2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness vs. Honda Passport TrailSport: How They Compare

Now that the new seventh-generation Subaru Outback has fully transformed from a quasi-station wagon to a mid-size SUV, it joins an entirely new set of rivals. However, unlike most of its newfound competition, the Outback is only offered with two rows of seats, which shrinks its competitive set to a handful of utes. Arguably its closest analog is the new 2026 Honda Passport, which comes standard with all-wheel drive and a rugged aesthetic. Since off-road-oriented trims on new SUVs are about as popular as Beanie Babies in their heyday, we’re going to compare the Outback’s Wilderness model with the Passport’s TrailSport variant. Beyond their body cladding and outdoorsy namesakes, how do these two-row mid-sizers stack up? Let’s take a look. Off-Road Gear and PowertrainThe 2022 Subaru Outback first debuted the brand’s Wilderness treatment, and it was more than just extra plastic body cladding and bright copper-colored accents. For 2026, the Outback Wilderness once again has a higher ride height with 9.5 inches of ground clearance, Bridgestone Dueler all-terrain tires mounted on black 17-inch wheels, reinforced underbody protection, and various off-road drive modes.The Passport TrailSport has chunkier 31-inch all-terrain tires on larger 18-inch wheels designed to protect the rim and valve stem from damage. The Honda also has front tow hooks that are easy to access, and while it has steel skid plates to protect its belly, its 8.3 inches of ground clearance is less than the Subie’s. The TrailSport has greater approach and departure angles; its 23 degrees front and back best the Wilderness’s 20 and 22.5 degrees, respectively.SubaruHondaPop their hoods and you’ll find two notably different engines. The Passport is powered by a 285-hp naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V-6, whereas the Outback Wilderness features a 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four. The Subaru uses a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), and the Honda uses a traditional 10-speed automatic. Both SUVs have all-wheel drive, with the Outback utilizing the latest iteration of Subaru’s Symmetrical AWD, and the Passport’s AWD setup enhanced with a torque-vectoring rear differential. With the TrailSport trim, the Passport gets an EPA-rated 20 mpg combined. Subaru hasn’t yet released the Outback’s fuel economy, but we’d bet it’s around the last-gen Wilderness’s 23 mpg combined.Size and StylingThe redesigned Honda Passport is bigger and boxier than its predecessor. While we’ll probably need a carpenter’s square to decide whether the Outback or the Passport has more right angles, the Honda is the larger and taller of the two. The Outback is a couple of inches longer than before, and it stands about two inches taller too, but we’re still waiting on official dimensions. The Passport TrailSport isn’t 80 inches wide, so it’s not legally required to have five amber lights on its hood or roof, but since Honda’s designers clearly think amber lighting looks cool, the TrailSport headlights have daytime running lights in that color. Both of these SUVs have bold design details. For instance, the Passport has a fake hood vent and its name stamped on the front bumper, and the Wilderness-spec Outback has a Ford Raptor–esque grille with “SUBARU” prominently displayed—not to mention flashy fog lights and a matte-black hood decal. These unibody crossovers both definitely look brutish, and no one will accuse them of blending into a crowd. The Outback’s smooth tailgate and tall rear window provide ample space for the bumper stickers that Subaru owners seem to love. The Passport’s rear end has its own distinctive design detail, with its Jansport-inspired “backpack” sections that cover the roof edges with a scratch-resistant material. Interior and CargoBoth of these recently redesigned SUVs have digital gauge clusters and large touchscreens (14.0 inches in the Subaru and 12.3 inches in the Honda), but they also have a satisfying amount of physical knobs and buttons for their respective stereos and HVAC systems. While the Passport has more spots to stow knick-knacks, we do appreciate Subaru’s commitment to a user-friendly shift lever. On the other hand, Honda chose to stick with the push-button setup. Tsk, tsk. Both trail-ready SUVs come standard with synthetic interior materials that are advertised as easy to clean. Then again, both also offer the option of a nicer but perhaps more vulnerable leather option, with the Wilderness available with nappa leather and TrailSport Elite trim coming standard with leather upholstery. When it comes to hauling cargo, the larger Passport has the advantage. It boasts 44 cubic feet of space behind the back seats, and if those are stowed, the space grows to as much as 84 cubes. Subaru only lists the Outback’s standard cargo capacity, which is 35 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks up. We’ll have to wait for Subaru to share the max cargo room with the back seats folded, but it’s unlikely to meet or exceed the Passport’s space. For those who want to tow a trailer with whatever cargo, the Subie can handle up to 3500 pounds versus the Honda’s 5000-pound max. PriceYou’ll need at least $49,900 to own the regular TrailSport version of the 2026 Honda Passport. That starting price climbs to $53,900 should you opt for the better-equipped TrailSport Elite. While the Passport is currently on sale, the Outback won’t reach Subaru dealers until sometime this summer. Meanwhile, the Outback Wilderness will require an even longer wait, as it’s not launching until early 2026. When it finally goes on sale, we expect it to start at around $50,000.More to the StoryEric Stafford’s automobile addiction began before he could walk, and it has fueled his passion to write news, reviews, and more for Car and Driver since 2016. His aspiration growing up was to become a millionaire with a Jay Leno–like car collection. Apparently, getting rich is harder than social-media influencers make it seem, so he avoided financial success entirely to become an automotive journalist and drive new cars for a living. After earning a journalism degree at Central Michigan University and working at a daily newspaper, the years of basically burning money on failed project cars and lemon-flavored jalopies finally paid off when Car and Driver hired him. His garage currently includes a 2010 Acura RDX, a manual ’97 Chevy Camaro Z/28, and a ’90 Honda CRX Si.
Source: caranddriver.com