2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

2021 Honda Odyssey
2021 Honda Odyssey
$31,790MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Outback
2021 Subaru Outback
$26,795MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Honda Odyssey
$31,790MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Outback
$26,795MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP

$31,790

MSRP

$26,795

Average price

$28,886

Average price

$24,706

Listings

333

Listings

870

Ratings & Reviews

User Reviews
User Reviews

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10

Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10
Pros
  • Spacious
  • Stylish design
  • Spacious third row
Cons
  • Not available as a hybrid
  • Not as luxurious as its competitors
  • All-wheel drive not available
Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • Great safety ratings
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine

2021 Honda Odyssey Reviews Summary

When you’re raising kids, the last thing your life needs is added complication. The modern minivan is designed to eliminate snags, simplify your existence, and reduce friction in the daily grind. Whether you wish to save money on gas, carry maximum cargo, or own a vehicle that is ridiculously easy to load (whether we’re talking passengers or merchandise), a minivan makes good sense. And the freshened 2021 Honda Odyssey is one of our favorites, for now.

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

Popular Features & Specs

Engine

3.5L 280 hp V6

Engine

2.5L 182 hp H4

Drive Train

FWD

Drive Train

AWD

Seating Capacity

7

Seating Capacity

5

Horsepower

280 hp @ 6000 rpm

Horsepower

182 hp @ 5800 rpm

MPG City

19

MPG City

26

MPG Highway

28

MPG Highway

33
2021 Honda Odyssey
2021 Honda Odyssey
$31,790MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Outback
2021 Subaru Outback
$26,795MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Honda Odyssey
$31,790MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now
2021 Subaru Outback
$26,795MSRP
Overview
Overview
OverviewShop Now

Overview

MSRP
$31,790
$26,795
Average price
$28,886
$24,706
Listings

Ratings & Reviews

User reviews
4.6
4.7
Expert reviews

7.8 out of 10

Read full review

7.8 out of 10

Read full review
Pros & cons
Pros
  • Spacious
  • Stylish design
  • Spacious third row
Cons
  • Not available as a hybrid
  • Not as luxurious as its competitors
  • All-wheel drive not available
Pros
  • Excellent value for money
  • Standard all-wheel drive
  • Great safety ratings
Cons
  • Underwhelming base engine
Summary
When you’re raising kids, the last thing your life needs is added complication. The modern minivan is designed to eliminate snags, simplify your existence, and reduce friction in the daily grind. Whether you wish to save money on gas, carry maximum cargo, or own a vehicle that is ridiculously easy to load (whether we’re talking passengers or merchandise), a minivan makes good sense. And the freshened 2021 Honda Odyssey is one of our favorites, for now.
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

Popular Features & Specs

Engine
3.5L 280 hp V6
2.5L 182 hp H4
Drive Train
FWD
AWD
Seating Capacity
7
5
Horsepower
280 hp @ 6000 rpm
182 hp @ 5800 rpm
MPG City
19
26
MPG Highway
28
33
Look and feel
2021 Honda Odyssey
9/10
2021 Subaru Outback
7/10

The 2021 Honda Odyssey presented a familiar design with subtle updates to modernize its appearance. It featured a new grille and front bumper, standard LED headlights with automatic high-beam operation, and a gloss black spear with a chrome insert across the taillights. New wheel designs were introduced for the top trims, enhancing its aesthetic appeal. The Odyssey was available in five trims, with prices ranging from $31,790 to $47,820, excluding destination charges. The Elite trim, priced at $48,940, offered a luxurious interior with perforated leather upholstery, ambient lighting, and improved seating materials. The Odyssey Elite's 19-inch wheels and toned-down chrome added to its upscale look, making it a strong contender in the minivan segment.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, redesigned in 2020, maintained a familiar and comfortable feel reminiscent of older models. Its interior was refreshed, especially in trims above the base, featuring an 11.6-inch portrait display surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. The Outback's quality was evident in its substantial window switches, dash padding, and surface materials. The Onyx Edition XT offered a unique interior with gray and black StarTex upholstery and lime green stitching. Externally, the Outback's styling was smooth and plain, with high gray cladding for protection. It offered a new brown paint option and standard adaptive LED headlights. The Outback's lifted wagon design made it a versatile alternative to traditional crossovers and SUVs.

