I recently spent a week test driving the Honda Passport 2026 car around metro Vancouver and attended one of my favourite annual music and food festivals and more!

The best way to get to the Vancouver Folk Music Festival is to drive and then park about 8 blocks away which is what I did over the weekend at the 49th Annual festival at Jericho Beach Park. It is one of my favourite Summer festivals and I have been to over 34 of them over the years. It is always about the music and the food and this year’s was no exception.

It’s a tradition for us to have dinner (and sometimes lunch) @thedragonbowl_foodtruck with the Tofu Dragon Bowl and Chicken Dragon Bowl.

I also loved listening to Billy Bragg, Bia Ferreira, Empanadas Ilegales, Bim, Maruja Limon, Tami Neilson, Kazdoura and Ruby Waters.

Get ready for next year as it will be the 50th Anniversary of the festival and they have big plans such as re-adding an additional stage, featuring 50 musical artists from around the world and so much more!

In this 2026 model, the cabin has been completely overhauled to be more “outdoor-friendly” yet tech-forward and it features:

• Google Built-In: A new 12.3-inch touchscreen features Google Maps and Assistant natively, alongside wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
• Utility: Honda added clever storage like “MOLLE” boards in the cargo area and a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster with off-road gauges (pitch, roll, and elevation).
• TrailWatch™: On the TrailSport Elite trim, a four-camera system provides a “see-through” view of the trail ahead to help navigate over rocks or narrow passes.

Taking a dinner break from the folk music festival I drove to Ocean Goose Japanese Restaurant (1850 West 4th Avenue in Kitsilano) is a popular Japanese eatery celebrated for its cozy atmosphere and thoughtfully crafted menu. Renowned for its focus on authentic, high-quality Japanese cuisine, the restaurant serves an array of expertly prepared dishes ranging from fresh sashimi and sushi rolls to warm, comforting rice bowls and traditional Izakaya-style small plates. This is a spot that I love and this time around I had the Grilled salmon teriyaki and shared the Chicken appetizer with Lawrence.

I next day I drove to the Fairview Flats neighbourood to visit the new location of Oidé Labo (1886 Scotia St, Vancouver), that blends an on-site roaster and kitchen with a meticulous approach to coffee and baking. Known for its warm, modern aesthetic, the minimalist venue operates as both a roastery and cafe, offering a regularly rotating selection of carefully sourced coffee beans alongside handcrafted beverages like flat whites. Complementing the drink menu, their in-house pastry program highlights high-level craftsmanship with standouts such as cardamom buns and delicate cookies. Overall, the space delivers a refined yet inviting coffee experience rooted in deep passion and attention to detail. I had a Flat white while Lawrence had an Americano and we shared the best hazelnut cookie and cardamom bread.

I headed to downtown Langley a couple of days later to revisit Food by Fanta (20542 Fraser Hwy) for dinner to try some new dishes as well as some favourites.

These were the dishes we tried:

Seared Eggplant with Green Curry (stuffed with braised carrot, topped on toasted crostini and it’s one of my favorites)
Som Tum (served tableside): a fun spin on a classic with Laksa mint, tamarind & sundried tomatoes
Chor Muang Flower dumplings (favourite)
Chiang Mai Khao Soi chicken (favourite new dish)
Black Cod Miso served over zucchini noodles (favourite)
Mango black sticky rice (new dessert)
Ruam mitt (new dessert)

and drinks
Tom Yumgarita mocktail (winner of my mocktail challenge, love it)

The 2026 TrailSport’s steering wheel is designed to feel more substantial and “tactile” for off-road use and it’s notable features are:

• Design & Materials: It is a thick-rimmed, leather-wrapped wheel. In the TrailSport trim, it features exclusive orange contrast stitching that matches the seat accents and “TrailSport” embroidery.
• Controls: Honda has avoided “haptic” touch pads, sticking to physical buttons and scroll wheels.
  • Left Side: Controls the digital instrument cluster menus, audio volume, and voice commands.
  • Right Side: Dedicated to the Honda Sensing® suite, specifically the Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist settings.

By: Richard Wolak

Disclosure: Honda Canada provided me with the Honda Passport Trailsport 2026 to test drive, and photograph. As always, all opinions and photos are my own.