2021 Buick Envision vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2020 Honda Passport was a quintessential Honda, embodying the brand's reliable and practical design ethos. Its exterior, reminiscent of a scaled-down Honda Pilot or a beefed-up CR-V, struck a balance between ruggedness and athleticism. The Passport's four trim levels—Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite—offered a range of features, with the Elite trim boasting a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights. The increased ground clearance compared to the Pilot further enhanced its off-road capabilities.

Inside, the Passport's cabin was more sophisticated than rugged, featuring a mix of durable and soft-touch materials. The Elite trim included perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The interior design emphasized spaciousness, with a button-heavy shifting mechanism that saved space. Lower trims offered various packages to enhance features, while Honda Sensing safety technology and navigation were available on the Touring grade for an extra fee.

The 2021 Buick Envision underwent a significant redesign, presenting a lower and wider stance with premium crossover styling. It slotted between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave in Buick's lineup. The Envision's three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—each offered distinct looks, with the Avenir trim featuring upgraded exterior elements like a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille and 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels. The interior of the Avenir trim included leather-appointed seating with diamond perforated leather inserts and a head-up display (HUD).

Despite the redesign, the Envision's cabin didn't significantly improve in functionality. The 2021 model had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row compared to its predecessor. Rear-seat passengers also experienced reduced legroom and headroom. The cargo space was lower than other luxury SUVs, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front seat passenger's access to climate controls and the infotainment screen, making it less family-friendly.

The 2020 Honda Passport featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This setup provided sufficient power for various driving situations, though its fuel economy was less impressive. The FWD model achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, while the AWD model managed 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The large 19.5-gallon fuel tank allowed for over 400 miles of range.

The Passport's performance was tested in diverse conditions, from the flats of Fresno to the peaks of Yosemite National Park, where it maintained its performance without noticeable degradation. The Elite trim's torque-vectoring AWD system provided a planted feel on winding roads and off-road trails. The Passport's Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes enhanced its off-road capabilities, and it could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package.

The 2021 Buick Envision, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine produced 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, a downgrade from the previous model's 252 hp and 295 lb-ft. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision's performance didn't fully compensate for the power loss. The FWD model achieved an EPA-estimated 24 mpg city, 31 mpg highway, and 26 mpg combined, while the AWD model managed 22 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 25 mpg combined.

The Envision's drivability was more akin to a Lincoln than a Mazda, offering comfortable cruising without sporty dynamics. The typical GM drive mode selector included a Sport mode, but the engine and road noise permeated the cabin, detracting from the premium feel. The Envision lacked the engaging driving experience found in some competitors.

The 2020 Honda Passport was all about practicality. Its size, slightly larger than the CR-V, provided good visibility and spacious seating for four adults. The Passport's seats, similar to those in the Pilot and Odyssey, offered ample knee and legroom. The SUV featured height-adjustable seatbelts, three full LATCH connections in the second row, and available tri-zone automatic climate control and second-row sunshades.

Cargo space was a strong point for the Passport, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and the most under-floor storage in its class. The load floor was high, but a power liftgate was standard. Small-item storage was excellent, with a large center console and secondary shelf space in the front doors. The interior materials were easy to clean, though the piano black trim pieces attracted dust.

The 2021 Buick Envision's interior changes didn't enhance its functionality. Despite a longer wheelbase, the 2021 model had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost legroom and headroom. The cargo space was also reduced, with 25.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 53.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The driver-centric cockpit limited the front seat passenger's access to controls, making it less family-friendly.

Small-item storage was typical for the segment, and the Envision's comfort level was on par with other Buicks. Standard features included heated front seats, eight-way power-adjustable front seats, and a heated steering wheel. However, forward visibility was compromised, requiring drivers to rely on parking sensors.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model came with a 5.0-inch display monitor, while higher trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration. The larger screen was responsive and easy to navigate, though the center-stack design looked a bit outdated. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, a seven-speaker audio system, push-button start, and keyless entry. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

The 2021 Buick Envision's standout tech feature was its standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and cleanly displayed necessary functionalities. The driver could see station and song title information faster on the available 8.0-inch driver information display. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, air ionizer, keyless entry, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, OnStar and Buick Connected Services, remote start, two 12-volt power outlets, an air quality indicator, one-touch up/down windows, and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, a surround-view camera, HUD, a rearview camera mirror, and wireless device charging.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, achieving good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA, and earning an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included collision mitigation braking, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. Higher trims offered dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. The Envision featured GM's Buckle to Drive, ensuring the driver was latched in before shifting from park to drive. Standard safety features included a following distance indicator, forward-collision alert, front and rear park assist, lane change alert with blind-spot alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, rear park assist, rear-seat alert, automatic emergency braking, and teen-driver monitoring. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic park assist were available on Avenir models. The Envision lacked GM's Super Cruise and lane-centering technology.