition that American automakers need to step up their game and out-innovate their peers.

[@gearhead9828]

No problem, there is a real life outside of YT. But good to have you back 👍

[@steveh545]

Honda's pop up on my radar regularly, but i always walk away a bit unimpressed. Might have mentioned this in a previous vid, but they're like sporks to me (specifically the ridgeline). All of their cars make perfect sense, but just seem like rental cars, lacking much soul. No offense to Honda owners, they're great vehicles, just wish they were a tiny bit more luxurious. Still, if my old LC dies, i might go test-drive a civic, hard to argue with reliability and fuel economy when all i essentially do is drive to work and back. Wife has the GX460 when i want to show up at a bougie restaurant and valet park.

[@joshjamescars]

What you call out is exactly why Honda buyers love Honda. And while I don’t really think any car has a soul these days anyway, I will say Honda’s V6 has way more soul than all of Toyota’s turbo and or hybrid 4-cylinders, and is worlds better to drive too.

[@chiiiiweeeee]

is it just me or does the new passport look like a bronco sport

[@joshjamescars]

Yes! That was my first thought too.

[@steffenworldcitizensurf5926]

Yes, a Bronco Sport blown up an extra 20%.

[@allanw6103]

agreed. the passort should do well against the class leading grand cherokee and i think this is hondas goal to reach 200k sales a year. not everyone wants a 3 row or a smaller outback or cx70 . jeep better do a refresh in 2026 to keep up.

[@joshjamescars]

Agreed, but personally I don’t see them as competition. The Grand Cherokee and CX70 are for those who want an alternative to a luxury SUV where the Passport would be the step up for someone who wants a bigger Bronco Sport/CR-V/Rav4 with a better engine.

[@timothybrown7779]

I am waiting for it

[@oneblach]

The look of the Pilot is a home run. The new Passport looks almost exactly like the Bronco Sport, just bigger. I also don’t understand the obsession with off road capabilities. 99% of buyers… you know what I’m gonna say. The current Passport suffers from harsh bumpy ride, unrefined transmission and low MPG. Let’s hope Honda improved on those.

[@joshjamescars]

I could not agree more. It’s for the male ego because all the people who buy these need to feel like they’re some lumberjack who goes into the forest. The 3.25% of all buyers who do go off road aren’t buying this anyway. 😂

[@shawn1869]

They need to mate this up with a hybrid and it will be the ultimate engine

[@joshjamescars]

They did that in the last-gen MDX hybrid. No idea why they took it away!

[@shawn1869]

​@@joshjamescarsyes, bad business move for Honda

[@ledebuhr1]

I have a feeling the 2026 Passport will get worse gas millage than the Pilot. I wouldn't be surprised if they dropped the Pilot Trailsport. I'm guessing that they are going to make the Passport the rugged off-road SUV and the Pilot will be the upscale on-road SUV. Honda has stated that this new J35 is EPA compliant until 2030. The J35 should be hybridized to meet CAFE standards and give more torque. The J35 really lack that low end grunt.

[@joshjamescars]

That would honestly make more sense, but I think the Pilot Trailsport will stick around simply because so many people buy these because they feel a bizarre need to have their family hauler to look like a 4x4. Honda also has an upscale on-row with the MDX.

[@wonderboy1998]

And another thing.... Subaru need to step their game up, with their engine/transmission/HAVC and infotainment

[@joshjamescars]

Subaru in general needs an overhaul… they’ve let everything that made their brand so great kind of go as of late. No new STI, CVT in everything, and no hybrids (though forester is coming).

[@wonderboy1998]

@@joshjamescars Agree, Subaru is holding that faithful buyers like Toyota.