2021 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to the brand's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. After a period of decline, Buick found its footing by offering globally-sourced and rebadged GM vehicles. The Enclave, the largest of Buick's four SUVs, stood out with its American-made build and premium looks, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist design with organic forms, polished accents, and luxurious leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The interior was simple, except for the electronic transmission shifter, which required a bit of getting used to.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda CR-V had a more utilitarian design, blending in with other compact crossovers. Its styling was nearly identical to its competitors, with only minor details like the grille and chromed plastic features setting it apart. The CR-V was available in eight colors, though most were shades of gray, black, or white, with only a few vibrant options. Inside, the CR-V offered a modern look with angular seats and a choice of cloth or leather upholstery, depending on the trim. While it didn't stand out in terms of looks, the CR-V was designed to be functional and practical.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave's ride and handling were impressive, thanks to the premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, especially in the Avenir trim. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg in combined driving, and it could travel up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Honda CR-V, on the other hand, was powered by a 190-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine across all trims. It accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.8 seconds, which was competitive for its class. The CR-V's continuously variable transmission (CVT) provided smooth and steady acceleration, though it lacked the engagement of conventional transmissions found in competitors like the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson. The CR-V came standard with FWD, with AWD available as an option. Its suspension setup included a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear, offering decent handling and ride quality.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six or seven passengers. Its cabin was designed for comfort and quietness, with features like Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Enclave's third-row seat was spacious and easy to access, and it offered 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.6 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2021 Honda CR-V focused on practicality, with 102.9 cubic feet of passenger volume and 75.8 cubic feet of total cargo volume with the rear seats folded. The CR-V's cargo area could be accessed via a manual tailgate on lower trims, a power tailgate on the EX-L, or a hands-free power tailgate on the Touring trim. Roof rails were standard only on the top Touring trim. The CR-V's interior was designed to fit five people comfortably, with various storage options and a functional layout.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, its 8-inch touchscreen was smaller than competitors, and it lacked smart home digital assistant integration. The Avenir trim offered a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system. A unique feature was the rear camera mirror, which provided a live video feed of what was behind the vehicle.

The 2021 Honda CR-V's base LX trim had a 5-inch color screen with Bluetooth, while other trims featured a 7-inch high-definition touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SMS text messaging. The audio system ranged from a 180-watt system with six speakers on lower trims to a 300-watt system with a subwoofer on the Touring trim. The Touring trim also included satellite navigation and a wireless phone charger. Charging ports were plentiful, with USB ports in the front and second rows, and a 12-volt outlet in the center console.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were limited to higher trims. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available from the Essence trim, while the Driver Confidence Plus Package, which included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more, was standard on Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking were only available on the Avenir with the optional Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but missed out on the IIHS Top Safety Pick due to a Marginal headlight rating.

The 2021 Honda CR-V excelled in safety, earning a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and an IIHS Top Safety Pick award. Honda's approach to safety was to make advanced features standard across all trims. The Honda Sensing system included a multi-angle rearview camera, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, automatic emergency braking, road departure mitigation, lane keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and auto high-beam headlamps. Blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert was standard from the EX trim upwards.