Subaru Outback vs. Passport

Read the respective forums on the models you are researching. I have driven a few Subaru models and feel they lack soul. Kinda like they are neutered from the factory. I have driven a few new CX5s as well. Wonderful driving and full-featured car but a search of the CX5 forum will reveal they have a paint problem due to lack of priming. My last Mazda, a 2015 Mazda3 was littered with paint chips after 50,000 miles. It was a mess. The Cherokee is a Fiat Chrysler product - need I say more. My last Chrysler product - a Durango - blew the engine at 3,455 miles and I wasn't treated very well by the company.

That's just my opinion on your 4 models. Naturally I bought the Passport after a 2-3 month study and numerous test drives of competitive models including the RAV4. I didn't even look at a Fiat Chrysler product or a Subaru.

Good luck with your decision.
Mike

mcrimm said:

Read the respective forums on the models you are researching. I have driven a few Subaru models and feel they lack soul. Kinda like they are neutered from the factory. I have driven a few new CX5s as well. Wonderful driving and full-featured car but a search of the CX5 forum will reveal they have a paint problem due to lack of priming. My last Mazda, a 2015 Mazda3 was littered with paint chips after 50,000 miles. It was a mess. The Cherokee is a Fiat Chrysler product - need I say more. My last Chrysler product - a Durango - blew the engine at 3,455 miles and I wasn't treated very well by the company.

That's just my opinion on your 4 models. Naturally I bought the Passport after a 2-3 month study and numerous test drives of competitive models including the RAV4. I didn't even look at a Fiat Chrysler product or a Subaru.

Good luck with your decision.
Mike

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On the other hand, I have had, in the past eight years, among a few garage queens, one 2011 Mazda CX-7, with no problems whatsoever, with two recalls of which I only remember the reason for one and that was for a control arm. The other a Subaru BRZ, our fun weekend touring car with no problems. I still have both but am looking for a replacement for the Mazda more than likely a 2020/2021 model year. BTW, an exceptional finish on both cars and are garage kept.

I, as a rule, do my research at least one year prior to purchasing a new vehicle. This is, for the most part I believe, the reason why I have minimal or no problems with the vehicles.
My selection for the Passport, after reading all of the praises and all of the complaints, is still tentative. I'll see how things shake out. It still remains in my one-year research mode.
My most respected auto critics are Car & Driver, auto shows, and self-driving.

Before my Mazda3, I owned both a 1999 and a 2004 Miata. Both were great cars with no paint problems. It was that 2015 3 that had all the paint problems. All of my cars are garaged unless I'm driving them so sun bake is not an issue. Head on over to www.mazdas247.com and do a search for 'paint'. You can see what steered me away from another Mazda - in part. In all fairness, the CX-5 is too small for our needs and we would have considered the CX-9 but don't need a 3rd row. The Mazda is a great driving machine.

I agree - the Mazda CX-5 is a very nice vehicle, I was really impressed with it. But the cargo room was insufficient and I refuse to purchase a vehicle with a third row seat.

The outback has a CVT, correct? That would kill it for me. I had an Outback and a Legacy and the CVT rendered the car(s) soulless. The Ffit I just traded had one too. While not as bad, it still sucked.

Aside from being one of the administrators on this website, I am most well known for being the founder and administrator of SubaruOutback.org. I have been in possession of six Subaru Outbacks to include a model year 2021 Outback Limited 2.5L.

I have a 2021 Passport Elite as my primary vehicle and there is nothing that Subaru makes that would entice me to get out of my Passport at this time. If you want to search through my posts on this website I have written extensively comparing the Outback to the Passport.

Visa said:

It's looking good. More like the competition of current Crossover SUVs and a less the look of a Station wagon. Looks like the overall height is still lower than other SUVs making it easier to load bikes and other stuff on the roof. It's getting tougher for my decision-making - Passport, OUtback, CX-5 or Cherokee.

https://www.subaru.com/2020-outback?GOOGLE700000001067987Outback+TP_Core717000000103901732020+Outback587000049496389352020+subaru+outbackp4296382363143700042963823631&s_kwcid=2020 subaru outback&s_kwid=keyword&s_kwcid=2020+subaru+outback&ds_kids=p42963823631&ds_kid=43700042963823631&utm_source=paid-search&utm_medium=google_cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiJnW1OrU4gIV1LXACh0ChgSMEAAYASAAEgKnVfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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Visa said:

