2021 Honda Passport vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave marked a significant return to form for the brand, reminiscent of its glory days with its large, shiny, and impressive design. After a period of struggle, Buick found its footing by offering globally-sourced vehicles, but it was the American-made Enclave that truly resonated with consumers. As the largest SUV in Buick's lineup, the Enclave stood out with its premium appearance, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a luxurious interior with soft leather, polished accents, and a minimalist design, although the wood trim was not genuine. Despite a somewhat fussy electronic transmission shifter, the Enclave's interior was praised for its simplicity and elegance.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a two-row version of the Pilot, offering a similar design both inside and out. The Passport's cabin shared the Pilot's dash layout, including the awkward button shifter design. However, it provided a spacious interior with high-quality materials. The Passport came in four trims: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each offering a range of features from leather upholstery and a power moonroof to advanced audio systems and navigation. The Passport's interior was designed for comfort and convenience, with ample storage options and a focus on practicality.

The 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. The Enclave's V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and its nine-speed automatic transmission was praised for its smooth shifts. The Enclave's ride quality was enhanced by the Avenir Technology Package, which included a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and automatic emergency braking. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg combined, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, also paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard FWD and optional AWD. The Passport's V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and its ride was optimized for comfort and handling. The AWD model featured Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. The Passport's towing capacity was up to 3,500 pounds for FWD models and 5,000 pounds for AWD models.

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

The 2021 Honda Passport provided a generous 100.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded, and 50.5 cubic feet with the second row in use. It featured a power liftgate on the EX-L trim and a hands-free power liftgate on the Touring and Elite trims. The Passport's upright seating position offered excellent visibility, and its interior included deep storage bins and door pockets. The rear seats were spacious and adjustable, providing ample headroom and legroom.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with features like Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, it fell short in terms of screen size and advanced audio options. The Avenir trim's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the 10-speaker Bose sound system was considered average. The Enclave offered a rear camera mirror, providing a live video view of what's behind the vehicle.

The 2021 Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard across all trims, along with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. While these features were a welcome addition, the Passport's infotainment system was criticized for its dated graphics and confusing menu layout. The inclusion of a volume dial was appreciated, but the overall audio interface was lacking.

The 2021 Buick Enclave offered a range of safety features, but many were restricted to higher trims. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though its frontal-impact protection was rated four stars. The IIHS gave it high marks, but its headlight performance was rated Marginal.

The 2021 Honda Passport came equipped with advanced safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, though it received "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.