Acura Building Passport-Based Off-Roader to Target Lexus GX

Acura has not offered shoppers genuine off-road performance since the Isuzu Trooper-based SLX went out of production before the turn of the millennium — now, after nearly thirty years, the automaker is finally working on another off-road SUV.

Derived from the Honda Passport, the new off-road Acura will fill a glaring gap in the brand's midsize portfolio. Rather than sticking an Acura badge onto the existing Honda body, engineers are giving the truck distinct sheet metal. Dealers who have seen the prototype told Automotive News the new truck has a more upright front fascia — I don't know how you get more upright than the Passport's near-vertical snub nose — aggressive hood sculpting, knobby off-road tires, and unique styling all the way round.

The "Acura Passport" will be based exclusively on the rugged Honda Passport TrailSport. The Passport received a significant suspension upgrade for 2027 — TrailSport models now offer nearly 9.7 inches of ground clearance, 25-degree approach and departure angles, and 23 degrees of breakover.

Paired with new damper valving and springs, the TrailSport offers genuine off-road capability on par with, or better than, the Toyota 4Runner. Which is good news, because the Acura version will be firmly aimed at the Lexus GX, which shares its underpinnings with the 4Runner.

According to cross-shopping data from Edmunds, the three-row Acura MDX frequently competes for the same buyers as the truck-based Lexus GX. In September, the GX ranked as the fifth most-considered vehicle among MDX shoppers, while the MDX was the fourth most cross-shopped vehicle among GX buyers. Except the MDX can't do any of the things the GX can.

Building a dedicated off-roader on the Passport's back should give Acura instant credibility in the adventure-lifestyle space. The new truck is expected in the first half of 2028 and should roll out of Honda's Alabama plant alongside the Passport.

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