2020 Honda Pilot vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2020 Honda Pilot was designed with dynamic styling that aligned with the rest of Honda's lineup at the time. It featured thin LED headlights and a multi-tiered grille, with a belt-line that subtly rose around the rear side windows, giving it a more streamlined appearance than its actual size suggested. Inside, the Pilot offered a modern cabin with a semi-digital instrument panel, combining analog gauges for fuel and engine temperature with a digital screen for other information. While the cabin was comfortable and spacious, it did incorporate hard plastics in many areas, which detracted from its overall refinement compared to competitors like the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade.

In contrast, the 2021 Buick Enclave was a nod to Buick's past grandeur while catering to contemporary SUV preferences. It was the largest of Buick's SUV offerings, with a design that exuded a premium feel, especially in the Avenir trim, which added unique grille patterns and polished 20-inch wheels. The interior of the Enclave Avenir continued this upscale theme with organic forms, minimalist controls, and polished accents. The leather upholstery was soft and perforated, though the wood trim was not genuine. Despite its size, the Enclave drove like a smaller SUV, offering a serene and quiet cabin experience thanks to Buick's QuietTuning efforts.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine across all trims, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. In Canada, it came standard with all-wheel drive, with no front-wheel drive option available. The LX, EX, and EX-L trims featured a 6-speed automatic transmission, while the Touring and Black Edition trims were equipped with a 9-speed automatic, offering smoother acceleration and potentially better fuel efficiency. The Pilot's ride was tuned for comfort, making it ideal for commutes and road trips, though it lacked athleticism. It featured an Intelligent Traction Management System with drive modes for various conditions, enhancing its capability in different terrains.

The 2021 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It produced 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, with front-wheel drive standard on the Essence trim in Canada and all-wheel drive on higher trims. The Enclave's V6 engine provided strong acceleration, aided by its low torque peak, and the nine-speed automatic ensured smooth shifts. The Enclave's ride was exceptional, with a premium-tuned suspension and continuously variable damping available in the Avenir Technology Package. It offered a comfortable and composed driving experience across various conditions, with a fuel efficiency rating of 11.2 L/100 km in combined driving.

The 2020 Honda Pilot offered a spacious cabin with seating for up to eight passengers, featuring second-row bench seating and optional captain's chairs on higher trims. Its third row was adult-friendly, providing ample head and legroom. The Pilot excelled in cargo space, offering 1,583 litres with the second and third rows folded, surpassing many of its competitors. It was designed with family hauling in mind, featuring numerous storage spaces and conveniences like a conversation mirror and CabinTalk feature for easy communication with rear passengers.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, comfortably accommodating six to seven passengers. It featured second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat, with a spacious and quiet cabin enhanced by Active Noise Cancellation and laminated glass. The Enclave offered 668 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 1,642 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,764 litres with the second row down. Its large rear doors and captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the interior was equipped with premium features like heated and ventilated front seats and a power-adjustable steering wheel.

The 2020 Honda Pilot came equipped with an 8-inch Display Audio touchscreen infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto across all trims. While the system included a 215-watt stereo and Bluetooth connectivity, its user interface was criticized for being confusing and lacking a tuning knob. Higher trims offered additional features like navigation, a rear entertainment system, and a premium audio system.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with quick response times and a simple user interface. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, the 8-inch touchscreen and 10-speaker Bose sound system were considered less competitive compared to other SUVs. The Enclave offered unique features like a rear camera mirror, but its connected services required subscriptions after short trial periods.

The 2020 Honda Pilot was equipped with the HondaSensing suite of driver assistance systems, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. It received a five-star overall crash test rating from the NHTSA and a Good rating from the IIHS, with a Superior score in crash prevention technology.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were more limited, with advanced systems like adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking only available on the Avenir trim with an additional package. While it received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, its frontal-impact protection was rated four stars. The IIHS gave it high marks, but a Marginal headlight performance rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.