Honda Passport vs. Subaru Outback vs. Hyundai Santa Fe: The Ultimate Soft-Roader Off-Road Showdown
The automotive landscape in the United States is currently dominated by a distinct breed of adventure-ready vehicles: the rugged crossover. For buyers seeking a vehicle that blends daily drivability with weekend capability, factory-lifted trims like the Subaru Outback Wilderness, Honda Passport TrailSport, and Hyundai Santa Fe XRT have captured the American imagination. Featuring protective plastic cladding, suspension lifts, and aggressive all-terrain tires, these machines promise extra capability when the pavement ends. To see how these rugged soft-roaders truly perform, we loaded up our gear and headed to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area in Coal Township, Pennsylvania, pushing this trio deep into the woods to find out which one goes the hardest off the road.
The Contenders
2026 Subaru Outback Wilderness
Subaru has long built its reputation on standard all-wheel-drive capability. To capture the growing overlanding market, the brand introduced its Wilderness lineup, featuring increased ground clearance, robust body cladding, and beefy all-terrain rubber on 17-inch wheels. Powering the Outback Wilderness is a turbocharged 2.4-liter flat-four engine pumping out 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque. Power is routed through a continuously variable transmission (CVT)—engineered with simulated stepped ratios—and managed by Subaru’s proprietary X-Mode torque-vectoring system.
2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite
The fourth generation of Honda’s two-row mid-size SUV embraces a handsome, squared-off aesthetic, particularly in its adventure-focused TrailSport trim. It boasts 8.3 inches of ground clearance, 18-inch wheels wrapped in General Grabber all-terrain tires, a revised torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system, and heavy-duty steel underbody protection. Under the hood lies a tried-and-true 3.5-liter V-6 generating 285 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque, mated to a responsive 10-speed automatic transmission.
2026 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT
Hyundai’s bold, boxy three-row family hauler gets an adventurous twist with the XRT trim. It features 8.3 inches of ground clearance, specialized terrain driving modes, and 18-inch wheels with Continental TerrainContact tires. Propelling the Santa Fe is a turbocharged 2.5-liter inline-four engine producing 277 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque—the highest torque figure in our comparison. Notably, Hyundai replaced its older dual-clutch transmission with a smoother eight-speed torque-converter automatic for 2026.
On the Road
Despite their rugged styling enhancements, these crossovers spend the vast majority of their lives eating highway miles and managing daily commuting duties. On the open road, all three models deliver impressive composure without the severe steering feedback or bouncy suspension tuning typically associated with traditional body-on-frame off-roaders.
The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT benefits from the lightest off-road modifications in the test, translating into exceptionally refined on-road manners. Navigating through heavy traffic, its 4,400-pound frame felt agile, aided by light steering input forces and a tight 37.9-foot turning circle. Once cruising, the turbocharged 2.5-liter engine remained remarkably quiet, and the eight-speed automatic executed seamless gear changes. It drives like a well-oiled machine—predictable, comfortable, and composed.
The Subaru Outback Wilderness is a spry performer, benefiting from its lighter 3,973-pound curb weight and tall 9.5-inch ground clearance. While slightly less settled than its heavier competitors at high highway speeds, it shines with car-like handling characteristics. Mountain driving revealed that the turbocharged flat-four delivers strong pull, though acceleration can occasionally be disrupted by turbo lag and the underlying nature of the CVT, despite its simulated manual gear ratios.
Meanwhile, the Honda Passport TrailSport relies on displacement rather than forced induction, utilizing its smooth 3.5-liter V-6. Revving cleanly to its 6,100 rpm peak output, the naturally aspirated engine pairs brilliantly with the 10-speed automatic transmission. As the heaviest vehicle in the test at 4,700 pounds, the Passport offers a planted, stable ride quality on the highway. Its steering remains sharp and communicative, proving that rugged aesthetic upgrades do not dilute Honda’s signature driving dynamics.
