2026 Honda Passport RTL: O’Fallon Buyers Guide

Quick Answer: The 2026 Passport RTL

The RTL is the base trim of the redesigned 2026 Passport, and “base” undersells it: $44,950 MSRP buys leather-trimmed seats, the 12.3-inch Google-built-in touchscreen, a 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster, tri-zone automatic climate, and the full Honda Sensing safety suite standard, all riding on the same 285-hp V6 and standard i-VTM4 AWD as every other trim. It also posts the best fuel economy in the lineup, 19 city / 25 highway / 21 combined, because it skips the heavier all-terrain tires above it. Add the $1,495 destination charge and Missouri’s taxes and fees; Frank Leta Honda in O’Fallon carries the RTL alongside the rest of the 2026 range.

2026 Honda Passport interior with tan leather-trimmed seats and 12.3-inch Google built-in touchscreen
Leather-trimmed seats and the 12.3-inch Google-built-in screen ship standard on the RTL. Photo: Honda.

What you actually get for $44,950

Start with the drivetrain, because it’s the same across the whole lineup: a 285-hp, 262-lb-ft 3.5-liter V6 with a 10-speed automatic and Honda’s 2nd-generation i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD, seven drive modes (Normal, ECON, Sport, Snow, Tow, Trail, Sand), and a 5,000-lb tow rating. The RTL isn’t a stripped-down entry point to that hardware, it comes with 18-inch Shark Gray alloy wheels, leather-trimmed seats with cloth accents, heated front seats, a 10-way power driver’s seat, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Alexa Built-in, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, a fold-down 60/40 split rear seatback, a wireless phone charger, and a 225-watt 9-speaker audio system. Honda Sensing rides along at every trim, so the RTL gets the same collision mitigation braking with pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise with low-speed follow, lane keeping assist with traffic jam assist, blind spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors as the flagship trim above it.

Ground clearance is 8.3 inches with a 23.0-degree approach angle and 27.1-degree departure angle, both class-competitive numbers for a trim that isn’t wearing the TrailSport badge. One spec worth knowing before you shop the ladder: departure angle actually gets worse on TrailSport and above (23.1 degrees) as the off-road suspension geometry trades that number for other upgrades, so the RTL genuinely wins that one spec, not a rounding error.

Who the RTL is actually built for

If you want everything that makes a Passport a Passport, standard AWD, real ground clearance, the tech suite, without paying for all-terrain tires and skid plates you may never use on pavement-only commuting, the RTL is the honest answer. It’s also the mileage leader in the lineup at 21 mpg combined versus 20 mpg combined on TrailSport-and-up, a real number if St. Louis-to-work-and-back is most of your driving. What it skips: the panoramic moonroof (that arrives at TrailSport), underbody skid plates, the integrated trailer hitch, and the off-road-tuned suspension. For most O’Fallon-area commuters and families who want the drivetrain without the trail kit, that’s an easy trade.

Illustration of Honda Sensing driver-assist technology detecting a nearby vehicle at an intersection
Honda Sensing ships standard on every 2026 Passport trim, including the RTL. Photo: Honda.

What Frank Leta Honda RTL buyers say

Amber Nachtmann traded in after years of servicing her prior Honda here and picked a Passport: “I’ve been getting my car serviced here for a few years but I just traded it in for a new Passport. Kyler was so helpful and very patient. He made the whole process easy and was able to make my budget work. I love my new car! Everyone that works here is so nice and knowledgeable! Highly recommend Kyler for buying a car and Tyler Saliski for servicing!” Rachel N. Benson, a 2025 buyer, credited a different Honda Specialist for closing the deal: “I bought a brand new 2025 Honda Passport from [Frank Leta Honda] this month. I knew the car I wanted going in, but David Sedlock truly sealed the deal. His knowledge on the car was incredible!” Both experiences point at the same thing: a full-equipment base trim doesn’t need a hard sell, it needs someone who actually knows the feature list.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between the Passport RTL and TrailSport?

Comfort and mechanicals stay identical; TrailSport adds off-road hardware the RTL doesn’t have. TrailSport steps up to all-terrain tires, an off-road-tuned suspension, underbody skid plates, front and rear recovery hooks, a standard Class III trailer hitch, and the lineup’s first panoramic moonroof, all for roughly $3,700 more. If you’ll never leave pavement, that’s a real premium to skip; if you tow or actually go off-road, it’s the trim to read next.

Does the RTL have all-wheel drive?

Yes, standard, no upcharge. Every 2026 Passport trim runs Honda’s i-VTM4 torque-vectoring AWD; there is no front-wheel-drive version of this model at any trim.

What’s the fuel economy on the RTL?

19 mpg city, 25 highway, 21 combined per EPA ratings, the best number in the Passport lineup, since it rides on lighter all-season tires than TrailSport and up.

Does the RTL have a moonroof?

No. The panoramic power moonroof starts at TrailSport. The RTL’s roof is fixed.

Where can I see or test drive an RTL near O’Fallon?

Check live Passport inventory at Frank Leta Honda, 500 Auto Mall Drive, O’Fallon, MO. Sales hours run 9 AM to 8 PM.

The value case

The RTL is the trim to start with if you’re not sold yet on paying extra for off-road hardware you might not use, it has every piece of Passport tech and safety equipment, the best fuel economy in the range, and a lower entry point than the TrailSport line above it. Compare it side by side with a TrailSport on the lot before deciding; the mileage-versus-capability tradeoff is easier to feel in the driver’s seat than to reason out from a spec sheet.

All 2026 Honda Passport guides

MSRP figures exclude the $1,495 destination charge plus tax, license, registration, options, and dealer-installed accessories; the dealer sets the actual selling price. Fuel-economy figures are 2026 EPA ratings; your mileage will vary. Customer quotes are excerpts from public Google reviews of Frank Leta Honda.