Midsize SUVs seem to be a dime a dozen these days, but there’s two that you’ve probably seen quite a bit on the roads of Trussville and Birmingham: The 2020 Honda Passport and the 2020 Subaru Outback. They’re often tied for popularity among drivers thanks to their similarities – space, amenities, and reliability – but we think the differences in these vehicles can break the tie between the Passport and the Outback.
Many drivers enjoy driving SUVs because of the smooth, ample power they offer. When comparing the Passport and the Outback, you’ll see that there’s a clear distinction in their powertrains. The 2020 Honda Passport offers a 3.5-liter V6 engine that puts out 280 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque while the 2020 Subaru Outback’s base engine is a smaller 2.5-liter engine that can only muster 182 horsepower and 176 lb.-ft. of torque. You’ll have far more pep in the Passport than the Outback thanks to Honda’s larger, heartier engine.
Both vehicles have an all-wheel drivetrain, though the Passport shifts gears smoothly with a 9-speed automatic transmission while the Outback’s 8-speed continuously variable transmission can feel sluggish in comparison. Further, if you’re looking for an SUV that can handle big adventures, the Passport’s towing capacity is significantly larger than the Outback’s at 5,000 pounds compared to 2,700 pounds.
Another key reason drivers upgrade to SUVs is for the unmatched space they offer. Not only is the Passport wider, offering more hip and shoulder room inside the cabin, but it makes wise use of its space to offer more headroom and legroom in the rear row, too. The Passport offers 114.9 cubic-feet of passenger space while the Outback has 109 cubic-feet of space, and the Passport offers reclining rear seats for added comfort. So, when you want to stretch out and stay comfortable the whole ride through, you’ll want to opt for the larger Passport.
The larger size of the Passport translates directly to its cargo capacity, too. When the second row is upright, you’ll have a generous 50.5 cubic-feet of space, plus smart underfloor storage, too. Folding the second row of seats transforms the cabin into a cavernous 100.7 cubic-feet of cargo space, so there’s plenty of room for large sporting equipment, suitcases, or even furniture. The Subaru Outback, on the other hand, has only 32.5 cubic-feet behind the second row and 75.7 cubic-feet with the second row folded.
Shopping for a new car can be stressful enough without trying to figure out the confusing world of trim levels, which is why the Passport offers four convenient, easy to understand trims with all of the features and luxe amenities you could hope for in an SUV. In comparison, the Outback has seven trims that can be tricky to navigate, and the larger trim range means desirable features are spread further into the upper echelons of the vehicle.
Safety on the road is of the utmost importance, which is why Honda offers the impressive Honda Sensing® safety suite standard with collision mitigation braking, a road departure mitigation system, adaptive cruise control, and a lane keeping assist system. The 2020 Outback has standard driver assistance features, too, but only offers adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and pre-collision braking.
If you’re searching for a vehicle to take on all of life’s adventures with you, we think you’ll love the 2020 Honda Passport. Lucky for you, we have the Passport – and a wide range of Honda’s other exciting, capable vehicles – in stock and waiting for you at Brannon Honda. Visit us today to take any of our in-stock vehicles for a test drive, where you’re sure to fall in love at first drive.