2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E attempted to bridge the gap between the traditional Mustang coupe and convertible with its exterior design. Despite having four doors and a rear hatch, it retained a Mustang-like appearance with its thin headlights, elongated hood, and large oval grille, albeit non-functional. The taillights mirrored the original Mustang's design, featuring sequential turn signals. The vibrant exterior colour palette, including the striking Grabber Blue, further reinforced the Mustang connection. Inside, the Mach-E was dominated by a massive infotainment touchscreen, which hung awkwardly in the middle of the dashboard. A thin rectangular display served as the instrument cluster, displaying speed as "ground speed," akin to other Mustang models. The minimalist interior, reminiscent of Tesla's electric cars, was accentuated by Ford's standard rotary gear selector on the centre console. While the interior materials were of decent quality, the lack of a leather-upholstery option might have disappointed some buyers, as even the top trims featured a synthetic material called ActiveX.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, showcased a more conservative approach to styling, with softer character lines and functional interiors, reflecting its traditionally older customer base. However, over the past 15 years, Buick had transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an SUV-focused one, aligning with market trends. The Enclave, a three-row crossover SUV, debuted in 2008 and was well-received by critics and consumers alike. A 2018 redesign moved it further upmarket, positioning it as the largest and most expensive model in Buick's lineup. The 2022 mid-cycle refresh brought several exterior styling enhancements, including a new grille, fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and a split sunroof, enhancing comfort and luxury.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was designed to live up to the Mustang name with its sporty performance. It came standard with rear-wheel drive (RWD) and offered a range of powertrain configurations. The base RWD Select model produced 266 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque, achieving zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 6.1 seconds. The most powerful option was the all-wheel-drive (AWD) GT Performance Edition, boasting 480 horsepower and 634 lb-ft of torque, with a zero to 100 km/h time of 3.7 seconds. Our test car featured a lower-level AWD powertrain, delivering 346 horsepower, 428 lb-ft of torque, and a zero to 100 km/h time of 5.1 seconds. The Mach-E handled corners well, with responsive steering and a planted feel due to its low-mounted battery pack. However, the taut suspension and 19-inch wheels resulted in poor ride quality. Ford offered three drive modes—Engage, Whisper, and Unbridled—along with the option for one-pedal driving and fake propulsion sounds in Unbridled mode.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave kept it simple with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. In Canada, all trims came standard with AWD, and the Enclave had a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. Known for its quiet and smooth ride, the Enclave delivered a premium driving experience, enhanced by the optional Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. The Enclave handled various terrains with ease, offering a serene cabin environment thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, with good off-the-line acceleration and a smooth-shifting transmission. The engine produced pleasant sounds at wide-open throttle, adding a touch of personality to the driving experience.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E, marketed as an SUV, had packaging more akin to a station wagon or hatchback. Its low driving position and roofline didn't create a spacious feel, even with a panoramic glass roof. Compared to the Tesla Model Y, the Mach-E offered less interior space, with the Model Y providing more headroom and legroom and a three-row configuration. The Mach-E had 1,690 litres of cargo space with the second row folded and 840 litres with it in place, along with a 133-litre front trunk. The interior featured a storage bin under a flip-up armrest and a large area beneath the touchscreen for smartphones, equipped with a wireless charging pad and USB ports for both rows.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, as a midsize crossover, offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due to its large windshield and windows. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat, six-way power front passenger seat, and tri-zone climate control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third row, which could comfortably seat six-footers. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, with a covered compartment for cupholders and easy access to USB ports and a wireless charging pad. The Enclave provided ample cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row, 1,634 litres with the third row folded, and 2,758 litres with both rows folded. Power-folding third-row seats added convenience.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E featured Ford's new Sync 4 infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and over-the-air software updates. The main infotainment touchscreen measured 15.5 inches, while the instrument cluster was 10.2 inches. A six-speaker audio system was standard, with Premium, GT, and First Edition models receiving a nine-speaker B&O by Bang & Olufsen sound system. The touchscreen's size was its standout feature, but its text-heavy design made it less user-friendly. The bottom of the screen replaced analog controls, with a large volume knob and touchscreen icons for climate controls.

The 2022 Buick Enclave's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot supported up to four devices. The interface was user-friendly, though some graphics appeared dated. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, while the Essence trim had a six-speaker system. The Enclave also came with a three-month SiriusXM 360L trial and six USB ports. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E was rated as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with top ratings for crash testing. Standard driver-assist features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Mach-E was set to receive Active Drive Assist, enabling automated acceleration, braking, and steering on designated highways, with a driver-facing camera for monitoring distraction. This feature was standard on higher trims and available as an option on the Select trim.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant safety updates for 2022, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, and more. Additional features on the Premium trim included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.