2021 Subaru Outback vs 2021 Honda Odyssey

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.