2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2020 Honda Pilot

The 2020 Honda Pilot was designed with a dynamic styling that aligned with the rest of the Honda lineup. It featured thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille, with a subtle uptick in the belt-line around the rear side windows that cleverly masked its size, giving it a more streamlined appearance. Inside, the Pilot boasted a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, where the fuel and engine-temperature gauges were analog, but all other information was displayed on a digital screen in front of the driver. The cabin was comfortable and spacious, offering a solid level of refinement, although it did incorporate hard plastics in many areas. Despite this, the Pilot was a strong contender in its class, with trim levels ranging from the value-packed LX to the luxurious Black Edition.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek, on the other hand, embraced the crossover trend by infusing the Impreza hatchback with rugged looks, standard all-wheel drive, and a tall driving position. It was visually distinct from the Impreza with black body cladding, model-specific alloy wheels, and a taller ride height that provided 22 centimetres of ground clearance. The Crosstrek's design allowed it to mimic an SUV's character, enhanced by vibrant colour options like Plasma Yellow Pearl. Underneath, it shared the Subaru Global Platform with other models, ensuring a polished and refined driving experience. The interior remained functional but plain, with some unique touches like Plasma Yellow Pearl accents on the Outdoor grade. Despite its compact size, the Crosstrek offered a practical and versatile option for those seeking a crossover with a touch of adventure.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine across all trims, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with all-wheel drive in Canada, with a 6-speed automatic transmission for the LX, EX, and EX-L trims, while the Touring and Black Edition received a 9-speed automatic transmission. The 9-speed offered more refined acceleration and improved fuel efficiency. Honda's unique shifter button setup replaced the conventional shifter, which some found less intuitive. Despite this, the V6 engine provided strong acceleration for real-world driving, and the Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for commutes and road trips. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes like Normal, Snow, Mud, and Sand, enhancing its capability in various conditions.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Crosstrek introduced a second gasoline powertrain option with a 2.5-litre boxer-four engine, producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, available on the Outdoor and Limited trims. The other trims continued with the 2.0-litre boxer-four engine, offering 152 horsepower and 145 pound-feet of torque. The boxer engine's design provided a lower centre of gravity, improving handling, although the SUV-like stance negated some benefits. A six-speed manual transmission was available with the 2.0-litre engine, but most buyers opted for the CVT, which was standard on the Sport and Limited trims. All trims featured standard all-wheel drive, with X-Mode enhancing off-road capability. Despite its SUV aspirations, the Crosstrek excelled on pavement, offering predictable handling and a comfortable ride, though the new 2.5-litre engine didn't significantly alter the driving experience.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious 8-passenger cabin with second-row bench seating, while Touring and Black Edition trims featured optional second-row captain’s chairs, reducing seating to seven. Unlike some rivals, the Pilot's third row was adult-friendly, with ample head and legroom. EX-L trims and higher included one-touch fold-down rear seats for easier access to the third row. With the second and third rows folded, the Pilot provided 1,583 litres of cargo space, surpassing many competitors. The Pilot was designed for family hauling, with plenty of storage spaces and features like a conversation mirror and CabinTalk to enhance family trips.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek shared the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. It offered 588 litres of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 1,565 litres with them folded. While competitive in passenger space, the Crosstrek lagged behind some rivals in cargo capacity. CVT-equipped models featured a rear-seat reminder to prevent leaving children or pets unattended. The interior included a handy cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports, though rear-seat passengers had limited access to USB ports. The driving position was higher than the Impreza's, offering good outward visibility, though it didn't provide the commanding view of traditional SUVs.

The 2020 Honda Pilot featured Honda’s Display Audio 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims in Canada. It included a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer, Bluetooth connectivity, and a USB port on the base trim. However, the system's layout was criticized for being confusing, lacking a tuning knob, and relying heavily on the touchscreen. Higher trims added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, navigation, a rear entertainment system, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Touring and Black Edition received an upgraded 590-watt, 11-speaker premium audio system and wireless charging pad.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek utilized Subaru’s Starlink infotainment system, with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. SiriusXM satellite radio was included on all but the base model. Higher trims featured an 8-inch touchscreen, with navigation standard on the Limited trim. Subaru's unique setup included a second screen above the main touchscreen, displaying redundant information. The 8-inch touchscreen was user-friendly, with large analog knobs and buttons for audio and climate control. EyeSight driver-assistance features were controlled via chunky buttons on the steering wheel, ensuring ease of use.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, lane-departure warning, road departure mitigation, and adaptive cruise control. It also featured automatic high beams, front and side-impact airbags, child-seat anchors, Vehicle Stability Assist, and traction control. Optional safety equipment included front and rear parking sensors and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Pilot earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and the best crash test score of Good from the IIHS, with a Superior rating in crash prevention technology evaluation.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The IIHS awarded it a “Top Safety Pick” rating, with the highest “good” rating in all crash tests and for front-crash prevention tech. EyeSight driver assist technology offered features like adaptive cruise control with lane centring, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning on CVT-equipped models. Additional features included automatic high beams, reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. However, EyeSight's cameras could be blocked by windshield wipers or direct sunlight, limiting functionality.