Off the Road
None of these unibody crossovers feature genuine hardcore mechanical off-road hardware like two-speed transfer cases or locking center differentials. Instead, they rely on electronic clutch-pack torque distribution and brake-based traction management systems.
Navigating the rugged terrain of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area put each vehicle’s ground clearance and underbody protection to the test. The Subaru Outback Wilderness offers the most generous clearance at 9.5 inches, easily gliding over rocks that forced contact with the other vehicles. Its short wheelbase helped it clear obstacles smoothly, touching its exhaust only once during a rocky descent.
Honda takes a protective approach with the Passport TrailSport. Offering 8.3 inches of clearance and a longer 113.6-inch wheelbase, Honda reinforces the crossover with robust steel skid plates shielding critical drivetrain components. Although its underbelly occasionally scraped against jagged ridges, the heavy-duty protection absorbed the impact without sustaining mechanical damage.
The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT faced more challenges off-road. Its 8.3-inch ground clearance is paired with lighter plastic underbody protection. On steep, rutted hill climbs, the H-Trac all-wheel-drive system occasionally hesitated under wide-open throttle before finding its footing, requiring patience compared to the immediate response of the Honda’s i-VTM4 system. In contrast, the Passport TrailSport dominated steep inclines effortlessly, courtesy of its class-leading 23-degree approach angle and exceptionally fast torque vectoring.
When tackling water crossings and mud holes, the Passport and Outback drove through with minimal drama. The Santa Fe XRT, however, struggled temporarily for rear-wheel traction in deep muck, requiring a few minutes of careful maneuvering to claw its way back to solid ground.
In the Cabin
Inside the cabin, modern comfort and advanced technology take precedence. The Subaru Outback Wilderness features a clean layout centered around a horizontal 12.1-inch touchscreen interface, complemented by physical climate control buttons and a traditional gear shifter. While front and rear seat charging options are plentiful, the interior feels slightly tighter in terms of head and elbow room compared to its rivals.
The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT leans heavily into a modern, luxurious aesthetic. It boasts a flawless 12.3-inch infotainment display, abundant USB-C charging points across all three rows, and a remarkably quiet cabin. However, its digital instrument cluster can be difficult to read in bright sunlight, and the column-mounted stalk shifter takes some getting used to.
Honda’s Passport TrailSport Elite features a refined interior equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, a 12-speaker Bose audio system, and perforated leather seating with heating and ventilation. While its button-style gear selector requires acclimatization, the cabin is exceptionally quiet, spacious, and ergonomic, maintaining high standards of everyday usability.
Bang Per Buck
Value is a critical consideration in the mid-size crossover segment. The Hyundai Santa Fe XRT stands out as the most budget-friendly option, coming in thousands cheaper than its competitors while offering a generous list of standard features.
The Honda Passport TrailSport Elite sits at the premium end of the spectrum, carrying a higher price tag justified by luxury amenities like winter-ready heated leather steering wheels and premium audio. For buyers prioritizing raw off-road capability over luxury upholstery, a lower trim level offers significant cost savings.
The Subaru Outback Wilderness occupies the middle ground, offering rugged StarTex upholstery as standard, with optional multimedia upgrades and leather packages available at additional cost.
And the Winner Is . . .
Selecting the right adventure-ready crossover comes down to balancing daily comfort with genuine capability when conditions deteriorate. While the Subaru Outback Wilderness excels in raw ground clearance and the Hyundai Santa Fe XRT offers unbeatable three-row value, the Honda Passport TrailSport emerges as the overall champion.
The Passport combines refined highway manners with unflappable off-road competence, utilizing superior torque vectoring and durable underbody protection to go further than its competitors with total confidence. It successfully bridges the gap between rugged styling and real-world performance.
Are you ready to elevate your weekend adventures with a capable, adventure-ready SUV? Visit your local dealership today to test drive the award-winning Honda Passport TrailSport and experience its unmatched versatility for yourself.
