2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Subaru Forester

The Honda Passport showcased quintessential Honda characteristics, creating an aesthetic many found familiar and comforting. Its exterior resembled a trimmed-down Honda Pilot, yet bulkier than a CR-V, fitting perfectly between the two in size, capability, and price point. Its rugged and athletic look was complemented by four trim levels (Sport, EX-L, Touring, Elite), each offering scratch-resistant matte black grilles, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights. Higher trims like the Elite included luxurious features such as perforated, heated, leather-trimmed seats, and a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel. The high ground clearance was a critical design point, enhancing off-roading capabilities.

Inside, the Passport delivered a sophisticated yet practical cabin design, featuring hard-wearing yet soft-to-the-touch materials. It shared significant interior design elements with the Honda Pilot, emphasizing spaciousness and comfort with options like heated rear seats and a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat. The intelligent layout and quality materials aimed to provide practical comfort rather than flashiness, adhering to Honda’s tried-and-true formula.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Forester maintained a conservative design approach, a carryover from its previous generation. Keeping its boxy, upright shape, the Forester appealed to SUV enthusiasts looking for straightforward, functional styling. Trims like the Sport model introduced subtle yet impactful changes, such as orange striping, black 18-inch alloy wheels, and roof rails, enhancing its rugged appeal.

The Forester rode on Subaru’s Global Platform, sharing underpinnings with various Subaru models. Its interior focused on durability and utility with materials geared to withstand rigorous use. The design may not have been fancy, but it was deliberate, featuring cloth upholstery on lower trims and leather on higher trims. The Sport trim added pops of orange inside, aligning with its exterior theme. Its straightforward design emphasized functionality and practicality, reinforced by features like the All-Weather Package, which included heated seats and mirrors.

The Passport boasted a robust 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. While its fuel economy wasn’t stellar—20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway for FWD models, and 19/24 mpg for AWD—it offered substantial power and versatility for various driving situations. The vehicle delivered a reliable performance both on flat city roads and in the higher elevations of Yosemite National Park, highlighting its robust engine and torque-vectoring AWD system. With drive modes like Snow, Sand, and Mud, the Passport proved capable off-road and had an impressive towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, outperforming many competitors.

The Forester featured a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine outputting 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, mated to a CVT. Despite being designed for practical rather than dynamic performance, the Forester’s engine sometimes felt underpowered during highway merges and overtakes. Its body exhibited considerable roll in corners, which compromised its handling slightly on bumpy roads. Subaru's hallmark AWD came standard, enhanced by X-Mode settings tailored for varied terrains. With a ground clearance of 8.7 inches, it was adept at handling mud and dirt but had a modest towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, limiting its utility compared to the Passport.

The Passport excelled in practicality and comfort, offering spacious seating for four adults and three full LATCH connections for child safety seats. The interior provided a significant amount of under-floor storage and 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, leading the class in this regard. The SUV's elevated stance made loading a bit of a task but also offered a power liftgate for convenience. Additionally, the Passport included minor but thoughtful storage solutions like secondary shelf spaces and a roomy center console, reinforcing its practical appeal.

The Forester’s interior focused on durability and space efficiency, offering above-average headroom and legroom with its tall, flat roofline. Cargo space was 35.4 cubic feet with the rear seats up and expanded to 76.1 cubic feet with the seats folded, surpassing many rivals when the seats were down. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench, which some competitors offered for more flexible storage options. Features like a power liftgate were standard on higher trims, enhancing its convenience. Though not having an abundance of cupholders like the Subaru Ascent, it had adequately sized holders and reasonable storage compartments, albeit limited in some aspects like phone storage and wireless charging.

The Passport varied its tech offerings across trims, with the base model featuring a 5-inch display and higher trims gaining an 8-inch Display Audio infotainment system. The system supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, offering responsive touch functionality and intuitive navigation. Additional features included Bluetooth, USB ports, and seventh-speaker audio on lower trims, while higher trims added premium audio, satellite radio, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The adoption of these features from the Honda Pilot resulted in a dated but functional central dashboard design.

The Forester’s standard Starlink infotainment system comprised a 6.5-inch touchscreen with smartphone integration, Bluetooth, SiriusXM, and front-row USB ports. Upgrading to the Sport model added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while higher trims included navigation and additional USB ports. The system featured easy-to-use graphics and reliable analog controls but had a slow startup time. The secondary dashboard screen and instrument cluster display provided additional vehicle information, though it sometimes felt redundant.

Safety was paramount for the Passport, which earned high marks from NHTSA and was an IIHS Top Safety Pick. Standard safety features across all trims included the Honda Sensing suite, with technologies like collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims provided enhancements like dynamic rearview camera gridlines, blind-spot monitoring, and parking sensors. These systems ensured comprehensive safety, although not as advanced as some newer competitors.

The Forester demonstrated exceptional safety performance, earning a “Top Safety Pick+” from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Standard safety tech in the Forester included the EyeSight suite with adaptive cruise control, emergency braking, and lane departure warning. Subaru’s unique DriverFocus system used a camera to monitor driver distraction, adding a layer of safety not available in many rivals. Optional features expanded its safety arsenal with blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and reverse automatic braking. The Forester resulted in a safe, confidence-inspiring drive.