Compare the2026 Subaru AscentVS 2026 Honda Pilot

Safety
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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The Ascent 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 Pilot doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

In a Vehicle-to-Vehicle Frontal Crash Prevention 2.0 test conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the Subaru Ascent achieved a “Good” rating - the highest possible - for its performance in forward collision warning and automatic braking systems, demonstrating its excellent capabilities in preventing collisions. The Honda Pilot has not been tested.

To provide maximum traction and stability on all roads, All-Wheel Drive is standard on the Ascent. But it costs extra on the Pilot.

Both the Ascent and the Pilot 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, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available around view monitors and driver alert monitors.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Ascent	Pilot
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	190	382
Neck Injury Risk	21%	28.9%
Neck Stress	229 lbs.	350 lbs.
Neck Compression	8 lbs.	101 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	210	440
Neck Injury Risk	33%	33.6%
Neck Stress	197 lbs.	232 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	35/30 lbs.	396/388 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety does 40 MPH moderate front offset crash tests on new cars. In this updated test, results indicate that the Ascent is safer than the Pilot:

	Ascent	Pilot
Overall Evaluation	GOOD	ACCEPTABLE
Structure	GOOD	GOOD
	Driver Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Chest Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh/hip Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg/foot Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Leg Forces L/R	337/382 pounds	540/674 pounds
Restraints	GOOD	GOOD
	Rear Passenger Injury Measures
Head/Neck Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Thigh Rating	GOOD	GOOD
Restraints	ACCEPTABLE	MARGINAL

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Subaru Ascent is safer than the Honda Pilot:

	Ascent	Pilot
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	37	53
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.6 inches
Hip Force	274 lbs.	276 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	81	100
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	346 lbs.	540 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	149	340

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The Subaru Ascent has achieved the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) highest rating of “Top Safety Pick Plus” for the 2026 model year. This distinction is based on its exceptional performance in IIHS’ rigorous battery of safety tests. Specifically, it earned a “Good” rating in the latest, more stringent moderate overlap front crash test, a “Good” result in the updated side impact test, a “Good” score in the revised pedestrian crash prevention test, and a “Good” score in the revised vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention test. The Pilot is not even a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2026.

Reliability

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

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Ascent second among upper midsize suvs in their 2025 Initial Quality Study. The Pilot isn’t in the top three.

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.

Engine

The Ascent’s 2.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 15 lbs.-ft. more torque (277 vs. 262) than the Pilot’s 3.5 DOHC V6.

As tested in Car and Driver the Subaru Ascent is faster than the Honda Pilot:

	Ascent	Pilot
Zero to 60 MPH	6.8 sec	7.2 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	18.6 sec	20.1 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.4 sec	7.6 sec
Passing 30 to 50 MPH	3.9 sec	4.1 sec
Passing 50 to 70 MPH	5 sec	5.4 sec
Quarter Mile	15.4 sec	15.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	92 MPH	90 MPH
Top Speed	130 MPH	112 MPH

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

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Ascent gets better mileage than the Pilot:

			MPG
Ascent
	AWD	2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/26 hwy
		Limited/Touring/Onyx 2.4 turbo flat-4	19 city/25 hwy
Pilot
	AWD	3.5 DOHC V6	19 city/25 hwy
		TrailSport 3.5 DOHC V6	18 city/23 hwy

Transmission

The Ascent 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 Pilot doesn’t offer a CVT.

Brakes and Stopping

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

The Ascent stops much shorter than the Pilot:

	Ascent	Pilot
70 to 0 MPH	176 feet	189 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	114 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	136 feet	140 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

The Ascent Touring handles at .80 G’s, while the Pilot Elite pulls only .78 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Ascent Touring executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Pilot TrailSport (27.2 seconds @ .64 average G’s vs. 27.9 seconds @ .66 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Ascent has a 1.4 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Pilot (8.7 vs. 7.3 inches), allowing the Ascent to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Ascent’s minimum ground clearance is .4 inch higher than on the Pilot TrailSport (8.7 vs. 8.3 inches).

Chassis

The Ascent is 3.1 inches shorter than the Pilot, making the Ascent easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the Ascent Limited is quieter than the Pilot Elite:

	Ascent	Pilot
At idle	40 dB	40 dB
Full-Throttle	70 dB	78 dB
70 MPH Cruising	64 dB	68 dB

Passenger Space

The Ascent has .7 inches more front headroom, 1.2 inches more front legroom and 1.3 inches more third row hip room than the Pilot.

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Ascent easier. The Ascent’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 32 inches, while the Pilot’s liftover is 33.2 inches.

Towing

The Ascent’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Pilot’s (5000 vs. 3500 pounds).

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Ascent is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Pilot. 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.

Ergonomics

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Ascent’s exterior PIN entry system. The Pilot doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

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

The Ascent’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Honda only offers heated mirrors on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

The Subaru Ascent has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Homelink® is only available on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

Compared to traditional radio, the Subaru Ascent’s standard SiriusXM satellite radio provides an unmatched listening experience. Its extensive coverage guarantees consistent, crystal-clear reception across the continental U.S., and access to over 100 channels dedicated to a multitude of genres, including music, news, sports, talk shows, and comedy, many with only limited commercial breaks. Satellite radio is only offered on the Pilot EX-L/TrailSport/Touring/Elite/Black Edition.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Subaru Ascent and the Honda Pilot, based on reliability, safety and performance.

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