2022 Buick Enclave vs 2021 Honda Passport

The 2021 Honda Passport was essentially a more compact version of the Pilot, featuring two rows of seats instead of three. Its exterior design closely mirrored that of the Pilot, leading some to refer to it as a "Pilot Sport." Inside, the Passport's dashboard layout was nearly identical to the Pilot's, sharing Honda's unique "button shifter" design. Despite this, the Passport boasted a spacious interior with high-quality materials throughout. It offered four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, each adding more features such as leather upholstery, a power moonroof, and advanced audio systems.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave represented a shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving from conservative styling to a more modern SUV-focused lineup. The Enclave, a three-row crossover, was part of Buick's transition from sedans to SUVs. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with updated exterior styling and a restyled center console. The top Avenir trim featured unique design elements and premium materials, including climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs. The Enclave was available in Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, with the Avenir offering the most luxurious features.

The 2021 Honda Passport was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). The Passport's V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and its ride quality balanced comfort with refined handling. It featured 8.1 inches of ground clearance and AWD models included 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 2022 Buick Enclave came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, also paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard FWD and optional AWD across all trims. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Known for its quiet and smooth ride, the Enclave featured a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping in the Avenir Technology package. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly.

The 2021 Honda Passport offered generous cargo space, with 100.8 cubic feet available 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 Passport's upright seating position provided excellent visibility, and both front and rear seats offered ample headroom and legroom.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due to its large windshield and windows. It featured an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with the third row suitable for six-footers. Cargo space measured 23.6 cubic feet with all seats up, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The Enclave also offered power-folding third-row seats for added convenience.

The 2021 Honda Passport came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. While these features were a welcome addition, the infotainment system's graphics and menu layout were considered dated, and the volume dial felt like an afterthought.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 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 system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously. The Enclave also included a WiFi hotspot, a 10-speaker Bose audio system in higher trims, and a range of standard and available safety features, including adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

The 2021 Honda Passport was 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 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 had "Acceptable" ratings for headlights and child-seat anchor ease of use.

The 2022 Buick Enclave included the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Additional features on higher trims included enhanced automatic emergency braking and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.