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    2026 Subaru Outback vs. 2026 Honda Passport: Which SUV Wins in Lancaster County? 

    By Lancaster County Motors Subaru  |  Reviewed by Jonathan Furukawa, General Sales Manager, and Ross Rodruan, General Manager  |  Last updated August 13, 2026 

    If you're cross-shopping midsize SUVs in Lancaster, PA, chances are the 2026 Subaru Outback and 2026 Honda Passport are both on your list. They're priced within reach of each other, both wear "SUV" badges even though the Outback is technically a raised wagon, and both come from brands with strong reputations for reliability. But once you look past the badge, the two vehicles are built for different priorities. Below, we break down pricing, performance, safety, cargo, technology, and total cost of ownership using current manufacturer and EPA data, and we asked our own General Sales Manager and General Manager to weigh in on what they see Lancaster County shoppers actually choose, and why. 

2026 Subaru Outback vs. Honda Passport: At a Glance

This comparison uses the Outback Premium and Passport RTL, the most popular, most comparably equipped trim of each model. Every Outback and every Passport comes standard with all-wheel drive.

*Starting MSRP includes destination charge; excludes tax, title, license and dealer fees. Specs shown reflect manufacturer and EPA data available as of August 2026 and are subject to change. See "Which one is right for you" below for how the Outback's turbocharged trims compare on power and towing.

Price & Value: The Outback's Biggest Advantage

    The single largest gap between these two SUVs is the price of entry. A 2026 Outback Premium starts at $36,445, while the least expensive 2026 Passport, the RTL, starts at $46,445. That's a $10,000 difference before a single option is added, and it buys a Passport that still doesn't match the Outback Premium's standard equipment list feature for feature. 

    That gap holds up even as you move up the lineup. Subaru's Outback Wilderness, a trim with genuine off-road hardware, all-terrain tires, and the 260-horsepower turbocharged engine, starts at $46,445, the exact price of Honda's entry-level Passport RTL. Step up to the top Outback Touring XT at $49,445, and you're still nearly $4,700 below the price of a fully loaded Passport TrailSport Elite ($54,145), while getting a comparable turbocharged engine. 

    "Once shoppers cross-shop the Outback Premium against the Passport RTL, the value conversation ends pretty quickly. You're looking at a nearly $10,000 gap for two vehicles that both come standard with all-wheel drive and a full suite of driver-assist safety features. That's real money that can go toward a higher trim, a maintenance package, or just staying comfortably inside your monthly budget."   

      Jonathan Furukawa, General Sales Manager, Lancaster County Motors Subaru   

 

    The Outback also gives shoppers more room to fine-tune their purchase. With six distinct trims, Lancaster County drivers can choose exactly how much they want to spend, from a well-equipped Premium to a luxury-leaning Touring XT. The Passport's three-trim lineup, by contrast, starts nearly $10,000 higher and never gets below the mid-$40,000s. 

Performance, Power & Towing: Where the Passport Pulls Ahead

    We want to be straightforward here: the Passport's standard 3.5-liter V6 is the more powerful engine. Its 285 horsepower and 10-speed automatic transmission outmuscle the Outback Premium's standard 180-horsepower 2.5-liter four-cylinder, and its 5,000-pound tow rating comfortably beats the Outback's 2,700-pound rating on non-turbo trims. If you tow a boat, a larger camper, or a loaded trailer on a regular basis, the Passport has a real, measurable advantage. 

    The comparison narrows if you move up the Outback lineup. Starting with the Limited XT trim, Subaru offers a 2.4-liter turbocharged engine that produces 260 horsepower and, notably, 277 lb-ft of torque, which is actually more low-end torque than the Passport's V6 generates (262 lb-ft). Turbocharged Outback trims are also rated to tow up to 3,500 pounds. So while the base Passport out-powers the base Outback, a turbocharged Outback closes most of that gap while still undercutting the Passport on price. 

Fuel Economy: A Clear Win for the Outback

    The Outback Premium is EPA-rated at 25 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. The Passport RTL is rated at 19 mpg city and 25 mpg highway. Over 15,000 miles a year at a blended rate, that difference adds up to roughly 130 to 150 fewer gallons of gas annually for the Outback driver, a meaningful, ongoing savings on top of the lower purchase price. Even the turbocharged Outback trims, which trade some efficiency for power, stay ahead of the Passport's V6 at 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. 

