2025 Honda Pilot vs 2026 Subaru Ascent

$40,200 · Crossover

$40,795 · Crossover

Comparison Overview

The battle for the family crossover crown pits the revamped 2025 Honda Pilot against the rugged 2026 Subaru Ascent. The Pilot explodes off the line with a healthy 285 hp from its naturally aspirated V6, offering superior peak power over the Ascent's 260 hp turbo punch, though the Ascent compensates with slightly more torque at 277 lb-ft versus the Pilot's 262 lb-ft. Commuting efficiency is nearly a wash, as both clock in at 22 combined MPG, but the Pilot manages a slightly better 27 Highway MPG. Design-wise, the Pilot is the larger brute, measuring 199.9 inches long, providing more overall presence than the Ascent's 196.8-inch frame. While the Ascent leans into its standard All-Wheel Drive system, the base Pilot prioritizes FWD geometry. Priced just $595 less, the Pilot brings 18.6 cu ft of cargo space to the ring, edging out the Ascent's 17.8 cu ft, suggesting a slight advantage for hauling capacity.

Size Comparison

Performance

Fuel Efficiency

Full Specifications

Our Verdicts

🚗 Best for Commuters

2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot wins for commuters due to its slightly better 27 Highway MPG rating.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Best for Families

2025 Honda Pilot

The Pilot offers a larger 18.6 cu ft of cargo capacity compared to the Ascent's 17.8 cu ft, making it marginally better for family hauling.

🏎️ Best for Enthusiasts

2025 Honda Pilot

With 285 hp, the Pilot delivers more raw horsepower for enthusiastic acceleration than the Ascent’s 260 hp output.

💰 Best Value

2025 Honda Pilot

The 2025 Honda Pilot is $595 less expensive at MSRP while matching the fuel economy of the Ascent.

Choose the Honda Pilot if...

You prioritize maximum power, benefiting from the Pilot's higher 285 hp output.
You need the largest available base cargo capacity, offering 18.6 cu ft.
You prefer the smoother shifting feel of a traditional 10-speed automatic transmission.

Choose the Subaru Ascent if...

All-weather security is paramount, thanks to the Ascent's standard All-Wheel Drive.
You value higher low-end pulling power, as the Ascent generates superior 277 lb-ft of torque.
You prefer a slightly narrower vehicle for easier navigation, as the Ascent is 2.5 inches narrower than the Pilot.

Key Dimensions

Dimension	Honda Pilot	Subaru Ascent
Length	199.9"	196.8"
Width	78.5"	76.0"
Height	71.0"	71.6"
Wheelbase	113.8"	113.8"

Features Comparison

Safety

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Blind Spot Monitor	✓	✓
Lane Departure Warning	✓	✓
Lane Keeping Assist System	✓	✓
Rear Cross Traffic Alert	✓	✓
Driver Attention Alert	✓	—
Pre-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Post-Collision Safety System	✓	✓
Dual Front Side-Mounted Airbags	✓	✓
Front Head Airbags	✓	✓
Rear Head Airbags	✓	✓
Third Row Head Airbags	✓	—
Passenger Airbag Occupant Sensing Deactivation	✓	✓
Electronic Stability Control	✓	✓
Traction Control System	✓	✓
LATCH System	✓	✓
Rear Door Child Safety Locks	✓	✓
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)	4-Wheel	4-Wheel
Front Ventilated Disc Brakes	✓	✓
Rear Solid Disc Brakes	✓	—
Brake Assist	✓	✓
Tire Pressure Monitoring System	✓	✓
Automatic Headlights	✓	✓
Headlight Delay-Off	✓	✓
LED Headlights	✓	✓
Daytime Running Lights	✓	✓
Front Fog Lights	✓	—
Front Headrests	2	2
Front Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Headrests	3	2
Rear Height Adjustable Headrests	✓	✓
Rear Center 3-Point Seatbelt	✓	—
Anti-Theft Alarm System (Remote)	✓	✓
Engine Immobilizer	✓	✓
Rear Ventilated Disc Brakes	—	✓
Adaptive Headlights	—	✓
Self-Leveling Headlights	—	✓
Integrated Turn Signal Mirrors	—	✓

Engine

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Base Engine Displacement	3.5 L	2.4 L
Number of Cylinders	V6	flat 4
Base Engine Type	gas	gas
Horsepower	285 hp @ 6100 rpm	260 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque	262 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm	277 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm
Number of Valves	24	16
Camshaft Type	Double overhead cam (DOHC)	Double overhead cam (DOHC)
Variable Valve Timing	Variable	Variable
Fuel Injection Type	✓	✓
Cylinder Deactivation	✓	—

Drive Train

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Transmission Type	10-speed shiftable automatic	continuously variable-speed automatic
Drivetrain Type	front wheel drive	all wheel drive
Hill Descent Control	✓	✓
Center Differential Type	—	Limited Slip

Fuel

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Fuel Type	regular unleaded	regular unleaded
EPA Fuel Economy (City/Highway)	19/27 MPG	20/26 MPG
EPA Fuel Economy (Combined)	22 MPG	22 MPG
EPA Driving Range (City/Highway)	351.5/499.5 mi.	386.0/501.8 mi.
Fuel Tank Capacity	18.5 gal.	19.3 gal.

