2021 Honda HR-V vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Honda HR-V had a softer, friendlier appearance compared to Honda’s larger SUVs like the CR-V, Passport, and Pilot, which featured more traditional SUV looks with upright rooflines and intimidating front ends. The HR-V stood out with its distinctive design elements, such as upper and lower window lines converging near the taillights in a triangular point that also housed the rear door handles. Most trim levels came with 17-inch alloy wheels, with the HR-V EX and EX-L featuring a machined finish. Sport models boasted matte-black 18-inch wheels and blacked-out trim, while fog lights were standard on all but the base LX trim level. Inside, the HR-V’s styling was plain but functional, with good material quality and fit and finish. EX and EX-L models offered push-button start, automatic climate control, a moonroof, and heated front seats, with EX-L models also getting leather upholstery.

The 2022 Buick Enclave marked a significant shift in Buick’s design philosophy, moving away from conservative styling to a more modern and upscale look. This transition was part of Buick’s broader strategy to focus exclusively on SUVs, reflecting market trends. The Enclave, which debuted in 2008 and received a redesign in 2018, sat atop Buick's SUV lineup. For 2022, it featured several exterior styling enhancements, including a new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim level had its own unique grille, body-colored lowers, and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave received a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim offered standard climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching, providing a near-luxury experience.

The 2021 Honda HR-V 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). Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trim levels. However, the HR-V’s powertrain was considered underpowered for highway driving, and the CVT was seen as ineffective. Competitors like the Kia Seltos and Subaru Crosstrek offered more powerful engine options. Despite this, the HR-V’s chassis provided a rewarding driving experience on twisty roads, living up to Honda’s reputation for fun cars. The HR-V’s AWD system was suitable for slippery roads but not for rougher terrains, and it lacked towing capability.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The Enclave had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave provided a smooth and quiet ride, enhanced by the optional Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The Enclave handled well on various terrains, offering a serene cabin experience thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The powertrain was responsive, providing good off-the-line acceleration despite the vehicle's size and weight.

The 2021 Honda HR-V offered impressive cargo space for its size, thanks to the “Magic Seat” 60/40 split-folding rear bench seat. With the rear seats folded down, it provided 58.8 cubic feet of cargo space (57.6 for AWD models). With the seats up, it offered 24.3 cubic feet (23.2 cubic feet with AWD). These figures surpassed competitors like the Chevrolet Trax, Hyundai Kona, and Subaru Crosstrek. The HR-V also excelled in rear-seat legroom, leading the segment in that category. The interior 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, and a standard tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel made finding the perfect driving position easier.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due to its large windshield and window openings. All Enclaves came standard with an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. Premium and Avenir trims featured four-way power lumbar with massage and second-row heated seats. The Enclave’s cabin was spacious, accommodating six full-size adults comfortably. The second-row bucket seats flipped and folded for added versatility. The restyled center console featured new push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment housing two cupholders. The Enclave offered ample storage, with 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. Power-folding third-row seats made accessing the cargo space easier.

The 2021 Honda HR-V’s base LX trim came with standard Bluetooth, a 5-inch display screen, and a four-speaker audio system. The Sport trim and higher levels featured a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, while EX and EX-L models added SiriusXM satellite radio. The infotainment system was plain but functional, with two USB ports located in a cubbyhole ahead of the shifter. However, the 7-inch touchscreen was considered small, and many competitors offered Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard features across all trims.

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 came with 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 two smartphones active simultaneously. A built-in WiFi hotspot could handle up to four devices up to 50 feet away. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, while all Enclaves came with a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L. The Enclave also included six USB ports, a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance with hitch view, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

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 got “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, including 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 2022 Buick Enclave made significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package becoming standard on all trims. This package 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. Other standard safety items included a Safety Alert driver's seat, a rear-seat reminder system, and an HD reversing camera. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Enclave, but it received four out of five stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Enclave "Good" ratings in all but one crash test, where it received an "Acceptable" score.