Performance
2021 Honda Odyssey
8/10
2021 Subaru Outback
6/10

The 2021 Honda Odyssey was powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a ten-speed automatic transmission, delivering 280 horsepower to the front wheels. It offered smooth and effortless power, with driving modes including Normal, Sport, Econ, and Snow. The Odyssey's fuel-saving technology allowed it to achieve an EPA-estimated 22 mpg in combined driving, with a tested average of 21.8 mpg. However, the lack of all-wheel drive put it at a disadvantage in snowy regions. The Odyssey featured a new electronic brake booster, enhancing its adaptive cruise control and brake pedal feel. While enjoyable to drive, the Odyssey's brakes struggled under heavy use, indicating a need for an upgrade.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's base engine was a 2.5-liter flat-four producing 182 horsepower, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This combination resulted in sluggish performance, especially when loaded with passengers and cargo. The turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine in the XT trims offered a significant improvement, with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, providing better acceleration and refinement. The Outback's fuel economy varied, with the base engine achieving 26 mpg city and 33 mpg highway, while the turbo XT managed 23 mpg city and 30 mpg highway. The Outback excelled in ride comfort and off-road capability, thanks to its long-travel springs, high ground clearance, and advanced all-wheel-drive system.

Form and function
2021 Honda Odyssey
7/10
2021 Subaru Outback
10/10

The 2021 Honda Odyssey offered a well-designed interior with legible instrumentation, logical controls, and ample storage. The driver's seat was comfortable and adjustable, with heated and ventilated options in the Elite trim. The Magic Slide second-row seat layout provided versatile seating configurations, while the third-row seats accommodated both children and adults. Cargo space was generous, with 32.8 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 144.9 cubic feet with seats removed. However, removing the second-row seats was cumbersome, despite improvements in seat folding.

The 2021 Subaru Outback boasted impressive ground clearance, allowing it to tackle various terrains. Inside, it offered 76 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 33 cubic feet with them raised. The cabin provided ample headroom and legroom, with excellent visibility due to thin pillars and large windows. Storage options were plentiful, with map pockets, bottle holders, and a handy front center console. However, some features like push-button start and rear climate vents were limited to higher trims. The Outback's standout feature was its integrated roof rails and crossbars, offering convenience and cost savings.

Technology
2021 Honda Odyssey
7/10
2021 Subaru Outback
7/10

The 2021 Honda Odyssey's EX trim and above featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various connectivity options. Touring and Elite trims added navigation, WiFi capability, and a rear-seat entertainment system. HondaLink subscription services offered additional features like remote operation and concierge services. However, the lack of a tuning knob and subpar voice-recognition technology were drawbacks. The rear-seat entertainment system included a 10.2-inch screen and streaming apps, though it lacked a touchscreen interface.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system appeared dated, with graphics reminiscent of older gaming consoles. Despite this, it offered modern features like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Subaru EyeSight, standard on all trims, included adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking. However, the system relied solely on cameras, limiting its effectiveness in certain conditions. The optional navigation system was more modern-looking, and the single large screen was more cohesive than the dual-screen setup in the base model.

Safety
2021 Honda Odyssey
9/10
2021 Subaru Outback
9/10

The 2021 Honda Odyssey improved its safety features with standard Honda Sensing on all trims, including adaptive cruise control with low-speed follow, pedestrian braking, and road-sign recognition. The Odyssey earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA, with the exception of a four-star rollover resistance score. However, the adaptive cruise control's braking could be uneven, and the lane-departure warning system's notification method was less than ideal.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger and stiffer chassis, with standard driver and passenger airbags. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims, while rear emergency braking and a driver-attention monitor were standard on select models. The Outback earned a "Top Safety Pick+" from the IIHS and top ratings in crash tests. The NHTSA awarded it five stars overall, with four stars for the front passenger in a frontal crash and rollover test.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Honda Odyssey is 7.8 out of 10, while the 2021 Subaru Outback scores 7.8 out of 10. Both vehicles offer unique strengths, but the Outback's versatility and off-road capability make it a compelling choice for those seeking adventure and practicality.

CarGurus highlights

Winning Vehicle Image

According to CarGurus experts, the overall rating for the 2021 Honda Odyssey is 7.8 out of 10, while the 2021 Subaru Outback scores 7.8 out of 10. Both vehicles offer unique strengths, but the Outback's versatility and off-road capability make it a compelling choice for those seeking adventure and practicality.

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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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