2021 Buick Envision vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Buick Envision had undergone a significant redesign after two consecutive years of facelifts. This two-row compact crossover, available in China and North America, positioned itself between the smaller Encore GX and the larger Enclave in Buick’s lineup. The 2021 Envision was lower and wider than its predecessor, boasting a more premium crossover styling that gave it a planted appearance on the street. It featured three trim levels—Preferred, Essence, and Avenir—with the Avenir trim making its debut in the Envision lineup. The Avenir models came with upgraded exterior elements, including a Black Ice Chrome mesh grille, 20-inch Avenir-specific pearl nickel wheels, and a unique interior trim pattern.

In contrast, the 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a shortened version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. The Passport’s dash layout was visually identical to that of the Pilot, sharing Honda’s awkward “button shifter” design. Despite this, the Passport offered a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout. The trim levels for the 2021 Passport included Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding more features as you moved up the lineup. The range-topping Elite trim included heated and ventilated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This was a downgrade from the previous model’s 252 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Despite shedding 200 to 300 pounds, the Envision’s performance was more about comfortable cruising than sporty driving. The front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The Envision’s fuel efficiency improved, with the FWD models achieving 24 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 26 mpg combined. AWD models fared slightly worse with 22 mpg in the city, 29 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, also paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Passport offered strong acceleration and managed power well, with an abrupt stop-start system that could be switched off. The Passport’s ride was a blend of comfort and refined handling, with 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models featuring Intelligent Traction Management with Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes. The FWD Passports could tow up to 3,500 pounds, while AWD models could tow up to 5,000 pounds.

The 2021 Buick Envision’s redesign did not translate into a more functional cabin. Despite a longer wheelbase, the Envision had less headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in the front row, and rear-seat passengers lost two inches of legroom and nearly six inches of hip room. 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 made it difficult for the front passenger to use the climate controls and infotainment screen. However, the Envision offered standard heated front seats, eight-way power-adjustable seats, and a heated steering wheel.

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. An additional 2.5 cubic feet was available in an under-floor storage tray. The EX-L trim included a power liftgate, while the Touring and Elite trims featured a hands-free power liftgate. The upright seating position offered excellent visibility, and the center console had a deep bin and an open cargo tray. The rear seats provided ample headroom and legroom, with the ability to recline and slide for added comfort.

The 2021 Buick Envision featured a standard 10.2-inch infotainment touchscreen, which was responsive and displayed necessary functionalities clearly. The driver could use an available 8.0-inch driver information display for quicker access to information. Standard features included USB ports, dual-zone automatic climate control, rearview camera, keyless entry, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wireless Android Auto. Available features included navigation, driver massage, HD Radio, surround-view camera, HUD, and wireless device charging.

For 2021, the Honda Passport made Android Auto and Apple CarPlay standard, included with the newly-standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system. However, the Passport’s infotainment system had dated graphics, a confusing menu layout, and a volume dial that felt like an afterthought. Despite these drawbacks, the inclusion of smartphone connectivity features as standard was a significant advantage.

The 2021 Buick Envision had not yet been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. 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 2021 Honda Passport came well-equipped with advanced safety features such as automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and front-and-rear parking sensors. The Passport received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, with "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.