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Honda CR-V vs Subaru Outback

2026 Honda CR-V vs 2026 Subaru Outback — two rivals compared on efficiency, size, safety and reliability.

Honda CR-V

2026 Honda CR-V

Midsize Station WagonsAWD/4WDHybrid/EV
VS2 – 3Subaru Outback wins 3 of 5 categories
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2026 Subaru Outback

Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WDAWD/4WD

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The short version

The Honda CR-V is more fuel-efficient: 40 vs 27 MPG combined in its best version.

That works out to about $800 a year less in fuel for the Honda CR-V (EPA estimate, 15,000 miles).

The Subaru Outback is the bigger car, about 7 inches longer.

Across all model years since 2005, the Subaru Outback has had fewer recall campaigns (15 vs 60).

The two cars

The 2026 Honda CR-V is a midsize station wagon offered with 2 engines (2.0L 4-cyl and 1.5L 4-cyl turbo), including a hybrid version and front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. It measures about 185 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 106-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,635 lb (4dr SUV AWD).

The 2026 Subaru Outback is a small SUV offered with 2 engines (2.5L 4-cyl and 2.4L 4-cyl turbo) and all-wheel drive. It measures about 192 inches long and 74 inches wide on a 108-inch wheelbase, with a curb weight of roughly 3,966 lb (4dr Wagon Limited/Wilderness/Premier).

Buying used? The 2022 CR-V and the 2024 Outback have the fewest problems in our data; avoid the 2018 CR-V and the 2019 Outback.

Basics

Midsize Station Wagons
Class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Hybrid, eFCV, Regular Gasoline
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
2.0L 4-cyl, 1.5L 4-cyl turbo
Engines
2.5L 4-cyl, 2.4L 4-cyl turbo
Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive
Drivetrain
All-Wheel Drive

Efficiency

40 MPG
Best combined MPG
27 MPG
43 city
City / highway MPG (best)
25 city
$1,700
Fuel cost per year (EPA)
$2,500

Performance & space

190 hp
Horsepower (most powerful)
–
184.6 in
Length
191.7 in
73.6 in
Width
74 in
66.1 in
Height
67.3 in
3,525 lb
Curb weight (lightest)
3,772 lb

Safety & reliability

14
Driver-assist features standard
–
2
Recalls (2026)
0
60
Recalls, all years since 2005
15
177
Owner complaints (latest year)
21

Interest

36,497
Wikipedia views, 30 days
–

Buying used

2022
Best used year
2024
2018
Year to avoid
2019

Green = clearly better. Prices are not included. How we calculate this →

Which one should you choose?

Choose the Honda CR-V if…

  • You want lower fuel bills (40 vs 27 MPG)
  • You want something easier to park (7 in shorter)
  • You want a hybrid or electric option

Choose the Subaru Outback if…

  • You want more room (7 in longer)
  • You put reliability history first (15 vs 60 recalls since 2005)

Pros & cons of each

2026 Honda CR-V

  • Excellent fuel economyUp to 40 MPG combined — 56% better than the average 2026 midsize station wagon (25.7 MPG).
  • Hybrid version availableOffered as a hybrid as well as gas.
  • AWD / 4WD available
  • Lots of standard safety tech5 of 5 key driver aids standard on the versions we checked.

2026 Subaru Outback

    Full 2026 Honda CR-V specs →Full 2026 Subaru Outback specs →Compare fuel costs for your driving →Compare size & garage fit →