2020 Honda Passport vs 2021 Subaru Outback

2020 Honda Passport
2020 Honda Passport
$31,990MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Outback
2021 Subaru Outback
$26,795MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Honda Passport
$31,990MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Outback
$26,795MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$31,990

MSRP

$26,795

Average price

$24,648

Average price

$24,586

Listings

146

Listings

859

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

8.8 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Comfortable
Cons
  • Poor fuel economy
Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • Great safety ratings
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine

2020 Honda Passport Reviews Summary

Honda has brought back the Passport name for its latest SUV offering. The two-row crossover is an upmarket take on transport that proves just as comfortable on the road as it is on the trail. Though the model doesn’t break the Honda mold, it has a lot to like, including off-road capability and thoughtful interior functionality.

2021 Subaru Outback Reviews Summary

The Outback, like any Subaru, is an old soul in a young person’s body. It embraces a rosier past of automotive history, back when cars were just cars and drivers were concerned only with driving. It’s conservative, unhip to fashion, and slow. Yet the 2021 Outback—a raised, all-wheel drive (AWD) station wagon like the first 1995 model—has all of today’s essentials and extra technology. Subaru just skips the fripperies and focuses on what people really need: Generous space, go-anywhere capability, reliability, low cost, high resale, and safety. It’s not all that innovative or stylish, but a Subaru Outback tackles the everyday banalities of life as few other cars can.
No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.5L 280 hp V6

Engine

2.5L 182 hp H4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

AWD

Seating Capacity

5

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

280 hp @ 6000 rpm

Horsepower

182 hp @ 5800 rpm

MPG City

20

MPG City

26

MPG Highway

25

MPG Highway

33
2020 Honda Passport
2020 Honda Passport
$31,990MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Outback
2021 Subaru Outback
$26,795MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2020 Honda Passport
$31,990MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Outback
$26,795MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$31,990
$26,795
Average price
$24,648
$24,586
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.8
4.7
Expert reviews

8.8 out of 10

Read full review

7.8 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Stylish design
  • Comfortable
Cons
  • Poor fuel economy
Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • Great safety ratings
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine
Summary
Honda has brought back the Passport name for its latest SUV offering. The two-row crossover is an upmarket take on transport that proves just as comfortable on the road as it is on the trail. Though the model doesn’t break the Honda mold, it has a lot to like, including off-road capability and thoughtful interior functionality.
The Outback, like any Subaru, is an old soul in a young person’s body. It embraces a rosier past of automotive history, back when cars were just cars and drivers were concerned only with driving. It’s conservative, unhip to fashion, and slow. Yet the 2021 Outback—a raised, all-wheel drive (AWD) station wagon like the first 1995 model—has all of today’s essentials and extra technology. Subaru just skips the fripperies and focuses on what people really need: Generous space, go-anywhere capability, reliability, low cost, high resale, and safety. It’s not all that innovative or stylish, but a Subaru Outback tackles the everyday banalities of life as few other cars can.
Video
No video found
No video found

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
3.5L 280 hp V6
2.5L 182 hp H4
Drive Train
FWD
AWD
Seating Capacity
5
5
Horsepower
280 hp @ 6000 rpm
182 hp @ 5800 rpm
MPG City
20
26
MPG Highway
25
33
Look and feel
2020 Honda Passport
8/10
2021 Subaru Outback
7/10

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's familiar design language and practical aesthetics. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Honda Pilot or a beefed-up CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Passport's higher ground clearance compared to the Pilot, along with its scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights, gave it a robust off-road-ready appearance. Inside, the Passport Elite trim featured a sophisticated cabin with a mix of durable and soft-touch materials, heated and ventilated front seats, and a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, ensuring comfort and utility.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for 2020, retained a familiar and comfortable feel akin to older Subaru models. The interior, especially in higher trims, offered a fresher look with an 11.6-inch portrait display, chrome trim, and contrasting leatherette. The Onyx Edition XT featured gray and black StarTex upholstery with lime green stitching, adding a touch of flair. The Outback's exterior maintained a smooth, plain styling with high gray cladding on the wheel arches and bumpers, emphasizing its ruggedness. Despite its modern updates, the Outback's design remained true to its roots as a lifted wagon, offering a practical alternative to typical crossovers and SUVs.

Performance
2020 Honda Passport
8/10
2021 Subaru Outback
6/10

The 2020 Honda Passport was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This setup provided sufficient power for various driving situations, though its fuel economy was less impressive, with FWD models achieving 20 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, and AWD models slightly lower. The Passport excelled in off-road conditions, thanks to its torque-vectoring AWD system and drive modes for Snow, Sand, and Mud. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds, outperforming rivals like the Nissan Murano and Chevrolet Blazer.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered two engine options: a 2.5-liter flat-four with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four in the XT trims, delivering 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. The base engine struggled with the Outback's weight, resulting in sluggish performance, while the turbocharged engine provided a significant improvement in power and refinement. The Outback's fuel economy was commendable, with the base engine achieving 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, and the turbo XT slightly lower. Subaru's AWD system and X-Mode enhanced the Outback's off-road capabilities, making it a versatile and capable vehicle.

Form and function
2020 Honda Passport
10/10
2021 Subaru Outback
10/10

The 2020 Honda Passport was a practical midsize SUV with ample interior space and comfort. It offered spacious seating for four adults, with height-adjustable seatbelts and three full LATCH connections in the second row. The Passport's cargo area was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The interior featured thoughtful storage solutions, including a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. The Passport's heating and cooling functionalities, along with heated and ventilated seats, added to its comfort and convenience.

The 2021 Subaru Outback boasted impressive interior space, with 76 cubic feet of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, free of intrusive elements. The Outback's seats were comfortable and supportive, with excellent headroom and legroom in all four outboard positions. Storage solutions included large map pockets, bottle holders, and handy pockets in the front center console. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were only available on higher trims. The Outback's standout feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, offering brilliant engineering and convenience.

Technology
2020 Honda Passport
9/10
2021 Subaru Outback
7/10

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 5.0-inch display monitor in the base Sport model, while higher trims received an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The larger screen was responsive and easy to navigate, though the dashboard design felt a bit outdated. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, and a seven-speaker audio system, with higher trims offering a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system, despite its modern tech, looked dated with graphics reminiscent of older gaming consoles. The central screen in the instrument panel was particularly lacking. However, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the optional navigation was more modern-looking. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The system's functionality was impressive but relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded in certain conditions.

Safety
2020 Honda Passport
9/10
2021 Subaru Outback
9/10

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, earning good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, and was named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. It came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, including collision mitigation braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered additional features like dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver’s knee and passenger seat-cushion airbags. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. The Outback earned a 2020 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award and received top ratings in all crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, though it received four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and for the rollover test.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2020 Honda Passport is 8.8 out of 10, while the 2021 Subaru Outback scores 7.8 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2020 Honda Passport is the recommended choice, offering a more practical and capable package for consumers seeking a reliable midsize SUV.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2020 Honda Passport is 8.8 out of 10, while the 2021 Subaru Outback scores 7.8 out of 10. Based on these ratings, the 2020 Honda Passport is the recommended choice, offering a more practical and capable package for consumers seeking a reliable midsize SUV.

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By: CarGurus + AI

At CarGurus, our team of experienced automotive writers remain at the heart of our content operation, conducting hands-on car tests and writing insightful guides that are backed by years of industry experience. To complement this, we are harnessing AI to make our content offering more diverse and more helpful to shoppers than ever. To achieve this, our AI systems are based exclusively on CarGurus content, ratings and data, so that what we produce is both unique to CarGurus, and uniquely helpful to car shoppers.

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