2021 Honda HR-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 stood out as the largest of Buick's four SUVs, offering a luxurious and spacious option for consumers. Available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, the Enclave's pricing ranged from just over $41,000 to nearly $55,000. The Avenir trim, in particular, added a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, enhancing its premium appeal.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured a minimalist design with organic forms and polished accents. The two-tone interior treatment included soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The cabin was simple and elegant, except for the somewhat fussy electronic transmission shifter, which users quickly adapted to. Overall, the Enclave's design and features aimed to provide a sense of luxury and comfort.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda HR-V offered a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda's larger SUVs. Its distinctive styling included upper and lower window lines that converged near the taillights, housing the rear door handles. Most trim levels featured 17-inch alloy wheels, with the Sport model boasting matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim. Fog lights were standard on all but the base LX trim.

The HR-V's interior was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. While it didn't aim for luxury, it provided a solid and practical feel. The EX and EX-L models included push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with the EX-L adding leather upholstery. The HR-V's design focused on practicality and user-friendly features.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offering a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 engine produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration. When properly equipped, the Enclave had a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly, and the FWD model allowed for momentary tire spin before traction control intervened.

Our test vehicle, priced at $57,090, included the Avenir Technology Package, which added a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and automatic emergency braking. The suspension excelled in various driving conditions, from residential streets to highways, providing a comfortable and controlled ride. The Enclave's steering and brake response were well-balanced, though quicker steering response could be beneficial. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg in combined driving, and our testing confirmed an average of 21.2 mpg, allowing for a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Honda HR-V, on the other hand, was powered by a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine producing 141 horsepower and 127 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). While AWD was available on all trim levels, FWD was standard. The HR-V's powertrain remained unchanged from previous models, resulting in underwhelming highway performance and an ineffective CVT. Competitors offered more powerful engine options, such as the Kia Seltos' 175-hp turbo-four and the Subaru Crosstrek's 182-hp boxer-four.

Despite its engine limitations, the HR-V's chassis provided a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads, living up to Honda's reputation for fun cars. The ride quality was decent, but the HR-V's AWD system was not designed for off-road use, and its ground clearance was minimal. Additionally, the HR-V was not rated for towing, limiting its versatility compared to more traditional SUVs.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six to seven passengers. Its cabin was designed for comfort and quietness, with features like Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and a basic massaging function, while the front passenger seat was 10-way power-adjustable with matching massage. Both seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The wood-and-leather steering wheel was power tilt-and-telescopic and included automatic heating.

The Enclave's center console was stylish and functional, with storage options under the transmission shifter and in a bin beneath the center armrest. Seven-passenger seating was standard, with second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat. The third-row seat was genuinely useful, providing comfort comparable to the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. The Enclave offered 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with the second-row seats folded.

The 2021 Honda HR-V excelled in cargo space for its size, thanks to the "Magic Seat" 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. With the rear seat folded down, the HR-V offered 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models). Even with the rear seat up, it provided 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD), surpassing competitors like the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, and Subaru Crosstrek. The HR-V also ranked second in overall passenger space, with ample rear-seat legroom.

While the HR-V's interior lacked clever storage solutions, it featured sensibly-designed controls, including large knobs for climate control and an audio volume knob. The narrow center console was dominated by a large shift lever, which was simple and easy to use. A standard tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel made finding the perfect driving position easier.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. The Buick Infotainment System responded quickly to inputs, had adequate voice recognition, and featured a simple and logical user interface with pleasing graphics. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB charging ports in all three rows. Upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system.

However, the Enclave's technology lagged in screen size, smart home digital assistant integration, and high-end audio components. The Avenir's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the 10-speaker Bose sound system was underwhelming compared to competitors. Additionally, Buick's free trial periods for connected services were short. A notable feature was the available rear camera mirror, which provided a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2021 Honda HR-V's base LX trim came with standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. Upgrading to the Sport trim level added a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while the EX and EX-L models included SiriusXM satellite radio. The HR-V's infotainment system was plain but functional, with no navigation issues. The two available USB ports were conveniently located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter.

However, the optional 7-inch touchscreen was relatively small, and many competitors offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features. Honda's decision to make these features available only on higher trim levels was a drawback.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems worked well but were limited to higher trim levels. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available only on the Essence trim and above. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and front and rear parking sensors. The Avenir Technology Package added adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking.

However, the Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology. Despite these limitations, the Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and high marks from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), though its Marginal headlight performance rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2021 Honda HR-V received top "Good" scores in all IIHS crash tests and a "Superior" rating for its optional front-crash prevention tech. However, it received "Marginal" and "Poor" headlight ratings and an "Acceptable" rating for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the HR-V a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in side crash testing and four stars in frontal and rollover crash testing.

The HR-V's Honda Sensing safety features were available only on the EX and EX-L trim levels. Honda Sensing included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, Road Departure Mitigation, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, and Honda's LaneWatch. The rearview camera was upgraded with dynamic gridlines on higher trim levels.