2019 Buick Envision vs 2020 Honda Passport

The 2019 Buick Envision was arguably the most handsome vehicle in Buick's SUV lineup. It had a more athletic vibe compared to the subcompact Buick Encore and the full-size Buick Enclave. The strong body lines along the sides and the upright rear section of the side windows gave it proportions similar to a BMW X1. Inside, the cabin initially appeared attractive with a clean and straightforward layout, but closer inspection revealed that it fell short of the luxury billing Buick aimed for. The matte-finish materials used for some controls and the bezel around the radio and navigation system looked cheap, especially when combined with chrome and light-colored leather. The multifunction steering wheel also felt coarse to the touch.

In contrast, the 2020 Honda Passport followed Honda's tried-and-true design playbook. The exterior gave the impression of a rugged and athletic vehicle, more so than the Honda Pilot and CR-V. The Passport came in four trim levels: Sport, EX-L, Touring, and Elite, with the Elite trim being fully loaded. Standard features included a scratch-resistant matte black grille, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and black-rimmed LED headlights. The interior was more sophisticated than rugged, featuring a mix of hard-wearing and soft-to-the-touch materials. The Elite trim offered perforated, heated, and ventilated front seats, a leather-trimmed heated steering wheel, and a moonroof. The design emphasized spaciousness and comfort, making it a practical choice for frequent Honda buyers.

The 2019 Buick Envision offered two engine options. The FWD, Preferred, and Essence trims came with a 2.5-liter inline 4-cylinder engine producing 197 horsepower, paired with an outdated 6-speed automatic transmission. This setup felt underpowered and sluggish in many driving situations. The Premium and Premium II trims featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, making 252 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, paired with a new 9-speed automatic transmission. This engine provided solid acceleration and came standard with AWD. The Envision's steering was responsive and tight, though it felt top-heavy in corners. Fuel economy for the 2.5-liter FWD was 22 mpg city, 29 highway, and 25 combined, while the turbo AWD model achieved 20/25/22 mpg.

The 2020 Honda Passport came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine across all trims, generating 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, paired with a smooth-shifting nine-speed automatic transmission. The FWD models achieved an EPA-estimated 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 22 mpg combined, while AWD models achieved 19 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. The Passport performed well in various driving situations, including climbing over 9,000 feet in elevation and navigating tightly-wound roads. The torque-vectoring AWD system provided a planted feel on the road and reassurance in inclement weather. The Passport also offered Snow, Sand, and Mud drive modes and could tow up to 5,000 pounds with the available towing package.

The 2019 Buick Envision provided plenty of room in the driver's seat, offering a commanding position and good visibility. The second row had ample head- and legroom, with seats that could recline to a couple of positions. With the rear seats up, the Envision offered 27 cubic feet of cargo space, which increased to 57 cubic feet when the seats were folded. The vehicle also featured helpful cargo tie-downs, deep pockets in all four doors, and a cargo tray above the glove box, making good use of its space.

The 2020 Honda Passport was described as practical, with a size that was right-sized rather than fun-sized. It provided good visibility and spacious seats where four adults could comfortably sit for extended periods. The Passport featured height-adjustable seatbelts for front-row occupants and three full LATCH connections in the second row. The seats were more comfortable than those in the CR-V, similar to those in the Pilot and Odyssey. The Passport offered 41.2 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, the most under-floor storage in its class, and a power liftgate. The interior also featured tri-zone automatic climate control, second-row sunshades, and ample small-item storage, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with GM's Intellilink infotainment system, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen with a straightforward layout. The system included hard buttons and dials below the screen, and the screen itself had a dock of icons for music, connectivity, and navigation. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, and the test vehicle included wireless charging for compatible smartphones. However, the touch-capacitive controls for the climate and heated/cooled front seats were not very responsive, making them less useful.

The 2020 Honda Passport's base Sport model came with a 5.0-inch display monitor, while the EX-L, Touring, and Elite trims featured an 8.0-inch Display Audio infotainment system. The larger screen supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and had a manual power button and volume knob. The system was responsive and easy to navigate. Standard features included Bluetooth, a USB port, a seven-speaker audio system, push-button start, and keyless entry. Higher trims offered a 10-speaker audio system, satellite radio, additional USB ports, a wireless phone charger, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The dashboard design, borrowed from the Pilot, looked a bit outdated but remained functional.

The 2019 Buick Envision came standard with ten airbags, including side-curtain and knee airbags, and a reversing camera with Rear Park Assist. The Premium and Premium II trims featured GM’s Safety Alert Seat, which vibrated to alert the driver to potential hazards. Essence and Premium trims included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Premium trim also offered lane-keep assist, lane-departure warning, and forward-collision alert. The Driver Confidence Package, available on the Premium II trim, added adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking, and a 360-degree camera. However, many of these features required additional payment.

The 2020 Honda Passport prioritized safety, achieving good scores from the IIHS and NHTSA and being named an IIHS Top Safety Pick. The Passport came standard with the Honda Sensing suite, which included Collision Mitigation Braking System, forward-collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise control. A rearview camera with a birds-eye view was also standard. Higher trims offered dynamic gridlines for the rearview camera, blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear cross-traffic detection. While it lacked some of the fancier driver-assist technologies found in competitors, the Passport's safety features were well-suited for most drivers.