2021 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Honda Passport

The 2021 Buick Enclave represented a significant comeback for the brand, which had struggled through the Malaise Era of automotive design and marketing. Once known for its big, shiny, and impressive vehicles, Buick had to rebuild its reputation. The Enclave, a large American-made SUV, played a crucial role in this revival, offering a blend of modern SUV appeal and a nod to Buick's glorious past. Available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, the Enclave's pricing ranged from just over $41,000 to just under $55,000, making it competitive with both mainstream and luxury three-row SUVs. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, adding a premium touch to the vehicle's already impressive looks.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir continued the upscale theme with organic forms, a minimalist approach to instrumentation and controls, and tasteful polished accents. The two-tone interior treatment featured soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The cabin's simplicity was marred only by the fussy electronic transmission shifter, which drivers quickly adapted to. Overall, the Enclave's design and features aimed to provide a luxurious and comfortable experience for its occupants.

The 2022 Honda Passport, on the other hand, shared its platform with the Honda Ridgeline pickup truck, Odyssey minivan, and Pilot three-row SUV. The Passport's new styling closely resembled the Ridgeline, giving it a tougher and more rugged appearance. Available in EX-L, TrailSport, and Elite trims, the Passport featured new wheel designs and a focus on off-road capability, particularly with the TrailSport trim. This mid-level version aimed to attract adventure-seekers with its standard all-wheel drive, 8.1 inches of ground clearance, and traction management driving modes for various conditions.

Inside, the Passport offered one of the largest interiors in the two-row midsize SUV segment, with quality materials and careful assembly. The TrailSport trim added unique touches like orange contrast stitching, amber ambient lighting, and embroidered emblems on the front seat headrests. The Passport's interior was designed for comfort and practicality, with ample storage space and a user-friendly layout. Overall, the Passport's design and features catered to those seeking a versatile and capable SUV for both on-road and off-road adventures.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Enclave offered a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 engine's low torque peak contributed to strong acceleration, and the Enclave's driving dynamics made it feel smaller than its actual size. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly, and the optional Avenir Technology Package enhanced the driving experience with a premium-tuned suspension and advanced safety features. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg in combined driving, and it achieved 21.2 mpg during testing, allowing for a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2022 Honda Passport retained its 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. Like the Enclave, it featured a nine-speed automatic transmission and offered both FWD and AWD options. The Passport's V6 engine was smooth and responsive, and the SUV's driving dynamics were firm and communicative. The EPA rated the Passport at 22 mpg in combined driving with FWD and 21 mpg with AWD. The TrailSport test vehicle averaged 21.3 mpg over various driving conditions. The Passport's AWD system, known as i-VTM4, provided mechanical torque vectoring and could deliver up to 70 percent of the engine's power to a single rear wheel when needed. While the Passport excelled on paved roads, its off-road capabilities were more limited, with wheel articulation being a notable weakness. However, the Passport's overall driving experience was enjoyable, with satisfying acceleration, good steering feel, and a comfortable ride.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six to seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured 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 Enclave's interior was designed for comfort and convenience, with a stylish center console, triple-zone climate control, and heated second-row captain's chairs. The third-row seat was spacious and easy to access, and the Enclave provided 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Honda Passport offered easy entry and exit, thanks to its large doors and low step-in height. The front seats were large and comfortable, with inboard adjustable armrests and good thigh support. Leather upholstery and heated front seats were standard, and the Elite trim added ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and heated rear seats. The Passport's triple-zone automatic climate control system ensured comfort for all passengers, and the rear seats provided ample space and a slightly elevated seating position. The Passport excelled in storage options, with a massive center console storage bin, door panel shelving, and rear door cupholders. Cargo space was generous, with 41.2 cubic feet behind the rear seat and a maximum of 77.7 cubic feet with the rear seat folded.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. The Buick Infotainment System featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and connected services, including a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. USB charging ports were available in all three rows, and upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system. However, the Enclave lacked integration with smart home digital assistants and high-end audio components. The Avenir's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the 10-speaker Bose sound system was not as impressive as those in competing SUVs. One notable feature was the rear camera mirror, which provided a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2022 Honda Passport's infotainment system also met minimum modern standards but needed an upgrade. All trim levels included an 8-inch touchscreen display, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and satellite radio. The TrailSport trim added a navigation system, and the Elite trim featured a 10-speaker premium sound system and HondaLink connected services, including a WiFi hotspot. The Passport's infotainment system included shortcut buttons for easy navigation, but the lack of a stereo tuning knob was a minor inconvenience. During testing, Apple CarPlay was preferred over the Passport's navigation system due to its clunky operation. Wireless smartphone charging was standard, but the Passport's overall technology offerings were not particularly advanced.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems worked well but were limited in availability. Features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on higher trims, and the Driver Confidence Plus Package, which included forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and more, was restricted to the Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was only available on the Avenir trim with the optional Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave lacked advanced safety features like lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, and self-parking functions. In crash tests, the Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but earned four stars for frontal-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the Enclave high marks, but its Marginal headlight performance rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Honda Passport came equipped with the Honda Sensing suite of driver aids, including adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. Additional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, automatic high-beam headlights, a rear-seat reminder system, and a seatbelt reminder system. However, some elements of Honda Sensing were less refined, with the lane-departure warning system causing the steering wheel to wobble and the lane-centering assist frequently adjusting steering input. The adaptive cruise control was not particularly smooth in heavy traffic, and the blind-spot monitoring warning light was not ideally placed. In crash tests, the Passport received five-star ratings from the NHTSA in most categories but earned four stars for front passenger protection and rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Passport top ratings in most respects, but it received an Acceptable rating for front-passenger protection in a small overlap collision.