Comfort & Convenience

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Push Button Start	✓	✓
Tilt and Telescopic Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Transmission Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Cruise Control on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Audio Controls on Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Electric Power Steering	✓	✓
Rear View Camera	✓	✓
Adaptive Cruise Control	✓	✓
Front Cupholders	✓	✓
Rear Cupholders	✓	✓
3rd Row Cupholders	✓	✓
Front Door Pockets	✓	✓
Rear Door Pockets	✓	✓
Overhead Console with Storage	✓	✓
Front Seatback Storage	✓	✓
Power Rear Seat Easy Entry	✓	—
Leather Steering Wheel	✓	✓
Dual Zone Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Climate Control	✓	—
Rear Ventilation Ducts	✓	—
Interior Air Filtration	✓	✓
Driver Vanity Mirror	✓	—
Rear Parking Sensors	—	✓
Universal Remote Transmitter	—	✓
Three Zone Climate Control	—	✓
Dual Vanity Mirrors	—	✓
Auto-Dimming Rearview Mirror	—	✓
Turn Signal Indicators in Mirrors	—	✓

In Car Entertainment

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Infotainment Display	7.0 in	11.6 in
AM/FM Stereo	✓	✓
Stereo Power	240W	—
Speaker System	7	6
Subwoofer Count	1	—
Android Auto (Wired)	✓	—
Apple CarPlay (Wired)	✓	—
USB Port	✓	✓
USB Port with External Media Control	✓	✓
Speed Sensitive Volume Control	✓	—
Android Auto (Wireless)	—	✓
Apple CarPlay (Wireless)	—	✓
Auxiliary Audio Input	—	✓
Satellite Radio	—	✓
Satellite Radio Trial Length	—	4 months

Power Feature

Feature	Honda	Subaru
One-Touch Power Windows	4	2
Keyless Entry	✓	✓
Heated Mirrors	✓	✓

Frontseats

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Front Head Room	40.5 in.	41.2 in.
Front Leg Room	41.0 in.	42.2 in.
Front Shoulder Room	61.9 in.	61.1 in.
Front Hip Room	58.4 in.	57.8 in.
Seat Material: Cloth	✓	—
Front Seat Type: Bucket	✓	✓
Driver Seat Power Adjustments	8-way	8-way
Driver Seat Height Adjustment	✓	✓
Driver Seat Lumbar Support	Power	—
Passenger Seat Power Adjustments	4-way	—
Driver Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Passenger Seat Heating	Multi-level	Multi-level
Seat Material: Leatherette	—	✓
Passenger Seat Manual Adjustments	—	4-way

Rearseats

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Rear Head Room	40.2 in.	40.0 in.
Rear Leg Room	40.8 in.	38.6 in.
Rear Shoulder Room	61.7 in.	60.3 in.
Rear Hip Room	57.4 in.	57.5 in.
Split-Folding Rear Seatback	✓	✓
Reclining Rear Seats	✓	—
Folding Center Armrest	✓	✓
Manual Folding Third Row Seat	✓	✓

Tires and Wheels

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Wheel Finish	Painted Alloy	—
Wheel Size	20 x 8.0 in	18 x 7.5 in
Tire Type	All Season	All Season
Tire Size	255/50R	245/60R
Spare Tire Type	Temporary	Temporary
Spare Tire Location	Underbody Mounted	Underbody Mounted
Wheel Material	—	Alloy

Suspension

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Four-Wheel Independent Suspension	✓	✓
Front Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓
Rear Stabilizer Bar	✓	✓

Warranty

Feature	Honda	Subaru
Basic Warranty	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Drivetrain Warranty	5 yr./ 60000 mi.	5 yr./ 60000 mi.
Corrosion/Rust Warranty	5 yr./ unlimited mi.	5 yr./ unlimited mi.
Roadside Assistance	3 yr./ 36000 mi.	3 yr./ 36000 mi.
Complimentary Scheduled Maintenance	2 yr./ 24000 mi.	—

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about comparing the 2025 Honda Pilot and 2026 Subaru Ascent.

How significant is the performance gap between the 2025 Pilot and the 2026 Ascent?

The Honda Pilot holds a noticeable advantage in peak output with 285 horsepower compared to the Subaru Ascent's 260 horsepower. However, the Ascent fights back with 277 lb-ft of torque, slightly eclipsing the Pilot’s 262 lb-ft, suggesting the Ascent might feel punchier at lower RPMs.

Which crossover offers better fuel economy for daily driving?

Fuel economy is extremely close, with both achieving 22 MPG combined. The Pilot edges out slightly on the highway at 27 MPG versus the Ascent’s 26 MPG, while the Ascent gets marginally better city mileage at 20 MPG versus the Pilot's 19 MPG.

Is the AWD system in the Ascent worth the potential cost/trade-off?

The Ascent includes standard All-Wheel Drive, a crucial factor for drivers in snowy or unpaved conditions, whereas the base Pilot comes standard with Front Wheel Drive. If you don't require AWD, the Pilot's FWD configuration might translate to long-term maintenance savings.

How do the dimensions affect interior space?

The 2025 Honda Pilot is the larger vehicle overall, being nearly 3 inches longer (199.9 inches) and offering 18.6 cu ft of cargo space. The Subaru Ascent is slightly more compact at 196.8 inches long and provides 17.8 cu ft of cargo space.

What is the base MSRP difference between these two three-row competitors?

The 2025 Honda Pilot has a slightly lower starting Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) at $40,200. The 2026 Subaru Ascent starts at $40,795, making the Pilot the more affordable entry point by $595.

Which transmission setup should I prefer?

The Pilot utilizes a conventional 10-speed shiftable automatic transmission, giving drivers more direct gear control. The Ascent uses a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT), which prioritizes smooth, seamless power delivery often aiding in achieving stated fuel economy figures.