Honda Passport for Sale - Import from Japan

The Honda Passport’s story begins in a somewhat unexpected place: the parts bins of Isuzu. The original 1993-1997 Passport—chassis code C58—was actually a rebadged Isuzu Rodeo. But don’t scoff. That gritty Isuzu heritage gave it something modern soft-roaders never had: a proper truck base. This SUV didn’t just carry groceries—it hauled 3,500kg in Japan, rattled its hydraulic steering wheel over rocky trails, and did it all with an iron-lunged 6VD1 V6. The Passport name vanished for a stretch but returned with the 2019-on YF8 chassis. Now in 2026 TrailSport trim, the Passport is a US-built, AWD brute with torque-vectoring smarts and off-road credentials, finally earning the badge on its own merit. Import fans? The first-gens are now 25-year legal, and Japan’s auction houses are seeing a rush on clean, low-mile examples.

Let’s get technical. The JDM C58 offered either a 2.6L 4ZE1 inline-four or the far more desirable 3.2L 6VD1 V6. That latter option made just 180hp on paper—but in real life? It surges from midrange with a raspy induction growl that sounds borderline diesel, in the best way. Owners describe it as industrial. Heavy steering that feels like it’s moving wet concrete. Long pedal travel. But once you hit gravel, it comes alive. Fast-forward to the 2026 Passport TrailSport. It swaps in Honda’s 3.5L J35Y6 V6 making 285hp with AWD grip that feels clingy but sure. It’s smoother, yes—but also quick enough to surprise most on-ramps. You get a polite V6 snarl at full throttle, but it’s wrapped in insulation. Two drives. Two personalities. One badge.

Here’s the truth nobody tells you: Buying a Honda Passport from Japan—especially a C58 early gen—is the smartest move today. US-market first-gens are rusting out badly, especially in the Midwest. Rocker panels go soft by 150k miles. Rear arches crumble like café pastries. But in Japan? Dry inland C58s in auction houses are popping up with original paint, clean underbodies, and interior plastics still intact. Grade 4 and up aren’t rare—but blink and they’re gone. Inspection notes matter. Check for timing belt service history on the 6VD1 (it’s an interference engine, and when it snaps, valves bend). Rear differential chatter? Likely bad fluid. Transfer case drops fluid on later US-built models too. If you're unsure how to interpret Japanese auction data, our How to Read Auction Sheets guide is mandatory reading before bidding.

Daily-drive a first-gen C58 and you’ll feel every bit of early '90s truck tech. Expect high step-ins, bounce over sharp bumps from the live rear axle, and a dash that will likely have sun-ruined cracking if it hasn’t been garaged. But the reward? A V6 that sounds tough, looks utilitarian, and drives like an old-school off-roader—no fake exhaust notes or soft suspension damping. The 2026 TrailSport brings modern civility to the badge. You get a quiet interior, crisp infotainment (when it doesn’t freeze on trails), and an AWD system that adapts to loose surfaces without any clunkiness. But just know: no third row. Check the specs—not the sales brochure. For many, that hybrid identity—JDM workhorse meets modern overland—is exactly why the Passport keeps punching above its class.

Two reasons: legality and momentum. For the first time, all JDM C58s are now 25-year import legal in the U.S. That’s opened the floodgates. Early adopters are scooping well-kept 6VD1 variants that make perfect weekend overlanders or daily beaters with character. Meanwhile, the 2026 TrailSport is hitting a sweet spot for buyers who hate the bloat of three-row SUVs but still crave grip, power, and Honda reliability. Fuel efficiency? Not brilliant. But the naturally aspirated V6 keeps you future-proof while the turbo world spins itself into warranty purgatory. This is a rare moment where both the old and the new Passport variants actually make solid arguments to own—especially if you’re buying smart. We’ve already covered the timing, cost, and legality of Importing to the USA. And if you're overseas? We ship to the UK, EU, Australia, New Zealand, and even Africa.