Compare the2026 Subaru ForesterVS 2026 Honda Passport

The Forester has standard Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats, which use a specially designed seat to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Whiplash-Reducing Front Seats system allows the backrest to travel backwards to cushion the occupants and the headrests move forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Passport doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

To deliver safety and visibility under dusty conditions the Subaru Forester’s backup monitor has a standard rear washer to keep the view clear. A camera washer system is only offered on some models of the Honda Passport.

Both the Forester and the Passport have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, four-wheel antilock brakes, all wheel drive, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors, rear cross-path warning and driver alert monitors.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Forester’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Passport’s camshafts. If the Passport’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2026 Auto Issue reports that Subaru vehicles are more reliable than Honda vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Subaru second in overall reliability. Honda is ranked fourth.

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the Forester lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability without compromising ground clearance. The Passport doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

On the EPA test cycle the Forester gets better mileage than the Passport:

Regenerative brakes improve the Forester Hybrid’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Passport doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

The Forester has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Passport doesn’t offer a CVT.

The Forester’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Passport are solid, not vented.

The Forester stops much shorter than the Passport:

The Forester Sport/Touring’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Passport’s 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Forester Sport/Touring has standard 19-inch wheels. The Passport’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

The Forester Touring handles at .83 G’s, while the Passport TrailSport pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Forester Sport executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Passport TrailSport Elite (27.3 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .62 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Forester Wilderness’ turning circle is 4.5 feet tighter than the Passport’s (34.5 feet vs. 39 feet). The Forester’s turning circle is 3.6 feet tighter than the Passport’s (35.4 feet vs. 39 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Forester has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Passport (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches), allowing the Forester to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Forester Wilderness’ minimum ground clearance is 1 inch higher than on the Passport (9.3 vs. 8.3 inches).

The Subaru Forester may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 750 to 950 pounds less than the Honda Passport.

The Forester is 8.6 inches shorter than the Passport, making the Forester easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Forester is 7.3 inches narrower on average than the Passport, making the Forester easier to handle and maneuver in traffic.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Forester Touring is quieter than the Passport TrailSport:

The Forester has .7 inches more front headroom and 2.2 inches more front legroom than the Passport.

The engine in the Forester is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Passport. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Subaru service is better than Honda. J.D. Power ranks Subaru third in service department satisfaction. With a 15% lower rating, Honda is ranked 7th.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Forester Premium/Sport/Limited/Wilderness/Touring’s exterior PIN entry system. The Passport doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system, and its HondaLink Assist can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Forester has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Passport doesn’t offer cornering lights.

According to iSeeCars.com the 2026 Subaru Forester retains 62.8% of its original value after 5 years, significantly more than the 54.21% resale value of the 2026 Honda Passport after five years, which can save the Subaru’s owner up to $9334 in depreciation.

Both are recommended, but Consumer Reports® chose the Subaru Forester as its “Top Pick,” the highest scoring vehicle in its category, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Subaru Forester outsold the Honda Passport by over three to one during 2025.