Interior, Cargo & Comfort

    This is another category where honesty matters: the Passport offers more outright cargo room. Its 44 cubic feet behind the second row and 83.8 cubic feet with seats folded both beat the Outback's 32.5 and 75.7 cubic feet, respectively. Honda designed the current Passport as a two-row SUV specifically to maximize cargo flexibility, and it shows in wide-opening rear doors and a low, flat load floor built for gear. 

    The Outback counters with its wagon-influenced proportions, a lower step-in height that many drivers and families find easier to load day to day, a standard power liftgate, and heated front seats on every trim including the Premium. Ground clearance, at 8.7 inches, is slightly higher than the Passport's 8.3 inches, a small but real edge for Pennsylvania winters and rural back roads. For buyers who regularly haul bulky cargo, oversized gear, or need every inch of load floor, the Passport is worth a serious look. For most daily driving, commuting, and weekend trips around Lancaster County, the Outback's cabin and cargo area comfortably cover the vast majority of needs. 

Safety Ratings & Driver-Assist Technology

    Both vehicles earned a 2026 IIHS Top Safety Pick+ award, the organization's highest distinction, so neither one has a clear edge on crash test performance. Both also include a full driver-assist suite standard on every trim: Subaru's EyeSight system (adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, and lane-related assistance) on the Outback, and Honda Sensing (collision mitigation braking with pedestrian detection, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control) on the Passport. Blind-spot monitoring is standard on the Outback Premium and on the Passport RTL as well. 

    "Subaru's Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive has been standard on every Outback for decades, not just on the trims where a competitor happens to include it. That consistency, combined with EyeSight on every trim, is a big part of why we see so many Outbacks come back through our service drive at 150,000 and 200,000 miles still running strong."   

      Ross Rodruan, General Manager, Lancaster County Motors Subaru   

 

Technology

    Both SUVs are well equipped for 2026. The Outback Premium's 12.1-inch touchscreen supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the Passport RTL runs a slightly larger 12.3-inch display with Google built-in and wireless smartphone integration. Both are modern, easy-to-use systems, and the half-inch screen size difference isn't likely to be a deciding factor for most shoppers. Where the Outback pulls ahead again is standard equipment at the base trim: adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and a power liftgate all come standard on the Premium, features that can require a step up in trim (and price) on some competitors. 

Reliability, Warranty & Total Cost of Ownership

    Subaru and Honda back the Outback and Passport with essentially identical coverage: a 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty and a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty on both vehicles. Neither brand has an edge on paper warranty length, so the real difference in ownership cost comes down to the Outback's lower purchase price, better fuel economy, and Subaru's long-standing reputation for high-mileage reliability in AWD vehicles, particularly in the Northeast's mixed weather. 

    Between the $10,000 lower starting price and the fuel savings from better mpg, an Outback owner can reasonably expect to spend meaningfully less over a typical ownership period than a Passport owner, even before factoring in insurance, which also tends to track with a vehicle's purchase price and horsepower. 

Which One Is Right for You?

    "If a customer tells me towing is their top priority, I'll be straight with them about the Passport's advantage there. My job is matching people with the right vehicle for how they actually use it, not just steering everyone toward the same trim on our lot," says Jonathan Furukawa, General Sales Manager at Lancaster County Motors Subaru. 

Why Buy from Lancaster County Motors Subaru

    Lancaster County Motors Subaru has helped Lancaster County drivers choose the right vehicle for their roads, their families, and their budgets for years. Our sales and service teams work with the Outback lineup every day, from the first test drive through years of scheduled maintenance, which gives us a genuine, ground-level view of how these vehicles hold up long after the new-car smell fades. 

    "We've been part of the Lancaster County community for years, and we want every customer walking off our lot to feel confident they made the right choice, whether that's an Outback or something else. That's the kind of straight talk we think this market deserves."   

      Ross Rodruan, General Manager, Lancaster County Motors Subaru   

 

Frequently Asked Questions

About Our Experts

    Pricing, specifications and ratings referenced above reflect publicly available manufacturer, EPA and IIHS data as of August 2026 and are subject to change without notice. Starting MSRP includes destination charge and excludes tax, title, license and dealer fees. Contact Lancaster County Motors Subaru for current pricing, incentives and availability.