2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Subaru Outback

The 2020 Honda Pilot exhibited a dynamic styling consistent with the Honda lineup, featuring thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille. Its design cleverly masked its size, giving it a more streamlined appearance. Inside, the Pilot offered a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog gauges for fuel and engine temperature with a digital screen for other information. The cabin was spacious and comfortable, though it used hard plastics in many areas, lacking the upscale feel of some competitors. The Pilot's trim levels ranged from the value-packed LX to the luxurious Black Edition, each adding more features and refinement.

In contrast, the 2021 Subaru Outback maintained a familiar and comfortable design, reminiscent of older Subaru models but with a fresher interior. The base trim featured two 7-inch touchscreens, while higher trims boasted an 11.6-inch portrait display, surrounded by polished black plastic and chrome trim. The Outback's interior quality was a significant improvement over pre-2015 models, with substantial materials and comfortable seating. The Outdoor XT trim offered a unique, durable upholstery with lime green stitching, adding a touch of flair. Externally, the Outback's styling was smooth and plain, with high gray cladding for protection and a few chrome accents. The 2021 model introduced new paint options and standard adaptive LED headlights, maintaining its reputation as a lifted wagon alternative to typical crossovers.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, with standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims featured a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring and Black Edition received a 9-speed automatic for more refined acceleration and potential fuel efficiency benefits. The Pilot's V6 provided strong acceleration for everyday driving, though it wasn't the segment leader. The ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for commutes and road trips, albeit lacking in athleticism. The Intelligent Traction Management System offered drive modes for various conditions, enhancing its capability slightly in challenging terrains.

The 2021 Subaru Outback, on the other hand, featured a 2.5-litre boxer flat-four engine with 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This setup struggled with the Outback's weight, resulting in slow and noisy performance. However, the XT trims offered a turbocharged 2.4-litre flat-four engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque, significantly improving performance. The Outback excelled in ride comfort and off-road capability, with long-travel springs and high ground clearance. Subaru's electronically-variable all-wheel drive provided proactive torque distribution, and the X-Mode enhanced off-road performance, making the Outback a formidable contender in rough conditions.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious 8-passenger cabin, with optional second-row captain’s chairs on higher trims, reducing seating to seven. Its third row was adult-friendly, with ample head and legroom, and the EX-L trim and above featured one-touch fold-down rear seats for easy access. The Pilot provided 1,583 litres of cargo space with the rear seats folded, surpassing many competitors. It was designed for family hauling, with numerous storage spaces and features like a conversation mirror and CabinTalk for easy communication with rear passengers.

The 2021 Subaru Outback boasted impressive interior space, with 2,144 litres of cargo capacity with the rear seats folded and 920 litres with them raised. The cargo area was wide and flat, with no intrusive elements. The Outback offered excellent headroom and legroom, with comfortable seating and superb outward visibility. Storage was ample, with large map pockets, bottle holders, and convenient dash pockets. However, some features like push-button start and rear console climate vents were not standard on lower trims. The Outback's standout feature was its standard roof rails with integrated crossbars, allowing for easy installation of roof racks.

The 2020 Honda Pilot featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims in Canada. The system included a 215-watt, 7-speaker stereo with a subwoofer, but lacked a tuning knob, making interaction cumbersome. Higher trims added features like navigation, a rear entertainment system, and a premium audio system. The Pilot's infotainment system was criticized for its confusing layout and user experience.

The 2021 Subaru Outback's infotainment system appeared dated, with graphics reminiscent of older technology. However, it offered modern features like adaptive cruise control, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The optional navigation system was more visually appealing, and the single large screen was more cohesive than the base model's dual-screen setup. Subaru EyeSight was standard, providing adaptive cruise, lane-keep assist, and forward automatic emergency braking, though it relied solely on cameras, affecting performance in certain conditions.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came standard with the HondaSensing suite, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a "Good" rating from the IIHS, with a "Superior" score in crash prevention technology.

The 2021 Subaru Outback featured a stronger chassis and standard airbags, with additional safety features available on higher trims. It was a 2020 IIHS "Top Safety Pick+," earning top ratings in crash tests and for its forward emergency braking. The NHTSA awarded it an overall five-star rating, though it received four stars in some specific tests.