Need a vehicle that can fit up to eight passengers? Both the Subaru Ascent and the Honda Pilot check that box. What happens, though, when you need to fit more than just the kids and their friends in the back seats?

If other adults are packing into your SUV, the Pilot will give everyone extra personal space. Its second row has almost one and a half extra inches of shoulder room. The Honda Pilot also has two and a half inches more shoulder room in the third row compared to the 2023 Ascent.

When you plan on packing up the car for a vacation, you’ll even be able to fit more in the rear of the Honda Pilot thanks to up to 114.3 cubic feet of max cargo space, depending on which trim you choose. Still, even the Pilot’s base trim offers a standard 111.8 cubic feet compared to the Subaru Ascent’s max of 75.6 cubic feet.

When the kids are full of energy and need some entertainment, you can opt for the available Wi-Fi® hotspot in either model. That way, they can stream TV shows and movies and play games to help pass the time. Who knows, it may even decrease or eliminate the constant echo of “Are we there yet?”

If the kids fall asleep on the ride home, the Pilot lets you give them some peace and quiet. Its available multi-zone audio will let you silence the speakers in the back while you continue to enjoy clear audio up front.

That family sing-along will be easier to conduct with the standard seven speakers in the Honda Pilot compared to the Ascent’s 6-speaker system. Plus, keeping everyone’s mobile devices charged will be easier in the Honda SUV thanks to its wireless phone charger. If you choose the Subaru, be sure to pack a cable since wireless charging isn’t available.

Both models offer an in-car PA system to make communicating with rows of passengers behind you easier. You’ll find available CabinTalk® in the Pilot and available Cabin Connect in the Ascent. Both systems will project your voice to the rear speakers. However, only the Honda’s feature can also connect to any wired headphones currently in use!

When it comes to the Honda Pilot, you’ll have peace of mind with the standard Honda Sensing® suite, which comes with a host of safety features, such as:

• Collision Mitigation Braking System™
• Adaptive Cruise Control with Low-Speed Follow
• Road Departure Mitigation System
• Lane Departure Warning
• Lane Keeping Assist System

The Subaru Ascent has several similar features thanks to its EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology. However, it only has a normal rearview camera in comparison to the Honda Pilot’s multi-angle rearview camera with dynamic guidelines.

The Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) Body Structure is only used in the construction of the Honda Pilot. It uses specially engineered front crumple zones to absorb and divert collision force away from the cabin if the unexpected happens.