2026 Honda Passport TrailSport vs Subaru Outback Wilderness Comparison Test

The wave of sport utility vehicles as we know them was already on the rise three decades ago when Subaru, in a novel bit of innovation, parlayed its Legacy wagon into the adventure-ready Outback.

Of course, Subaru has added other SUVs to its lineup in the years since, but it was the uniqueness of the Outback that made it a sales champion. It hasn’t hurt that the Outback has long been sensible and genuinely good to drive, not to mention shockingly capable when the pavement ends.

These days, every manufacturer is looking for a bigger piece of the SUV pie, and the latest trend is to make more macho versions of their existing models. That often means chunkier tires and more body cladding, all with the intent of tackling little more than cottage access roads. However, some companies are taking it a step further.

Styling

In the case of the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport, the rugged treatment is the only way it comes. Well, at least in Canada. South of the border, there’s a lower RTL trim that skips the extras. That compares to the 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness — a mid-grade trim in the model’s lineup.

Honda’s designers nailed it with the redesigned Passport, which is rugged and purposeful, while the chunky all-terrain tires fill the wheel wells. Add the orange tow hooks up front and boxy roof rails on top, and the Passport TrailSport looks ready for serious excursions. And the bright orange paint seen here? It might be loud but it looks fantastic, earning Honda a hearty round of applause for adding some colour to the palette. (For what it’s worth, the paint is a $550 upgrade.)

The Outback’s switch from traditional wagon shape to this taller, squared-off look has led to some griping amongst the Subaru faithful. Next to the Passport, the Outback still looks very wagon-like, although the boxiness adds up to more useful interior space. Where the look of the new Outback — and particularly the Wilderness trim — really falls apart is with all the tacked-on plastic parts slapped on every panel.

Subaru claims they’re all functional, adding protection to areas most susceptible to scrapes and scuffs, but there’s no reason they need to have so many shapes and lines moulded into them. But the most egregious styling offense is the Wilderness’s front end, with its mess of angles and curves, not to mention the giant SUBARU wordmark that spans the grille.

Honda Passport: 9/10; Subaru Outback: 6/10

Practicality

Both of these SUVs have the hardware and engineering to (mostly) live up to their rugged looks. Despite the Outback’s much tamer (but still all-terrain) tires, it offers considerably more ground clearance than the Passport at 240 mm (9.4 in) versus 211 mm (8.3 in). The Honda’s approach and departure angles — how likely the nose or tail are to drag when climbing on and off obstacles — are slightly better, but the Subaru’s shorter wheelbase gives it the advantage in breakover angle, or the ability to avoid getting beached in those same situations.

The Passport is 100 mm (3.9 in) wider and taller than the Outback, which contributes to its colossal 1,246 L of cargo space behind the rear seats compared to the Outback’s 980 L. However, the gulf between them narrows when those back seats are stowed, with 2,356 L in the Honda compared to 2,280 L in the Subaru. And while they both offer wide and square openings for bulky items, the Passport has the towing advantage at 2,268 kg (5,000 lb) compared to a maximum of 1,588 kg (3,500 lb).

Honda Passport: 8/10; Subaru Outback: 7/10

Features

The Outback Wilderness comes with a full-size spare all-terrain tire, while the Passport has only a space-saver unit. Meanwhile, the Passport has more comprehensive skid plate protection underneath, while Subaru happily sells an extra skid plate for under the engine to complement the rudimentary piece of aluminum up front.

Both SUVs provide various off-road drive modes that manage descent and climb speeds, and allow for some wheelspin when needed to maximize forward progress even on loose surfaces. They also provide surround-view displays that rely on a litany of cameras to keep an eye on every corner.

The Honda’s interior is notably nicer than the Subaru’s. The perforated leather seats provide a much nicer place to be, especially in warm weather, offering not only a bit of breathability but also ventilating fans, too. The Outback Wilderness’s vinyl seats can make for sweaty backs in short order, so while they might be easier to wipe down if they get muddy, the Honda’s seats are much nicer to live with. The rest of the Passport’s finishes, while not overly posh, look and feel more premium than what’s in the Outback, although they appear to be no less durable.

Both SUVs have heated front and rear seats, as well as heated steering wheels. But while they also have power sunroofs, the Outback’s is smaller and sits above the front seats alone compared to the Passport’s larger panoramic opening.

Honda Passport: 8/10; Subaru Outback: 7/10

User Friendliness

Visibility out of each vehicle is very good, but the Outback’s narrower dimensions make it feel easier to navigate in tight spaces including forest trails (or a Whole Foods parking lot). The Outback also has some great cubbies for stashing small items, but in typical Honda fashion, the Passport’s cabin is so generously equipped with storage it looks like a small pet could get lost inside.

Both offer the perfect balance of traditional controls, like a volume knob, plus dials and buttons for climate controls. They have functional and logical switchgear on their steering wheels, too, and both have big cup holders that leave beverages within easy reach.

