First Drive: Honda Gets Dirty with the 2026 CR-V TrailSport

It’s been nearly three decades since the Honda CR-V made its U.S. debut. Back then, folks derisively dubbed it a “soft-roader,” capable of handling not much more than a bit of gravel – if anyone ever chose to take it off pavement. Now, however, Honda is rolling out a new CR-V TrailSport package that, it claims, adds more off-road capabilities. Just how much more? Headlight.News headed into the San Jacinto Mountains near San Diego to find out. Here’s our review.

The Honda CR-V is getting a modest mid-cycle update for the 2026 model-year. And that includes the debut of a first-ever CR-V TrailSport package designed to give the familiar compact crossover some additional off-road capabilities.

The timing makes sense. Since the COVID pandemic struck the country five years ago, Americans have embraced off-roading like never before. That’s led to a flood of more capable models, and the launch of new sub-brands like Subaru’s Wilderness line and Ford’s Tremor. Honda’s weighed in, as well, with the TrailSport badge already offered on the current Pilot model.

How does the CR-V TrailSport compare? I had a chance to find out during a day’s driving around San Diego, including some off-road time up in the San Jacinto Mountains. Here’s what I learned.

What’s new with the 2026 CR-V

First introduced in 1995, the CR-V is Honda’s most popular product line in the U.S. All told, American motorists purchased 402,791 of them last year, making the crossover fourth on the best-seller list behind – in descending order – the Ford F-Series, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota RAV4.

But the sixth-generation CR-V has been around since the 2023 model year and, in its segment, that means it’s grown a bit old.

There are theusual sort of mid-cycle tweaks, with modest cosmetic changes on the exterior largely limited to “soft” materials, such as the crossover’s front fascia and bumper, and a few updates to the interior, including an optional 10.2-inch touchscreen complementing the CR-V’s 9-inch infotainment touchscreen. And there are new and updated tech features, including wireless charging and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. .

The most significant change for 2026, however, comes in the form of the new CR-V TrailSport.

TrailSport

When the original CR-V debuted 30 years ago it was derided by some as a “soft-roader,” with a taller stance than the Honda sedans and coupes of the day, but hardly able to handle more than modest gravel roads, even with the optional all-wheel-drive package. Over the years, CR-V has become a bit more capable but still isn’t what you’d call an “off-roader.”

In 2021, taking its lead from competitors like Subaru, Toyota and Ford, Honda introduced a new sub-brand for those  who want more rugged, off-road capabilities. Dubbed TrailSport, it now offers TrailSport versions of both the Passport and Pilot SUVs.

But don’t expect a serious off-roader here. As Darryl Bazemore, Honda’s assistant vice president of strategy told me, the 2026 CR-V TrailSport is really aimed at “a customer really looking for that image” of off-road capabilities, rather than anyone who expects to take the compact crossover out to Moab or the Rubicon Trail.

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The details

The 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport is more than just an appearance package – just barely more. It features no change to its ride height and doesn’t add niceties like underbody skid plates.

It does get new 18-inch wheels shod with all-terrain tires which I found to offer good grip on gravel and dirt without sacrificing much in the way of on-road comfort and handling.

The TrailSport trim gets a revised all-wheel-drive traction control system. At speeds up to 9 mph it’s designed to respond differently than other trims to low-traction situations, moving torque between the rear wheels as needed to get out of a slippery situation.

Cosmetic changes are limited to front fascia details, black window surrounds and door handles, and easy-to-spot front and rear badging. “TrailSport,” meanwhile, gets new orange stitching and embossed front headrests. The TrailSport, meanwhile, will be the only 2026 CR-V model to be offered in the new “Ash Green Pearl” paint.

Powertrain

As is the norm on mid-cycle update, the current powertrain line-up carries over for 2026. And both options will be available with the CR-V TrailSport:

• A 190-horsepower 1.5-liter turbocharged I-4 used in base trims, like the LX and EX;
• A 204-hp hybrid-four pairing a small electric motor with a 2.0-liter I-4 found already in Sport and all-wheel-drive packages.

The hybrid is, without question, the better choice for the TrailSport, adding not only better milage but improved performance.

Driving impressions

The plan Honda laid out took me on a circuitous route from the north end of San Diego County up into the old gold mining town of Julian – complete with the requisite stop at the Julian Pie Company. Before heading back, we detoured over to the Barona Oaks Motocross park where I actually could test out the CR-V TrailSport’s off-road capabilities.

This wasn’t even close to being a serious trail – nor did Honda pretend otherwise – but it was likely still more than most CR-V owners would never expect to face. Those Continental CrossContact ATR all-terrain tires proved adept at grabbing hold of whatever surface was available. I expect the typical CR-V driver will be impressed, even if serious off-roaders will ask why Honda didn’t give this model a bit more ground-clearance and revised bumpers to improve approach and departure angles.

The updated traction control system did validate itself, as did the revised Hill Descent Control which made it easy to maintain a steady speed on grades of 7% or higher.

Honestly, the tires may be the most impressive feature her, howevere. Typically, one can expect a fair bit of road noise from all-terrain rubber, as well as notable compromises to handling. That wasn’t the case here, the Conti’s barely perceivable from a tire noise perspective. And handling strayed only slightly from what you’d expect from other CR-V trims.

Final word

To be completely candid, I’d have liked to see Honda do a big more with the 2026 CR-V TrailSport – as we’ve seen other manufacturers do with products like the Subaru Forester Wilderness. But the new Honda package is reasonably capable.

And it’s reasonably affordable, starting as low as $38,800 – plus $1,350 for delivery fees. If I were making the choice, though, I’d opt for the hybrid drivetrain which delivers that uncanny blend of improved performance and higher fuel economy.

The 2026 Honda CR-V TrailSport is a good package. It doesn’t go as far as I expected Honda would take it – but, realistically, it’s likely to be the option of choice for many buyers, whether for its modest added capabilities or simply, as Bazemore said, “that image.”