2026 Honda Passport Trailsport vs. Subaru Outback Wilderness: Battle of the Backcountry Crossovers
Key takeaways
- We put Honda and Subaru’s lifted wagons head to head on mountain roads and Mojave trails to find the real winner.
- The Trailsport version of Honda’s big new-for-2026 Passport has quickly emerged as a Motor Trend favorite for its on-road comfort and off-road capability.
- Power, meanwhile, is the same as found in other Passports, courtesy of a 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
Why this matters: an automotive development that could shape industry direction or buying decisions.
We put Honda and Subaru’s lifted wagons head to head on mountain roads and Mojave trails to find the real winner.
The Trailsport version of Honda’s big new-for-2026 Passport has quickly emerged as a Motor Trend favorite for its on-road comfort and off-road capability. But the Subaru Outback is also new for 2026, and Outbacks were good off-roaders even before they started getting the Wilderness treatment. It just so happens we have both models in our long-term test fleet, so we decided it was time for a comprehensive comparison test. We know both of these vehicles fulfil their promises, but is one significantly better than the other?
Meet the ContestantsThe Trailsport trim, as applied to the 2026 Honda Passport, comes with a long list of hardware to bulk up its off-road abilities, including unique spring, damper, and anti-roll bar tuning, underbody skidplates, 31-inch all-terrain tires, and recovery hooks. Power, meanwhile, is the same as found in other Passports, courtesy of a 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V-6 mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Our long-termer is the top-of-the-line Trailsport Elite model, which lists for $53,900, with our Passport’s extra-cost Ash Green paint bringing the sticker up to $54,355. If you can do without heated and ventilated perforated-leather seats, rear window shades, a fancy Bose stereo, and the Trail Watch camera system, you can get a non-Elite Passport Trailsport for $50,145.