The Passport’s dash-top display is slightly larger than the Outback’s (12.3 inches versus 12.1), but its resolution isn’t as crisp or vibrant, and its operation isn’t quite as slick or swift as Subaru’s Toyota-sourced unit. The only additional nit to pick is Honda’s fiddly push-button gear selector that’s not as intuitive to use as Subaru’s traditional lever sprouting from the centre console.

Honda Passport: 8/10; Subaru Outback: 9/10

Comfort

Despite the Passport’s better seats and superior sound-deadening, the Outback offers arguably the best ride of any vehicle that costs less than six figures. The suspension has so much travel that even moon crater-sized potholes are consumed without issue. The 17-inch wheels mean the tires have decent sidewall thickness, which also contributes to its smooth ride. And Subaru’s engineers aren’t afraid of a bit of body roll, unlike Honda’s chassis developers that seemed to think the Passport needed to corner flat like a Civic Type R. The result is a more brittle ride over rough terrain than the smoother Subaru.

Honda Passport: 7/10; Subaru Outback: 7.5/10

Driving Feel

In spite of its extra body roll when changing directions and nose-dive when braking, the Outback still has the confidence-inspiring handling Subaru has become known for. Once it keels over in a turn, it holds its line and carves up corners with surprising adeptness for a vehicle so capable off-road. The steering, while equally void of feel, is precise and more responsive to inputs than the Honda’s, with the Passport driving more like a truck.

The Passport brings together the conflicting forces of its big all-terrain tires and greater bulk with a stiffer suspension, creating a drive experience that’s neither optimized for on-road handling nor off-road compliance. And its all-wheel-drive system didn’t do as well as Subaru’s now-famous setup during some modest trail driving.

Honda Passport: 7/10; Subaru Outback: 8/10

Power

These two go about creating and delivering output in very different ways. Honda continues with its tried and true 3.5L V6 here, which delivers 285 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. Meanwhile, the Outback Wilderness uses a turbocharged 2.4L horizontally-opposed four-cylinder that makes 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque.

Those numbers aren’t dramatically different, but despite its modest horsepower deficit, the Subaru’s turbocharged engine generates its greater peak torque output at only 2,000 rpm versus the Honda’s engine that needs 5,000 revs. Also contributing to the Outback’s livelier acceleration is the fact that it tips the scales at some 320 kg (705 lb) less than the portly Passport.

Honda’s 10-speed automatic transmission helps the Passport maximize its output, keeping shifts smooth yet crisp, while as good as Subaru’s automatic continuously-variable transmission (CVT) is with its simulated eight-speed programming, it has some of the unavoidable rubber-band feel when pulling away from a stop.

Honda Passport: 7/10; Subaru Outback: 7.5/10

Fuel Economy

Expectedly, the Subaru’s lighter mass and smaller engine equate to superior fuel efficiency, with the Outback rated at 11.3 L/100 km in the city, 8.8 on the highway, and 10.2 combined versus 12.6, 9.9, and 11.4, respectively, for the Passport. According to National Resources Canada (NRCan) calculations, a typical driver can expect to spend $360 more a year on regular-grade gas filling the Honda’s tank.

Honda Passport: 6.5/10; Subaru Outback: 7.5/10

Safety

Honda and Subaru have both committed to offering comprehensive advanced safety suites in all their vehicles for a number of years. The Outback’s driver attention monitoring was particularly aggressive, scolding inattentiveness after what seemed like only a few milliseconds of not looking straight ahead.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has awarded both the 2026 Passport and 2026 Outback with its Top Safety Pick+ rating — the best possible result.

Honda Passport: 9/10; Subaru Outback: 9/10

Value

Up to this point, the Outback and Passport have traded off wins in the various categories, with the Subaru being dynamically superior but the Honda providing more space and practicality. However, in terms of pricing, the contest skews very much in favour of the Outback. Because even when factoring in its freight fee ($2,295), the Wilderness trim’s sticker price of $51,590 is a full $12,000 less than the Passport TrailSport Touring tested here.

In fairness, it’s possible to strip out some of the interior features — ventilated front seats, leather upholstery, premium stereo — but then the base TrailSport still rings in at $58,990 including freight ($2,000). That puts the Passport closer to the Toyota 4Runner, reinforcing the Outback Wilderness as a real bargain for adventure-seekers.

Honda Passport: 7/10; Subaru Outback: 9/10

The Verdict

Picking a favourite between these two is harder than it seems. Ultimately, if it comes down to budget, the 2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness is the clear winner, offering impressive value and versatility. Add to that the Subaru’s superior driving dynamics both on- and off-road, and the case for the Outback becomes pretty compelling.

But, there’s the matter of the more spacious interior that comes with the 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport, not to mention its greater towing capacity. For those who need that extra utility from, the Passport may be the only one to consider. Those pragmatic reasons aside, the Passport TrailSport looks fantastic, whereas the Outback Wilderness — well, it’s an acquired taste.

Pragmatic buyers might be better to skip the Wilderness entirely and instead choose the Outback Limited XT, which gets the same turbocharged engine and nearly as much off-road capability, but with proper leather seating and a slightly more attractive front end. And best of all, its price tag is $1,000 cheaper.