2020 Honda CR-V vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2020 Honda CR-V, part of Honda's fifth generation of compact crossovers, had a design that was both familiar and enjoyable. Its exterior styling was characterized by soft, curvy lines that gave it a car-like appearance, reminiscent of Honda's sedan lineup. The CR-V's design leaned more towards a station wagon than an SUV, setting a standard for modern family transportation. However, the interior told a different story, with a mix of textures and materials. While higher trims featured upscale touches like wood-look trim and leather upholstery, these clashed with lower-quality plastics, reminding drivers that even the pricier CR-V models were essentially upgraded versions of a commodity car.

In contrast, the 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to Buick's glory days with its large, impressive design. As the largest of Buick's four SUVs, the Enclave stood out with its premium styling, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir continued the upscale theme with organic forms, minimalist instrumentation, and polished accents. The interior boasted soft, perforated leather and a sense of luxury, although the wood trim was not genuine. Despite its size, the Enclave's simplicity was evident, except for the somewhat fussy electronic transmission shifter.

The 2020 Honda CR-V was equipped with a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine, producing 190 horsepower and 179 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). This powertrain was well-suited to the CR-V, offering a quick response, especially in Sport mode. The CR-V's car-like road manners were evident in its nimble handling and firm yet comfortable chassis, with minimal body roll. Its lightweight design contributed to excellent fuel efficiency, with FWD models rated at 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres combined and AWD models at 8.1 L/100 km.

The 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine generating 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The V6's low torque peak provided strong acceleration, and the Enclave drove like a smaller SUV despite its size. The nine-speed automatic delivered smooth shifts, and the Enclave's premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping offered a comfortable ride. Fuel efficiency was rated at 11.2 L/100 km combined for FWD models and 11.8 L/100 km for AWD models, with a range of over 900 kilometres on a single tank.

The 2020 Honda CR-V excelled in interior space, offering a roomy cabin comparable to the Volkswagen Tiguan. Its excellent seating position and low cowl provided good visibility, while clever storage solutions, like the deep centre console and two-position load floor, enhanced practicality. The CR-V offered 1,065 litres of cargo space in the Touring and Black Edition trims and 1,110 litres in other grades, with ample room for storing items.

The 2021 Buick Enclave, as one of the largest SUVs in its class, provided a spacious and comfortable interior for up to seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Enclave's third-row seat was genuinely useful, with easy access through large rear doors. Cargo space measured 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,642 litres with the third row folded and 2,764 litres with the second row down.

The 2020 Honda CR-V's infotainment system showed its age, with a standard 7-inch touchscreen that felt small compared to competitors. The system lacked hard buttons, making it challenging to operate, although Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard. The CR-V offered plenty of USB ports, with two in the front and two high-powered ones in the backseat, along with a wireless phone charger in higher trims.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, with quick response times and a simple user interface. Standard features included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, the 8-inch touchscreen and 10-speaker Bose sound system fell short compared to competitors. The Enclave offered a rear camera mirror, providing a live video view of what's behind the vehicle.

The 2020 Honda CR-V came with the "Honda Sensing" suite of safety features as standard, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and adaptive cruise control. It earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick designation from the IIHS, with LED headlights improving nighttime visibility in higher trims.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems were limited to higher trims, with features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keep assist available only in the Premium and Avenir trims. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though frontal-impact protection rated four stars. The IIHS gave it high marks, but a Marginal headlight performance rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.