Which Honda Passport trim fits Hilton Head Island drivers: RTL, TrailSport or Elite?
A 2026 Honda Passport comes in the RTL, the TrailSport and the Elite, and Hilton Head Island drivers need to know which one is worth the money on the island. Hilton Head Honda, the Lowcountry’s only Honda franchise, stocks and services all three.
For most island drivers, the RTL is the answer. Towing and seating are the same on every trim in the figures, and the RTL starts at the lowest price of the three.
Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Bluffton. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.
Which Honda Passport trim fits Hilton Head Island drivers best?
For most Hilton Head Island drivers, the RTL is the trim to start with. It starts at $44,950, the lowest of the three, and it tows 5,000 pounds and seats five, the same as the TrailSport and the Elite.
The choice turns on what you pay and what the extra trim adds, since towing and seating do not change from one trim to the next. We sell all three new Passport trims at 161 Fording Island Road in Bluffton.
What does each 2026 Honda Passport trim cost and include?
According to Honda’s September 2026 pricing release, the RTL starts at $44,950, the TrailSport at $48,650 and the TrailSport Elite at $52,650. The Blackout and Towing versions list at $46,150 for the RTL Blackout, $45,650 for the RTL Towing, $49,850 for the TrailSport Blackout, while the TrailSport Elite Blackout lists at $53,850. Every one of those trims seats five.
The 2026 Passport carries a basic warranty of 3 years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty of 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first in each case. Its corrosion coverage runs 5 years with no mileage limit, which matters on an island with salt air.
Which Passport trim handles beach sand and soft shoulders on Hilton Head Island?
All-wheel drive is the part of the Passport that matters most on sand. Honda’s 2026 EPA certification record lists all-wheel drive on both the AWD and the AWD Trailsport, and the RTL gives 8.3 inches of ground clearance.
Beach days on Hilton Head Island mean soft lots and packed sand access paths, and the tire does most of the gripping on loose sand. Ask about the tires on the trim you choose before your first beach trip. Then decide whether the RTL’s clearance and all-wheel drive cover the way you drive.
Which Passport trim should tow a boat from Hilton Head Island or Bluffton?
Honda rates every listed 2026 Passport trim to tow 5,000 pounds, so a boat does not pick the trim for you. The rating covers the whole load, not the boat alone. Add up the boat, the trailer, the fuel and the gear, and keep that total under 5,000 pounds.
Because the rating is the same on every trim, pick the trim on price and on the equipment you want for trailering. The RTL covers a boat at the lowest starting price in the lineup.
What does the Passport cost to run for everyday driving around Hilton Head Island?
The EPA rates the AWD Passport at 19 miles per gallon city, 25 highway and 21 combined. The AWD Trailsport is rated at 18 city, 23 highway and 20 combined. The EPA estimates annual fuel cost at $2,950 for the AWD and $3,100 for the AWD Trailsport.
Hilton Head Island workers 16 and older have a mean travel time to work of 18.5 minutes (U.S. Census Bureau, QuickFacts, 2020-2024). Property tax is the other annual cost to plan for. Beaufort County’s Tax Year 2025 millage card sets the total levy at 249.1 mills in the Hilton Head #1 PSD district, applied to a vehicle’s value at the 6 percent assessment ratio (Beaufort County Auditor, 2025).
Is Hilton Head Honda a good place to buy a Passport?
Hilton Head Honda holds a 4.8-star Google rating across 2,799 reviews, and 92 in 100 of them are five-star (Google, 2026). We are the only Honda franchise in the Lowcountry. We carry the full Honda lineup, from the Civic to the Ridgeline, and our service technicians are certified Honda technicians. We are part of Group 1 Automotive, one of the largest automotive retailers in the US and UK.
Beside the other Honda stores in this market, each with its Google figures:
| Dealer | Google rating | Google reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Hilton Head Honda | 4.8 | 2,799 |
| Stokes Honda Cars of Beaufort | 4.6 | 1,067 |
| Grainger Honda | 4.6 | 5,151 |
| Southern Motors Honda | 4.7 | 3,772 |
In a July 2026 Google review, Stephen L. wrote: “We started our initial correspondence via chat. We got a lot of answers to our questions before making an appt. Upon appointment the vehicle was staged and ready to be viewed. Timothy walked us through the process in a very relaxed knowledgeable manner. We left with a beautiful new 2026 CR-V Hybrid.” That customer’s visit began with a chat and ended with a new CR-V Hybrid.
How do you buy or lease a Passport at Hilton Head Honda?
You can lease or finance a new Passport through our finance center. Our payment calculator accepts a trade-in offer amount, so enter your trade figure to see how it changes the payment you are weighing.
In an August 2026 Google review, Gary M. wrote: “We recently bought a new car from Hilton Head Honda. The salesperson we dealt with was Chris Smith, and he did a wonderful job of taking care of us. He showed us the available cars, took care of our trade in, kept us comfortable while we waited on the finance department, and helped us set up the features on our new car. We really could not be more pleased with how we were treated.” That customer traded in a car as part of the purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Does every 2026 Honda Passport trim come with all-wheel drive?
Both configurations in Honda’s 2026 EPA certification record are all-wheel drive. The AWD and the AWD Trailsport each run a 3.5-liter six-cylinder engine on gasoline.
How much can a 2026 Honda Passport tow?
Honda rates each listed 2026 Passport trim at 5,000 pounds of maximum towing, from the RTL through the TrailSport Elite Blackout. That number is a ceiling, so the trailer, boat and gear together must stay under it.
What should a buyer ask for on an out-the-door quote for a Passport?
Ask the dealer to list the infrastructure maintenance fee by name. South Carolina charges it in place of a vehicle sales tax, at 5% of the purchase price and no more than $500 (South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles, 2026). A new vehicle previously registered in another state adds a one-time $250 fee (S.C. Code Ann. Section 56-3-627 (South Carolina Code of Laws), 2026). We offer leasing and financing through our finance center, so ask us for the lease or loan terms alongside the price.
Is the Passport a good SUV for the Lowcountry’s wet weather and salt air?
Honda covers the Passport’s corrosion for 5 years with no mileage limit, which suits salt air. The rain is heavy on Hilton Head Island, too: NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 climate normals record 50.96 inches of average annual precipitation at the Hilton Head Island 4.0 N gauge (NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991-2020 US Climate Normals). All-wheel drive on the AWD and the AWD Trailsport is what helps on wet roads.
Why buy a Passport from Hilton Head Honda
Choosing a Passport trim for the island comes down to price, since towing and seating match across the trims. We sell all three at Hilton Head Honda, along with new Honda vehicles, Honda Certified Pre-Owned vehicles and used cars from many makes. Our 4.8-star record and the backing of Group 1 Automotive carry the rest.
In a July 2026 Google review, Kelly Titus wrote: “Sebastian was amazing and made purchasing a new car painless. Pleasure to work with him!” We offer leasing and financing through our finance center, and we ship vehicles out of state for delivery to your driveway.
Hilton Head Honda answers the trim question on price, because towing and seating are the same on all three Passports we sell. Start with the RTL or the TrailSport, then visit us at 161 Fording Island Road in Bluffton.
Hilton Head Honda 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 Bluffton showroom, or call (843) 815-2880.
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 Hilton Head Honda for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.
