2021 Buick Enclave vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's resurgence from its past struggles. It embodied the brand's return to its roots of producing large, impressive vehicles, while also catering to the modern consumer's preference for SUVs. The Enclave was the largest SUV in Buick's lineup, offering a luxurious and spacious interior that harkened back to the brand's glory days. Its design was both elegant and commanding, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured unique styling elements like a distinctive grille and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist yet upscale design, with soft leather seats and polished accents, although the wood trim was not genuine. Despite its size, the Enclave maintained a sense of simplicity, with the exception of its somewhat complicated electronic transmission shifter.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Highlander stood out with its bold design, making it easily recognizable among midsize SUVs. Its styling was less dramatic than some of its siblings, but it still made a statement with its wide headlights, long hood, and trapezoidal grille. The Highlander featured a character line reminiscent of the Supra sports car, and its taillights bore a resemblance to those of a Lexus model. The introduction of the XSE trim added a sportier appearance, with aggressive styling cues and 20-inch alloy wheels. Inside, the Highlander Limited trim offered a luxurious experience with high-quality materials and impeccable fit and finish. The interior was designed for comfort, with tan leather seats and dark brown trim, although the wood details were not genuine. The Highlander excelled in providing a comfortable and convenient driving experience, prioritizing practicality over sportiness.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel drive as standard on the Essence trim in Canada, while all-wheel drive was standard on higher trims. The Enclave's V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and its low torque peak contributed to a smooth driving experience. The SUV's towing capacity was impressive, with a maximum rating of 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) when properly equipped. The Enclave's suspension, especially with the Avenir Technology Package, offered a premium-tuned experience with continuously variable damping, ensuring a comfortable ride across various driving conditions. Fuel efficiency was rated at 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, or 11.8 L/100 km with AWD, allowing for over 900 kilometres on a single tank.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander featured a 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. It was equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. While the Highlander wasn't designed for high-performance driving, it offered smooth and predictable operation, making it a reliable choice for families. The Highlander's powertrain was competitive within its segment, offering similar horsepower and torque to rivals like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. The XSE trim added sportier suspension tuning, with higher-rated springs, retuned shock absorbers, and a rear stabilizer bar, providing a slightly more engaging driving experience. However, the Highlander remained focused on comfort and practicality, with a soft suspension that prioritized a smooth ride over sporty handling.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six to seven passengers. Its cabin was designed for comfort and quietness, with features like Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with a massaging function, as well as heated and ventilated front seats wrapped in soft leather. The Enclave's interior was thoughtfully designed, with a stylish centre console and ample storage space. The SUV offered seven-passenger seating with second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat. The third-row seat was spacious enough for adults, and the large rear doors made entry and exit easy. Cargo space was generous, with 668 litres behind the third row, 1,642 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,764 litres with the second row down.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander prioritized passenger comfort and practicality, with a well-designed interior that catered to families. The front seats featured a set of shelves for storage, and a wireless charging pad was standard on XSE and above trims. Second-row passengers enjoyed ample legroom, with available captain's chairs that could slide forward and backward to optimize space. The third row was suitable for adults, but only if the second-row passengers compromised on legroom. The Highlander's rear-seat climate control vents were positioned on the ceiling, which was an unusual choice. Cargo space was more limited than the Enclave, with 453 litres behind the third row, 1,150 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,245 litres with both rows down. While the Highlander offered sufficient space for most needs, it was outmatched by minivans in terms of cargo capacity.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, with features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, its technology offerings fell short in terms of screen size and audio quality. The Avenir trim's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the 10-speaker Bose sound system was not as impressive as those in rival SUVs. The Enclave offered a rear camera mirror, providing a live video view of the area behind the vehicle. While the infotainment system was user-friendly, Buick's short trial periods for connected services were a drawback.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander offered an 8-inch touchscreen on most trims, with a 12.3-inch display available on the Platinum trim. Both systems were easy to use, with standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. The 12.3-inch screen was visually appealing, but its functionality was limited, as some apps only used a portion of the display. The Highlander included a JBL audio system from the Limited trim up, which provided good sound quality. Navigation was available from the Limited grade, but its performance was inconsistent compared to Google Maps. Overall, the Highlander's technology offerings were competitive, but the larger screen's limited functionality was a consideration for potential buyers.

The 2021 Buick Enclave offered a range of safety features, but many were restricted to higher trims. In Canada, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard, but the Driver Confidence Plus Package, which included features like forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning, was only standard on the Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking were available with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but 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.

The 2021 Toyota Highlander came equipped with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+, which included advanced features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support. The suite also offered adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring was standard, and LED headlights were included on all trims. The Highlander received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was named a Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety credentials.