2026 Honda Passport vs 2026 Subaru Outback

Midsize SUVs are terrific choices for many drivers, offering a great middle ground between smaller and larger models. Picking the right one can be tricky, however, since you have quite a few available. Looking at the 2026 Honda Passport vs 2026 Subaru Outback makes it clear that these are both great vehicles, but the Passport gives you a lot more to enjoy.
 
Right off the bat, you get a far more powerful engine with the Honda Passport than what comes standard for the Outback. This results in a much more enjoyable daily drive, making the Passport a fantastic choice for everything you need to do. You also get much greater towing capacity with the Passport than the Outback; even the available engine for the Outback falls short.
 
Inside, we find incredible standard features in the Honda Passport, including a gorgeous 12.3-inch infotainment display and 44 cu.ft. of rear cargo space. The Outback has a smaller infotainment screen and just 34.6 cu.ft. of rear cargo space. So you can get a lot more done with Honda's remarkable SUV.

Cargo space inside your SUV is one of those features that's easy to overlook when shopping for an SUV, but it's one you'll likely appreciate, or regret not having, once you start living with the vehicle. SUVs are hard to beat for functionality, and a spacious interior with plenty of room for the stuff you need to take with you each day is ideal. These are both two-row, midsize SUVs, but the space they offer is not the same:
 
2026 Honda Passport

• 44 cu.ft. rear cargo volume
• 83.8 cu.ft. total cargo volume

 
2026 Subaru Outback

• 34.6 cu.ft. rear cargo volume
• 80.5 cu.ft. total cargo volume

You can see that there is a substantial difference between these two vehicles, and it can really matter as you drive and take care of the things you need to do each day. The rear cargo volume is especially noteworthy since it is a massive difference. This means you can get more luggage, shopping bags, coolers, or anything else you want into the back of the Passport.
 
Total cargo volume is also substantially different, which highlights how well Honda has designed the Passport to be incredibly functional each day. So if you need to get a piece of furniture home or really load up before you and your partner hit the road, the Passport gives you a lot more space to do that than the Subaru Outback.

As modern vehicles, both of these SUVs have a wide range of tech, comfort, and convenience features, both standard and available. These things enhance your time on the road, so they really do matter as you shop for a vehicle. While the Subaru Outback has some nice features, especially available options, the Honda Passport gives you more to enjoy.

Tech features can help you make the most of your time on the road, especially when you are trying to find somewhere you have never been. Looking at the 2026 Honda Passport, we find a gorgeous 12.3-inch infotainment display up front, joined by a 10.2-inch digital instrument cluster. These screens make it easy to keep track of important information as you drive.
 
You get a nine-speaker sound system in the Passport, with a stunning 12-speaker Bose Premium sound system available. A wireless charging pad is standard in the Passport, which is great for hectic mornings, along with Wi-Fi hotspot functionality. Every model also comes with an auto-dimming rearview mirror, which helps you avoid being blinded by other cars.
 
The Outback has some nice features, but they tend to come up a bit short. Its 12.1-inch Multimedia display is a bit smaller than what Honda gives you. Similarly, the entry-level six-speaker sound system cannot compete with what you get in the Passport. 

Although these are both comfortable midsize SUVs with plenty of passenger room inside, the Passport once again gives you more. For example, the Passport has 119.1 cu.ft. of passenger volume inside, while the Outback has just 111.1 cu.ft. of passenger space, which makes a difference. We definitely prefer having more room to stretch out in.
 
Along with all of that space, Honda gives you some fantastic features with the 2026 Passport, including push-button start, remote engine start with the key fob, and illuminated steering wheel-mounted controls, all standard. You get standard leather and cloth seats, with perforated leather seating available, plus tri-zone automatic climate control in every Passport trim.
 
Looking at the 2026 Subaru Outback, we find similar convenience features, such as keyless access with push-button start. StarTex upholstery is standard in only two trims of the Outback, with leather trim as an additional choice, which is fine but not as nice as the Passport. Finally, dual-zone automatic climate control is the best Subaru can do, once again falling behind.

