2022 Buick Enclave vs 2021 Toyota RAV4

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 presented a rugged exterior reminiscent of a traditional SUV, with boxy fender flares, chiseled taillights, and a scowling front end that set it apart from previous generations and other compact crossovers. Despite its aggressive styling, the RAV4 was built on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA) platform, shared with other Toyota models like the Camry, which meant its mechanical underpinnings were more conventional. The RAV4 offered options like the Trail model with a retro Ice Edge roof and the TRD Off-Road package with matte black wheels and red interior accents, enhancing its adventurous appeal. Inside, the RAV4 featured rugged styling touches, such as large rubberized knobs and SofTex upholstery, though material quality did not significantly improve with higher trims.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more conservative design approach, with softer character lines and a focus on comfort and tradition. Over the years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to a full SUV range, reflecting market trends. The Enclave, a three-row crossover, received a mid-cycle refresh in 2022, featuring exterior enhancements like a new grille and wheel designs. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console, upgraded materials, and available heated and cooled seats. The Avenir trim offered additional luxury features, such as climate-controlled front seats and unique trim. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably across all three rows, with ample cargo space and power-folding third-row seats for added convenience.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 was powered by a 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine producing 203 horsepower and 184 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered standard front-wheel drive and optional all-wheel drive, with a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds for most models, except for the Trail and TRD Off-Road versions, which could tow up to 3,500 pounds. The engine achieved 40% thermal efficiency, a level typically found in racing engines, but the transmission's hesitancy and lack of steering feel detracted from the driving experience. The RAV4's off-road capabilities were enhanced in the Trail and TRD Off-Road models, featuring torque-vectoring all-wheel drive, increased ground clearance, and all-terrain tires.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all trims came standard with all-wheel drive, and the Enclave could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave provided a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its premium ride suspension and QuietTuning technology. The Avenir Technology package further enhanced the driving experience with continuously variable real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, and the nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly, offering a pleasant driving experience.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 offered a tall, upright roof, providing good headroom and visibility, though legroom was slightly lacking compared to competitors. The front seats were comfortable, but the rear seats had flat, hard cushions, making long trips less appealing. Cargo space was above average, with 1,059 litres behind the rear seats and 1,977 litres with them folded, though still behind the Honda CR-V. The RAV4 featured oversized knobs and steering-wheel controls, but storage space on the console was limited.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. It featured an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated, with power lumbar control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably across all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, and cargo space. Behind the third row, cargo space measured 668 litres, expanding to 1,634 litres with the third row folded and 2,758 litres with both rows down. The Enclave's centre console incorporated push-button transmission gears, offering easy access to USB ports and a wireless phone charging pad.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with most trims featuring a 7-inch touchscreen, while Trail and Limited models had an 8-inch screen. The RAV4 Prime offered a 9-inch screen. Up to five USB ports were available, and a JBL premium audio system and SiriusXM satellite radio were optional. The infotainment system was user-friendly but lacked standout features, and the gasoline RAV4 did not offer a head-up display.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with Premium and Avenir trims offering an 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, and the Enclave included six USB ports and a three-month SiriusXM 360L trial. Advanced features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display were available on higher trims.

The 2021 Toyota RAV4 received a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS, with top scores in crash tests and front-crash prevention tech. However, it missed the "Top Safety Pick+" rating due to mixed headlight scores. The NHTSA awarded the RAV4 a five-star overall rating, with four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. Standard safety features included Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, with forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, and more.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant updates to its safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. The NHTSA gave the Enclave a five-star overall safety rating, and the IIHS awarded it "Good" ratings in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.