One is a more adventurous offshoot of a family-friendly 3-row SUV. The other has wagon-like proportions and an exterior design inspired by a hiking boot. That’s right, we’re talking about the Honda Passport and Subaru Outback.
The Passport shares a platform with the 3-row Honda Pilot. Yet it’s about 7 inches shorter and jettisons the Pilot’s rearmost seating for greater cargo capacity behind its split-folding second row. All-wheel drive (AWD) is standard. The Passport boasts one of the roomiest cabins in its class.
It’s true, the Outback takes styling cues from a hiking boot. To our eyes, it looks like a blend of a station wagon and a high-riding SUV. That’s fine by us. Like the Honda Passport, the Subaru Outback has standard all-wheel drive and adult levels of space in both rows of seating.
Let’s take a closer look at the Passport and Outback.
2025 Honda Passport
2024 model shown
This generation of the Honda Passport dates back to the 2019 model year. There are no updates to the 2025 variant because it’s getting a full redesign for 2026. Last year, Honda equipped the off-road-themed TrailSport trim with more aggressive all-terrain tires and a tougher suspension. At the top of the lineup, Honda swapped out the Elite grade, replacing it with the new Black Edition.
The Passport is offered in three trims: EX-L, TrailSport, and the Black Edition. Pricing starts at $43,850, including the factory-to-dealer destination charge. While it has a higher entry fee than a number of direct competitors, the Passport comes with an impressive range of standard features and active driver aids.
Honda Passport Highlights
Powerful V6: The Passport comes with a single engine, and it’s a good one. The 280-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 and 9-speed automatic transmission provide plenty of grunt. Acceleration is strong and highway passing power is never an issue.
Towing capacity: While the Passport’s maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds is average among midsize SUVs, it’s significantly better than the 3,500-pound max offered by the Outback.
Bring lots of luggage: The Passport has two rows of seating and more than 41 cubic feet of cargo space behind its split-folding second row. This is a huge amount of space and nearly 10 cubic feet more than the Outback.
TrailSport trim: To give the Passport some added machismo, Honda added the TrailSport variant to the lineup for the 2022 model year. It consists of trim-specific 18-inch alloy wheels, chunkier tires for off-road adventures, steel skidplates, roof rails, and orange accent stitching in the cabin.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Pilot models for sale near you.
2025 Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback can be had in one of nine trims: Base, Premium, Limited, Onyx Edition, Onyx Edition XT, Wilderness, Touring, Limited XT, and Touring XT. Pricing starts at $30,430 for the base Outback, including the factory-to-dealer delivery fee. This is notably less expensive than the starting price of the Passport.
Serving as the standard powertrain is a 182-hp 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). A 260-hp turbocharged 2.4-liter 4-cylinder is used in XT and Wilderness editions. New for 2025 are improvements to the Limited trim, including a power moonroof, heated steering wheel, heated outboard rear seats, leather-trimmed upholstery, power-adjustable front seats (driver: 12-way; passenger: 8-way), blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and lane-change assistance, reverse automatic braking, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a Harmon Kardon audio system upgrade.
Subaru Outback Highlights
Turbocharged engine: If you want to keep the price low and don’t mind subdued acceleration, the base 4-cylinder will suffice. Yet we appreciate the added punch delivered by the available 260-hp turbo 4-cylinder. Acceleration is much better, and passing on the highway is a breeze.
Sasquatch-hunting Wilderness trim: With its chunky exterior cladding, added ground clearance, and off-road tires, the Outback Wilderness is for folks whose everyday wardrobe is from L.L. Bean. This isn’t some mere cosmetic rehash of the Outback, however. The Wilderness has a more advanced X-mode all-wheel-drive system with selectable drive settings tailored to snow, dirt, and mud.
Safety scores: The Outback scores a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Just one spot short of its highest possible ranking. It’s based not only on a vehicle’s performance during crash tests, but also on the effectiveness of features like the headlights and child-seat compatibility.
Check this week’s Fair Purchase Price or see the Outback models for sale near you.
Similarities
The Passport and Outback are both 5-seat midsize SUVs with standard all-wheel drive, identical warranties, and enviable reputations for value. Each has a user-friendly cabin with intuitive tech touches and robust trim materials.
New 2025 Honda Passport Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (07631)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$43,850 |
$42,284 |
|||
$46,450 |
$44,698 |
|||
$49,920 |
$47,618 |
New 2025 Subaru Outback Prices
|
Retail Price
|
Fair Purchase Price (07631)
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|---|
$30,430 |
$28,990 |
|||
$32,730 |
$30,965 |
|||
$37,640 |
$35,731 |
|||
$39,390 |
$37,337 |
|||
$40,895 |
$38,633 |
|||
$41,380 |
$39,166 |
|||
$41,730 |
$39,430 |
|||
$41,880 |
$39,693 |
|||
$44,330 |
$41,971 |
The Kelley Blue Book Fair Purchase Price for any individual used vehicle can vary greatly according to mileage, condition, location, and other factors. The prices here reflect what buyers are currently paying for New 2025 Honda Passport vehicles and New 2025 Subaru Outback vehicles in typical condition when purchasing from a dealership. These prices are updated weekly. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) quoted includes the destination fee, but does not include tax, license, document fees, and options.
| 2025 Honda Passport | 2025 Subaru Outback | |
| Popular Powertrains | ||
| Engine | 3.5-liter V6 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder |
| Horsepower | 280 hp @ 6,000 rpm | 182 hp @ 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 262 lb-ft @ 4,700 rpm | 176 lb-ft @ 4,400 rpm |
| Transmission | 9-speed automatic | CVT |
| Fuel economy | 19 mpg city/24 mpg highway/21 mpg combined | 26 mpg city/32 mpg highway/28 mpg combined |
| Also Available | Turbo 2.4-liter 4-cyl. | |
| Specs | ||
| Basic Warranty | 3 years/36,000 miles | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| NHTSA Overall Safety | 5 stars | 5 stars |
| Max Seating Capacity | 5 | 5 |
| Wheelbase | 110.9 inches | 108.1 inches |
| Overall Length | 189.1 inches | 191.1 inches |
| Width | 78.6 inches | 74.2 inches |
| Height | 72.2 inches | 66.1 inches |
| Turning Diameter | 39.3 feet | 36.1 feet |
| Headroom, Front | 39.5 inches | 40.1 inches |
| Headroom, 2nd Row | 40.0 inches | 39.1 inches |
| Legroom, Front | 40.9 inches | 42.8 inches |
| Legroom, 2nd Row | 39.6 inches | 39.5 inches |
| Shoulder Room, Front | 62.0 inches | 58.1 inches |
| Shoulder Room, 2nd Row | 61.9 inches | 57.4 inches |
| Cargo Volume Rear Seats Up/Down | 41.2/77.7 cubic feet | 32.6/75.6 cubic feet |
Conclusion
The Subaru Outback is the value choice here, given its lower starting price and better fuel economy. However, the Honda Passport is a more traditional SUV with a brawny V6 under the hood with more power and towing muscle than the Outback. The Passport is a good choice if you need a bigger SUV with more space, but the Outback is a better value for most buyers.
