2021 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2021 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's resurgence from its past struggles, embodying the brand's return to its roots of producing big, shiny, and impressive vehicles. As the largest SUV in Buick's lineup, the Enclave stood out with its American-made charm, offering a luxurious and spacious interior that catered to the modern consumer's preference for SUVs. The Avenir trim, in particular, added a touch of elegance with its unique grille pattern, brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, while the interior boasted a minimalist design with soft leather and polished accents, though the wood trim was not genuine. Despite its size, the Enclave maintained a simple and user-friendly interior, marred only by a slightly fussy electronic transmission shifter.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its appeal with a more sophisticated look. The updated design included a longer body, revised grille, and sporty character lines, complemented by new alloy wheel designs. Inside, the Kona's instrument panel and centre console were redesigned for a more spacious feel, with ambient lighting adding a touch of sophistication. The introduction of the sporty N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements and performance features, making the Kona look more athletic. The N Line's interior featured exclusive black seats with red stitching and alloy sport pedals, while the Kona N boasted sport bucket seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel, enhancing its sporty appeal.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. This setup provided strong acceleration and a towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped. The Enclave's ride was smooth and composed, thanks to its premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, especially when equipped with the Avenir Technology Package. Fuel efficiency was rated at 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with a range of over 900 kilometres on a single tank.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a variety of powertrains, starting with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine producing 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The N Line trim featured a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine with 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, while the Kona N boasted a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine delivering 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque. The Kona N's performance was further enhanced by an N eight-speed wet DCT and exclusive driving features like N Grin Shift and launch control. The Kona's handling was agile and composed, with a low centre of gravity contributing to its surefootedness.

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, featuring Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included luxurious touches like heated and ventilated leather seats with massage functions and a heated steering wheel. The Enclave's cargo space was generous, with 668 litres behind the third row and up to 2,764 litres with the second-row seats folded down.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while compact, provided a comfortable front-seat experience with ample headroom and legroom. However, rear-seat space was limited, with small door openings and compromised head- and legroom. Cargo space was also tight, with 544 litres available with all seats up and 1,296 litres with the rear seats folded. The Kona's compact dimensions made it less suitable for carrying large loads or accommodating rear passengers comfortably.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, its technology offerings fell short compared to competitors, with limited screen size and audio quality. The Avenir trim included a rear camera mirror, providing a live video view of what's behind the vehicle.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona saw tech upgrades, with an 8-inch display standard on lower trims and a 10.25-inch touchscreen available on higher trims. The Kona N featured a Harman Kardon audio system, while wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base screen. Hyundai BlueLink offered connected services, and the infotainment system was user-friendly and intuitive.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were limited to higher trims, with standard blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert in Canada. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, available on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and automatic emergency braking. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but lacked advanced driver assistance technologies.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and rear occupant alert. Available technologies included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received five stars from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with a "Superior" rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash protection.