Honda Pilot vs Subaru Ascent
Three-row SUVs · head to head, 2019–2027
The Honda Pilot and Subaru Ascent were both sold for 9 model years (2019–2027). Among the Pilot's own years, its best bet is 2022; no year to avoid; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025. Among the Ascent's own years, no year clearly stands out as the best bet; years to avoid: 2019–2020; the newest year rated a good buy is 2025.
Honda Pilot
SUV · 2010–2027
- Best bet 2022
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid none
- Be careful 2017, 2019
Subaru Ascent
SUV · 2019–2027
- Best bet no standout year
- Newest good buy 2025
- Avoid 2019–2020
How to read this: each model's verdicts compare that model's own years with each other (serious owner complaints per car on the road against that model's usual year, using New York registrations). They are not a reliability ranking of one model against the other, so a good-buy Pilot year says nothing about whether it beats a Ascent. (How we judge.)
Year by year, side by side
| Year | Honda Pilot | Subaru Ascent | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not rated | Not rated | Side by side |
| 2026 | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | TOO NEWOnly 1.1 years of owner reports | Side by side |
| 2025 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2024 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.7× usual | Side by side |
| 2023 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.6× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | Side by side |
| 2022 | BEST BUYSerious complaints 0.4× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.0× usual | Side by side |
| 2021 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 0.8× usual | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2020 | GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.8× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
| 2019 | CAREFULSerious complaints 1.4× usual, mostly engine and collision avoidance | AVOIDSerious complaints 2.6× usual, mostly power train and engine | Side by side |
Each chip rates that year against the same model's other years. Tap a chip for the year's details; "Side by side" compares both models that year, trim by trim.
Compare any year, trim by trim
2026: the newest shared year with full data, at a glance
Newer years (up to 2027) have thinner price and equipment data for one or both models, so this table uses 2026. Use "Compare any year" above for the others.
| 2026 Honda Pilot | 2026 Subaru Ascent | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict (vs the model's own years) | TOO NEW | TOO NEW |
| Starting price (MSRP range) | — | $40,795 to $51,995 base price by trim, 5 trims |
| Engines and horsepower | 3.5L 6-cyl, 285 hp | 2.4L 4-cyl turbo, 260 hp |
| Fuel economy (EPA combined) | 20–22 mpg | 21–22 mpg |
| Seats | — | 7–8 |
| Third row | — | Yes |
| Cargo behind last row | — | 17.8–42.1 cu ft |
| Max cargo | — | 72.8–75.6 cu ft |
| Max towing | — | 5,000 lb |
| NHTSA crash rating | 5 of 5 stars | 5 of 5 stars |
| Recalls · owner complaints (NHTSA) | 1 · 22 | 1 · 3 |
Sources: OpenSpec and the makers' equipment guides, NHTSA vPIC, EPA and NHTSA ratings. Cargo, towing and bed length rows appear when we have them. "—": not in our data. Compare every 2026 trim →
Key features: base trim vs top trim
| Pilot Sport first listed | Pilot Black Edition last listed | Ascent Premium lowest price, $40,795 | Ascent Onyx Edition Touring highest price, $51,995 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Adaptive cruise control | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Heated front seats | Standard | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Ventilated front seats | No | Standard | — | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | No | Standard | — | — |
| 360-degree camera | No | No | — | Standard |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | No | No | Standard | — |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | — | — |
"Standard" and "Optional" are for that trim as the 2026 data lists it (a package or option adds an "Optional" item); "—": not verified in our sources, never a guess. The cheapest and most expensive trim of each model; every trim is on the model's 2026 page (Pilot, Ascent).
Known fixes and extended coverage
Honda Pilot
29 manufacturer programs on file: 29 extended coverage, 0 repair programs.
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension - Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and the idle stop feature engages, the vehicle may not automatically restart. (ONL6T603102023-4, 2017–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension - Warranty Extension reimbursement form for engine idle stop repairs made before the warranty extension notice date. (ONL6T603102023-2, 2018–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028) (19-003-1, 2010–2012, 2014–2015 models)
- Extended coverage Under certain circumstances, after coming to a stop and engaging idle stop, the vehicle may not restart automatically due to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque. Honda is extending the warranty coverage for valve… (A23-009, 2017–2020 models)
Subaru Ascent
6 manufacturer programs on file: 6 extended coverage, 0 repair programs.
- Extended coverage This announcement provides information on a warranty extension for Ascent front brake judder/squeak on certain 2019 to 2024 model year vehicles manufactured prior to January 11th 2024. (2019–2024 models)
- Extended coverage If a customer experiences windshield damage, inspect the damage as per the guidelines supplied in this bulletin to confirm if the damage is covered under the Warranty Extension. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the New Car… (12-257-25, 2019–2022 models)
- Extended coverage Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is extending the Warranty coverage time period for the fuel pump impeller to 15 years. (09-129-24, 2019–2020 models)
- Extended coverage Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA) is implementing Warranty Extensions and additional benefits for owners and lessees of certain 2019- 20MY Ascent models. (16-146-24, 2019–2020 models)
From manufacturer bulletins filed with NHTSA, counted per program. A count is how many programs exist, not how good or bad a model is: a maker that extends coverage is paying for a known problem. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
Which should you buy?
- Buying used, years both are rated a good buy: 2021–2025. In those years, choose on price, size and features.
- Shopping around 2020: the Pilot is rated good buy (serious complaints 1.2× usual), while the Ascent is rated avoid (serious complaints 2.8× usual, mostly power train and engine). Each against its own other years.
- Years to skip: Ascent 2019–2020.
- Newest year rated a good buy: Pilot 2025; Ascent 2025.
- Before you buy either: run the VIN for open recalls and ask the dealer whether the extended-coverage repairs above were done.
Rules applied to the data on this page: no overall winner is declared, because our verdicts compare each model with itself.