2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a testament to luxury and elegance, shedding its past resemblance to the Ford Expedition. While it shared some structural elements with the Expedition, the Navigator stood out with its unique design and luxurious features. The exterior was marked by simple rectilinear shapes, a body-colour grille, and sweeping LED lights, all contributing to its understated elegance. The interior was equally impressive, offering seven colour palettes and a modern, minimalist design. The materials used were of high quality, and the Perfect Position seats provided unparalleled comfort with 30 different adjustments. Despite its size, the Navigator managed to maintain a sense of refinement and luxury that rivaled even more expensive competitors.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more conservative design approach, reflecting its brand's traditional values. However, over the years, Buick had shifted its focus to SUVs, and the Enclave was a prime example of this transition. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with updated exterior styling, including a new grille and wheel designs. Inside, the Enclave offered a restyled centre console and upgraded materials, with the Avenir trim level providing additional luxury features. The Enclave's interior was spacious, accommodating passengers comfortably across all three rows. While it didn't reach the luxury levels of some competitors, the Enclave offered a well-rounded package with a focus on comfort and practicality.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was powered by a formidable twin-turbo V6 engine, producing 450 horsepower and 510 lb-ft of torque. This engine, borrowed from the Ford Raptor, provided the Navigator with impressive acceleration and a thrilling sound. Paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive, the Navigator offered a responsive and smooth driving experience. Its towing capacity was a substantial 3,765 kilograms, making it a capable choice for those needing to haul heavy loads. However, its fuel efficiency was less impressive, with an average consumption of 13.8 litres per 100 kilometres. While the Navigator excelled in power and refinement, its suspension and steering fell short compared to some competitors, lacking the superior control and ride comfort found in vehicles like the Cadillac Escalade.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. This engine, combined with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided adequate power for the Enclave's size. The Enclave's all-wheel-drive system ensured stability and traction, while its towing capacity reached 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave was known for its quiet and smooth ride, thanks to its premium ride suspension and noise-cancellation technology. Despite its size, the Enclave offered surprisingly good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound. While it wasn't designed for off-road adventures, the Enclave's ground clearance and AWD system made it capable of handling light trails and wintry conditions.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered a spacious interior, capable of accommodating six adults comfortably. Its boxy shape contributed to its generous cargo space, with 546 litres behind the third row, 1,627 litres behind the second, and a total of 2,925 litres. The Navigator's second-row seats were heated and featured a three-zone climate control system. However, some features, like electrically reclining second-row seats, were absent. The front seats were exceptionally comfortable, with numerous adjustments and massage programs. Visibility was excellent, but parking could be challenging due to its size.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windows. The interior was spacious, offering ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for passengers in all three rows. The Enclave's second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the seats could be flipped and folded for added versatility. The centre console featured push-button transmission gears, and the Enclave offered generous 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. The power-folding third-row seats added convenience to accessing the cargo area.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which, while functional, felt outdated compared to newer systems. It offered Bluetooth and SiriusXM satellite radio but lacked wireless connectivity for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima audio system provided good sound quality, and the software interface was intuitive. However, the lack of onboard apps and wireless software updates was a drawback. The Navigator did offer wireless device charging and a rear entertainment system with Roku media streaming.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. The system allowed pairing of up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot for connectivity. The Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave also featured a range of standard safety technologies, including a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. The Avenir trim offered additional features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, with four stars for rollover resistance. It offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, and blind-spot monitoring. Optional features included inflatable rear seat belts for the second row, a rare safety feature aimed at reducing chest injuries.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package becoming standard on all trims. This package included features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most crash tests from the IIHS. The Premium trim added enhanced safety features like adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.