Although performance and a powerful engine might not be the most important things to you in a midsize SUV, they still matter. You deserve a vehicle that is fun to drive and that feels great on the road. Honda understands this well, and the Passport features a remarkable engine that far surpasses what comes standard in the 2026 Subaru Outback.

Although performance and a powerful engine might not be the most important things to you in a midsize SUV, they still matter. You deserve a vehicle that is fun to drive and that feels great on the road. Honda understands this well, and the Passport features a remarkable engine that far surpasses what comes standard in the 2026 Subaru Outback.
 
Engine Options and Performance
 
At a glance, it might seem like Subaru has an advantage in terms of engines since there are two available for the 2026 Outback, but that is not the case. That's because the 2026 Honda Passport comes with a fantastic powertrain: a 3.5L V6 engine that delivers 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. This is excellent power for a midsize SUV like this, and it is paired to a 10-speed automatic.
 
Looking at the Outback, its standard engine is a 2.5L that offers just 180 hp and 178 lb-ft of torque. You can instantly see how much weaker this is than what you get with the Passport. The high-end Wilderness and XT trims for the Outback come standard with a better 2.4L turbocharged engine that produces up to 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque, aiming to match what Honda offers as standard on every Passport.
 
The problem is that the Outback's available engine still has lower horsepower than Honda's engine. What's more: the Outback pairs both engines with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While we like CVTs with some powertrains, here we find the overall feel and performance of Honda's 10-speed to be a far better choice and much more enjoyable.

One of the things we love about midsize SUVs like these two models is how much functionality they provide you with. Beyond simple things like interior cargo space, where the Passport comes out on top, you can also do a lot of other work with them. Both of these SUVs have some towing capabilities if you have a boat or trailer that you want to take with you.
 
What we find, however, is that Honda's impressive engineering once again comes out on top and leaves the Outback way behind. In part, this is due to the weaker standard engine that Subaru offers, which continues to be a shame. But even with the more powerful option for the Outback, it still falls behind. Here are maximum tow ratings for these SUVs and their engines:
 
2026 Honda Passport

• 3.5L V6 engine: 5,000 lbs
   

2026 Subaru Outback

• 2.5L engine: 2,700 lbs
• 2.4L engine: 3,500 lbs

So even a driver with the Outback's available engine is still way behind the Passport when it comes to maximum towing. And that is a substantial difference; enough to really matter when hooking up a trailer or camper to the back of your SUV. This shows how well Honda understands what drivers need, and they deliver it time and again.

When shopping for a vehicle, it is important to consider how well it can protect you and your passengers each day. Fortunately, both of these SUVs come with an impressive array of standard safety features, with a few more options available. Overall, however, we prefer how well the Honda Sensing suite brings things together.
 
With the 2026 Passport, you get an incredible collection of driver-assistance features all included, featuring:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System with Advanced Pedestrian Detection
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Lane Departure Warning
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow

Even advanced features are standard for the Passport, including a Blind Spot Information System, a Cross Traffic Monitor, and more. About the only thing not included is a Multi-View Camera System, which is standard only on the TrailSport Elite trim. At the same time, the Outback has many similar features, like Pre-Collision Braking and Emergency Lane Keep Assist. But we find Honda's presentation more effective.

As you can see, the 2026 Subaru Outback is a fine midsize SUV, but it falls short of the Passport in a number of ways. It has less cargo and passenger space, a much weaker standard engine, and lower towing capacity. Since the Passport also gives you a larger interior display, better towing, and more standard comfort and convenience features, it's hard to beat.
 
If you are ready to see everything the Passport can do, then we are here to help you find the perfect SUV. Our friendly team will get to know you, answer all of your questions, and make sure you drive away in a Honda that you love. 

Call or visit us at Ralph Honda today and let us show you the shopping experience you deserve.