2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2020 Honda Pilot shared the same dynamic styling as the rest of the Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. The subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows masked the size of the Pilot, making it look more svelte than it really was. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, where the fuel and engine-temperature gauges were analog, but all other information was displayed on a digital screen directly in front of the driver. The cabin felt comfortable and spacious, with a solid level of refinement, although hard plastics were used in many areas. Rivals like the Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Mazda CX-9 offered more upscale cabins. The Pilot came in various trims, including LX, EX, EX-L, Touring, Elite, and the range-topping Black Edition, each adding more features and luxury.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned for the 2020 model year, retained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older Subaru models. The analog gauges, steering wheel design, and seat forms were similar to previous versions, but the interior was fresher, especially if you skipped the base trim. The base trim featured two 7-inch touchscreens in matte plastic, while higher trims boasted an 11.6-inch portrait display that was bright, sharp, and surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. The interior quality was evident, with substantial window switches, dash padding, and surface materials. Limited and Touring trims offered two-tone leather upholstery, giving a luxury car impression. The Onyx Edition XT featured gray and black StarTex upholstery with lime green contrast stitching, adding a touch of wildness to the otherwise conservative design. The exterior styling remained smooth and plain, with high gray cladding on the wheel arches, sills, and bumpers, and a few chrome flourishes on the window trim and LED running lights.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims featured a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims came with a 9-speed automatic transmission, offering more refined acceleration and potentially better fuel economy. The V6 engine provided stout acceleration, making it easy to move from a standstill or make passing moves on the highway. The Pilot's ride was tuned for a refined, comfortable driving experience, ideal for easy commutes and relaxing road trips, though it lacked real athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for various conditions, including Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand, enhancing the Pilot's capability in different terrains.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a 2.5-liter flat-four engine in the base trim, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This powertrain struggled to move the Outback, especially when loaded with passengers and cargo, resulting in slow and noisy performance. However, the XT trims offered a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving performance and refinement. The turbocharged engine provided better acceleration and capability to keep up with traffic, though it had slightly lower fuel economy compared to the base engine. The Outback's ride comfort and tranquil behavior were excellent, with long-travel springs and 8.7 inches of ground clearance allowing it to handle rough roads and off-road conditions effectively. Subaru's electronically-variable AWD system was proactive, always driving all four wheels and reacting quickly to varying torque splits, making the Outback highly capable off-road.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition trims featured second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating capacity to seven. The third row was adult-friendly, unlike some rivals with cramped third rows. EX trims and higher provided one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access to the third row. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot offered 83.9 cubic feet of cargo space, comparable to rivals like the Highlander, Kia Telluride, Hyundai Palisade, and Subaru Ascent. The Volkswagen Atlas exceeded them all with 96.8 cubic feet of space. The Pilot had more cargo capacity than the Mazda CX-9, which provided just 71.2 cubic feet. EX-L and higher trims featured a power liftgate, while Touring and up had a hands-free power tailgate. The Pilot was designed for family hauling, with plenty of spaces for toys, juice boxes, and gear. The second-row captain’s chairs provided a narrow passage for kids to access the third row without folding the seats forward, and a conversation mirror allowed parents to keep an eye on the kids.

The 2021 Subaru Outback offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cargo area was wide, flat, and free of oddly-shaped cutouts or intrusive wheel arches. Headroom and legroom were ample in all four outboard seating positions, and the seats were comfortable and supportive. Outward visibility was superb, thanks to thin pillars, a low shoulder height, and lots of glass. Storage was another plus, with large map pockets and bottle holders in each door, a handy pocket on either side of the front center console, and a small shelf on the passenger-side dash. Downsides included push-button start and rear climate vents being standard only on Limited and above trims, with push-button start optional on the Premium trim. The moonroof was bundled with other options, adding to the cost. A power driver’s seat, dual-zone climate, and rear USB ports were standard on Premium and above trims, while a hands-free power tailgate was optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. The Onyx Edition XT came with a full-size spare alloy wheel and tire, while others had a steel wheel on a doughnut. The Outback’s best feature was the standard roof rails and integrated crossbars, which could be swiveled and locked in place within seconds, saving money and offering brilliant engineering.

The 2020 Honda Pilot's LX trim level featured a 5-inch color LCD screen, operating a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port. All other trims had Honda’s Display Audio 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system lacked a tuning knob and relied heavily on the touchscreen, which had a confusing layout. All but the LX trim included HD Radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Cabin Control Remote Capability, allowing back seat passengers to control the stereo using a smartphone app. Navigation, a rear-seat entertainment system, and a wall-style power outlet were optional on the EX-L and standard on the Touring, Elite, and Black Edition. These higher trims also featured an upgraded 590-watt, 10-speaker premium audio system and mobile hotspot capability, with the Elite and Black Edition coming standard with a wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system looked outdated, with graphics and typefaces reminiscent of the Nintendo Wii. The central screen in the instrument panel was even worse. Despite this, the Outback's adaptive cruise control had four settings, though finding and changing them was challenging. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the optional navigation was more modern-looking. The base model's dual-screen setup was less cohesive and attractive than the single large screen available on higher trims. Subaru EyeSight was standard on all trims, including adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. The system offered good semi-automated control on marked highways but relied solely on forward-looking cameras, which could be impeded around tighter curves, reducing functionality compared to systems that also used radar.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Standard safety features included front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety equipment included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the best crash test score of Good from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). It also earned the best score of Superior in IIHS crash prevention technology evaluation.

The 2021 Subaru Outback rode on a stronger and stiffer chassis than previous models, with a driver’s knee airbag and passenger seat-cushion airbag as standard. More driver assists were available on specific trims, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert optional on Premium and standard on higher trims. Rear emergency braking was optional on the Onyx Edition XT and standard on the Limited 2.5 and both versions of the Touring. A driver-attention monitor was standard only on the Limited XT and both versions of the Touring, and optional on the Limited 2.5 model. The Outback was a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+," earning top “Good” ratings in all six crash tests and for headlights, plus the top “Superior” rating for its forward emergency braking. The NHTSA evaluated the 2021 Outback in three crash tests and a rollover test, scoring an overall five stars, but with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and four stars for the rollover test.