It's looking good. More like the competition of current Crossover SUVs and a less the look of a Station wagon. Looks like the overall height is still lower than other SUVs making it easier to load bikes and other stuff on the roof. It's getting tougher for my decision-making - Passport, OUtback, CX-5 or Cherokee.

https://www.subaru.com/2020-outback?GOOGLE700000001067987Outback+TP_Core717000000103901732020+Outback587000049496389352020+subaru+outbackp4296382363143700042963823631&s_kwcid=2020 subaru outback&s_kwid=keyword&s_kwcid=2020+subaru+outback&ds_kids=p42963823631&ds_kid=43700042963823631&utm_source=paid-search&utm_medium=google_cpc&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIiJnW1OrU4gIV1LXACh0ChgSMEAAYASAAEgKnVfD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

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I had a a 2017 outback 3.6r and traded it for a 2020 passport exl awd.
The outback didn’t work for me since:
a) I couldn’t stand the cvt transmission
b) although it was the 6cyl model, the car was very underpowered
c) built quality sucked. Everything rattled (door panels, front seat, passenger seat, dash rattle, rattling noise around sunroof).
d) if it wasn’t for the cvt, I would consider the 2020 outback xt.

With all said , the Eyesight feature was flawless. Way better / responsive what honda uses.
I’m happy with the passport, only issues so far was the infortainment, which was fixed and an ongoing faint rattle noise near the AC controls-

Good luck with your decision.

Tadakatsu said:

Aside from being one of the administrators on this website, I am most well known for being the founder and administrator of SubaruOutback.org. I have been in possession of six Subaru Outbacks to include a model year 2021 Outback Limited 2.5L.

I have a 2021 Passport Elite as my primary vehicle and there is nothing that Subaru makes that would entice me to get out of my Passport at this time. If you want to search through my posts on this website I have written extensively comparing the Outback to the Passport.

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I totally agree. I had money down awaiting delivery of an Outback Touring XT. I thought I'd get used to the rubberband transmission and I'd be happy. During the wait I decided I'd test drive the (in my opinion) homely looking passport along with a couple more midsize two rows. The Passport won. It is so very functional and rather quick 0-60 in 5.8 seconds.
I went out and purchased a second one.

I drove all the SUVs you mentioned. My decision came down to the engine and space in the SUV. I can’t understand why they put 4 cylinder engines with turbos for these SUVs. The Passport offered a VTech 6 with 280HP. I can’t see these other SUVs with a 4 Banger getting a 150,000 miles on them. I see engine problems in the future with these 4 bangers. Just my opinion but the VTech 6 won me over.

Gasman said:

I drove all the SUVs you mentioned. My decision came down to the engine and space in the SUV. I can’t understand why they put 4 cylinder engines with turbos for these SUVs. The Passport offered a VTech 6 with 280HP. I can’t see these other SUVs with a 4 Banger getting a 150,000 miles on them. I see engine problems in the future with these 4 bangers. Just my opinion but the VTech 6 won me over.

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I remember when Volvo came out with a 4-cylinder engine that was both turbo AND supercharged for their largest SUV in recent years, I just had it in my mind that no matter how well built that engine might be it is going to be an incredibly stressed power plant throughout its entire existence.

Unless I'm living at high elevation I'm very happy with a naturally aspirated engine, Honda's J35 V-6 is one of the best you can get IMHO. Subaru's former 3.6L H-6 was a dandy as well but I traded mine in for a Honda when I knew I couldn't get that engine in a new Subaru anymore.

DavisGrad said:

The outback has a CVT, correct? That would kill it for me. I had an Outback and a Legacy and the CVT rendered the car(s) soulless. The Ffit I just traded had one too. While not as bad, it still sucked.

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Correct. The CVT is one of the reasons I got rid of my Legacy. I liked the older auto transmissions that they used in the Outback.

I like Subarus and would own another Outback. But I feel at this point the Passport is just so much better.

DavisGrad said:

Correct. The CVT is one of the reasons I got rid of my Legacy. I liked the older auto transmissions that they used in the Outback.

I like Subarus and would own another Outback. But I feel at this point the Passport is just so much better.

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I agree with you on the Outback and the CVT. My choice came down to the 2021 Outback and the Passport.
It was the CVT that was the deal breaker. Although (in my opinion) the Outback's interior and exterior aesthetics are far better than the Passport, I went with the Passport and weeks later bought a 2nd Passport. Although the Passport
(in my opinion) is the best all around 2 row mainstream crossover on the market, it doesn't (in my opinion) win any awards for its only a mother could love exterior design. Honda builds such attractive looking crossovers on their Acura side but, not so much on the ones with the big H badge.