Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.These two used to be easy to tell apart. The Subaru Outback was a lifted wagon for people who did not want an SUV, and the Honda Passport was a two-row SUV for people who did. Then both were fully redesigned for 2026, and the Outback grew taller, squarer, and far more SUV-shaped, landing it right on top of the Passport in a way it never was before.2026 Subaru Outback WildernessChase BierenkovenThat leaves two rugged-looking, all-wheel-drive, two-row family haulers with a roughly $10,000 gap between them and very different ideas about how much engine you need. Here is how they compare, and which one we would put our money on.2026 Honda Passport TrailSport EliteHondaSpecs and pricingSpecificationSubaru OutbackHonda PassportEngines180-hp 2.5L or 260-hp 2.4L turbo285-hp 3.5L V6Combined mpg23 to 27 mpg20 to 21 mpgMax towing3,500 lb5,000 lbMax cargo, seats folded80.5 cu ft83.0 cu ftMax ground clearance9.5 in8.3 inStarting priceAbout $36,400About $46,200Power and towingThe Passport does not mess about. Every version uses a 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V6 with 262 lb-ft, a 10-speed automatic, and Honda's second-generation i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, and it is rated to tow up to 5,000 pounds. There is no four-cylinder and no hybrid, just one confident, smooth, entirely conventional powertrain across the range.2026 Honda Passport TrailSport EliteHondaSubaru splits the difference. The base 2.5-liter boxer four makes 180 horsepower and 178 lb-ft, which is adequate for commuting and no more, and tows 2,700 pounds. The turbocharged 2.4-liter in the Wilderness and XT trims lifts that to 260 horsepower, 277 lb-ft, and 3,500 pounds of towing, which transforms the car but still leaves it 1,500 pounds shy of the Honda. If you have a boat or a camper, this category is settled before it starts.Fuel economy and running costsSubaru takes this one back comfortably. The base Outback is EPA-rated at 25 mpg city and 31 highway, the turbocharged XT trims hold up to 29 mpg highway, and even the rugged Wilderness manages 27. Across the lineup that works out to roughly 23 to 27 mpg combined.2026 Subaru Outback SubaruAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Honda Passport is rated at 21 mpg combined in RTL trim and 20 mpg for the TrailSport models, whose chunkier all-terrain tires cost it a mile per gallon. That is normal for a V6 midsize SUV and disappointing next to anything with a turbo four or a hybrid, and with an 18.5-gallon tank you are looking at roughly 370 to 400 miles between fills. Combine the fuel gap with the purchase-price gap and the Outback is thousands of dollars cheaper to live with before you have driven anywhere interesting.Space and off-road capabilityThe Passport is the bigger vehicle inside, offering 41.2 cubic feet behind the second row and 83.0 with it folded, against 34.6 and 80.5 for the Subaru. It also has the more serious off-road hardware in TrailSport form, with steel skid plates, all-terrain tires, retuned dampers, orange tow hooks, and, on the Elite, a TrailWatch multi-angle camera system for picking a line on a trail.2026 Honda Passport TrailSport EliteHondaThe Subaru Outback fights back with geometry. It offers up to 9.5 inches of ground clearance, more than the Passport TrailSport, along with standard Symmetrical all-wheel drive on every trim, dual-function X-Mode, and hill descent control. The redesign also gained it headroom and cargo room over the old car. The Honda is the more capable vehicle when the going gets genuinely rough; the Outback is the more capable one on a snowy road at 6 a.m., which is the scenario most buyers actually face.2026 Subaru Outback WildernessChase BierenkovenInterior, technology, and valueBoth cabins improved dramatically in the redesign. The Outback now runs a 12.3-inch digital cluster and a 12.1-inch touchscreen on Google's Android Automotive software, and Subaru wisely kept physical buttons and knobs for climate control. Even the entry Premium trim gets synthetic leather, heated front seats, a power driver's seat, dual-zone climate, adaptive LED headlights, and a power liftgate, plus upgraded EyeSight driver assistance.2026 Subaru Outback WildernessChase BierenkovenThe Passport's interior is quieter, roomier, and nicely finished, and Honda's redesign earned it a spot on Car and Driver's 2026 10Best Trucks and SUVs list. But it starts at about $46,200, the TrailSport at $49,900, the TrailSport Elite at $53,900, and a loaded Elite with the Blackout package pushes past $55,000. The Outback starts at $36,445 and tops out at $49,445 for the Touring XT, meaning a fully loaded Subaru costs about what a mid-grade Honda does.2026 Honda Passport TrailSportHondaAdvertisementAdvertisementSo which one wins?The Subaru Outback wins. It starts roughly $10,000 cheaper, uses meaningfully less fuel, offers more ground clearance, comes with all-wheel drive on every trim, and gives up surprisingly little in maximum cargo room now that its redesign made it taller and boxier. For the overwhelming majority of buyers shopping this class, it does the same job for a lot less money.The Honda Passport is a close and genuinely excellent second, and it is the right answer if you tow. Its 285-horsepower V6 and 5,000-pound rating are things the Subaru cannot approach, it is roomier behind the second row, and the TrailSport trims bring real off-road hardware rather than styling cues. If a trailer or a trailhead is part of your weekend, buy the Honda. For everyone else, the Outback wins on the math.This story was originally published by Autoblog on Aug 11, 2026, where it first appeared in the Car Buying section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.