2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's resurgence from its past struggles. Once a brand known for its grandeur, Buick had faced a decline during the Malaise Era, but the Enclave marked a return to form. It was the largest of Buick's SUV offerings, standing out with its impressive design and luxurious Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille, brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist yet upscale interior with soft leather and polished accents, although the wood trim was not genuine. Despite its size, the Enclave maintained simplicity in its design, with the exception of a somewhat complex electronic transmission shifter.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer exuded traditional SUV styling with its tall hood, broad shoulders, and upright profile. It shared its frame and body shell with the standard Wagoneer but distinguished itself with a black roof, unique grille, and model-specific fascia. The Grand Wagoneer featured a new body-on-frame architecture, independent suspension, and weight-saving materials like an aluminum hood and doors. Inside, it offered high-end materials and convenience features, including 24-way power front seats, Nappa leather upholstery, and American Walnut wood trim. The Grand Wagoneer also had a distinctive interior with seat controls on the doors and a "Grand Wagoneer" badge on the dashboard.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration and a towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave's ride was smooth, thanks to its premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, and it offered a comfortable driving experience across various terrains. Fuel efficiency was rated at 11.2 L/100 km in combined driving, with a range of over 900 kilometres on a single tank.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer, on the other hand, was powered by a 6.4-litre Hemi V8 engine, delivering 471 horsepower and 455 lb-ft of torque. This engine, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission, allowed the Grand Wagoneer to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in about six seconds. It featured a standard Quadra-Drive II 4WD system with a two-speed transfer case and electronic limited-slip differential, along with a height-adjustable Quadra-Lift air suspension system. The Grand Wagoneer offered impressive off-road capabilities, with a maximum ground clearance of 25.4 cm and the ability to ford up to 60 cm of water. However, its size and weight made it less agile on the road, and the steering was imprecise at higher speeds.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering spacious seating for six or seven passengers. It featured Buick's QuietTuning technology, Active Noise Cancellation, and laminated windshield glass for a serene cabin environment. The Avenir trim included 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The Enclave provided ample cargo space, 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 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered seating for seven with standard captain's chairs or eight with an optional bench seat. It provided more third-row headroom and second-row legroom than its competitors, although front-row space was more limited. The Grand Wagoneer boasted 775 litres of cargo space with all seats in place and 2,007 litres with the third row stowed. Its maximum towing capacity was 4,472 kilograms, slightly less than the standard Wagoneer due to its additional weight. The Grand Wagoneer also featured a standard sunroof, four-zone climate control, and large storage bins.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with quick response times, voice recognition, and a user-friendly interface. It included Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, the 8-inch touchscreen and 10-speaker Bose sound system were less impressive compared to competitors. The Enclave offered a rear camera mirror and a Teen Driver function but lacked advanced features like larger screens and high-end audio components.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer featured a comprehensive infotainment system with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, dual touchscreens, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a McIntosh audio system. It supported simultaneous Bluetooth pairing for two phones and had a 4G-LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The Grand Wagoneer also offered a second-row touchscreen, an optional rear-seat entertainment system, and a separate touchscreen for the front passenger. It used the Uconnect 5 system with an Android-based OS and OTA updates, although the screen response was occasionally slow.

The 2021 Buick Enclave offered standard safety features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert in Canada. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. However, advanced features like adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking were only available with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but had a four-star frontal-impact rating.

The 2022 Jeep Grand Wagoneer came with standard safety features such as a 360-degree camera system, automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Optional features included intersection collision assist, driver-attention monitor, night vision, and traffic-sign recognition. The Active Lane Management System combined adaptive cruise control with lane centring, and a hands-free version was planned for future release. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not yet available.