2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid retained the same design as the previous year, featuring "Hybrid" badges and blue Honda logos. It had sophisticated LED fog lights and a unique rear bumper, but otherwise, it looked similar to the gas-only CR-V. Inside, it offered unique instrumentation for battery-charge status and power distribution, with steering wheel paddles managing regenerative braking. Available in EX, EX-L, and Touring trims, all models came with standard all-wheel drive (AWD). The Touring trim, which we tested, included features like leather upholstery, a premium sound system, and wireless smartphone charging. The test vehicle, priced at $37,920, had a luxurious interior with Ivory leather and a two-tone contrast, though the fake wood trim was a downside.

The 2022 Buick Enclave underwent a mid-cycle refresh, featuring a new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim had unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave received a restyled center console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim included standard climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching. Our test vehicle, an Avenir with the Technology package, had a deep red Rich Garnet Metallic exterior and Ebony perforated leather seats. The Avenir trim offered a near-luxury experience with comfortable, visually appealing seats and a smooth, quiet ride.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid featured a two-motor hybrid system with a 2.0-liter gasoline engine, producing a total of 212 horsepower and 232 pound-feet of torque. It offered three driving modes—EV Drive, Hybrid Drive, and Engine Drive—and three driver-selected modes—Econ, Sport, and EV. The CR-V Hybrid had a slightly better weight distribution and retained the standard CR-V AWD model's 8.2 inches of ground clearance. It provided a smooth and enjoyable driving experience, though it fell short of its EPA rating of 38 mpg, achieving only 33.7 mpg on the testing route.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered front-wheel drive (FWD) as standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available on all trims. The Enclave had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. Our AWD-equipped test vehicle, with the Avenir Technology package, provided a smooth, quiet ride with excellent handling on various terrains. The nine-speed automatic transmission was responsive, and the engine delivered surprising off-the-line acceleration. The Enclave's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology contributed to a serene cabin environment.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid offered comfortable front seats with 12-way power adjustment and heated front seats. The rear seat provided ample space for adults, with air conditioning vents and quick-charge USB ports. Interior storage was impressive, though the wireless smartphone charger took up space on the center console. The CR-V Hybrid had 33.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 68.7 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, slightly less than the standard CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. It featured an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. The Premium and Avenir trims added four-way power lumbar with massage and heated second-row seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated six full-size adults comfortably, with easy access to the third row. The restyled center console had push-button transmission gears and ample storage space. The Enclave offered 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space with all seats up, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid's infotainment system featured a seven-inch touchscreen with a power/volume knob but lacked a tuning knob. It supported wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, though the system was slow to start and had limited voice-recognition capabilities. The Touring trim included a nine-speaker premium audio system, wireless smartphone charging, and dual 2.5-amp quick-charging ports for the rear seat. The infotainment system also offered SiriusXM satellite radio and integrated Pandora internet radio.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting a larger, 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot handling up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims included a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though it lacked power. The Enclave also offered a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Honda CR-V Hybrid came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and Road Departure Mitigation. The CR-V Hybrid also had blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. It earned a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

The 2022 Buick Enclave made the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional standard safety features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, rear-seat reminder system, and HD reversing camera. The Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave received a four-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most crash tests from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.