2021 Volvo XC40 vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Volvo XC40 presented a more traditional SUV styling compared to other small luxury crossovers, featuring a tall, flat roof and an upright rear hatch. It seamlessly integrated with the rest of the Volvo lineup, showcasing familial styling cues like the “Thor’s Hammer” LED headlights and a simple oval grille. Gasoline models offered a white contrasting roof for a retro touch. The XC40 Recharge distinguished itself with a blanked-off grille, subtle “Recharge” badging, and model-specific alloy wheels. It also featured a gloss black roof and mirror caps, a unique rear bumper, and an exclusive Sage Green Metallic colour. The interior was minimalist yet premium, with real metal trim and a combination of Nappa leather and Nubuck textile upholstery, creating a coherent and pleasing design.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, historically known for its conservative styling, underwent a transformation over the years, shifting from a sedan-heavy lineup to a focus on SUVs. The Enclave, a three-row crossover SUV, was a breath of fresh air when it debuted, replacing older models and helping Buick regain relevance. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with exterior enhancements, including a new grille, fascias, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console, upgraded materials, and available heated and cooled seats. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and a split sunroof, enhancing comfort and luxury.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered a three-tiered powertrain lineup, with the electric Recharge model at the top. The gasoline options included a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base T4 produced 187 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque, while the T5 delivered 248 hp and 258 lb-ft. The Recharge model shared its powertrain with the Polestar 2, featuring dual electric motors for all-wheel drive, generating a combined 402 hp and 486 lb-ft. It housed a 78-kilowatt-hour battery pack, with 75 kWh usable capacity, enabling a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in 4.9 seconds. The XC40 emphasized luxury and comfort, offering excellent ride quality and one-pedal driving capability. The Recharge model also had a towing capacity of 900 kilograms.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept it simple with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It produced 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, with all-wheel drive standard in Canada. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms. Known for its quiet and smooth ride, the Enclave featured a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping, providing a serene driving experience. The nine-speed automatic transmission was responsive, and the powertrain delivered surprising acceleration for a vehicle of its size. The Enclave's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology further enhanced cabin serenity.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 offered no difference in passenger or cargo space between the Recharge and gasoline models. However, it was not particularly spacious, with less legroom and headroom compared to competitors like the Tesla Model Y and Ford Mustang Mach-E. The cargo area was also smaller, and the frunk was limited in size. Despite this, Volvo incorporated clever storage solutions, such as a removable trash bin in the centre console and a bag hook in the glovebox door. The Harman Kardon audio system's speakers were moved to the dashboard, allowing for larger door bins. A wireless charging pad was optional, but second-row occupants lacked phone-charging options.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due to its large windshield and windows. It featured an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, 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 housed push-button transmission gears, and the Enclave offered 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.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge featured the Android Automotive OS infotainment system, offering Google apps like Google Assistant and Google Maps. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio, and Bluetooth connectivity. The system had a 9-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Recharge models also had OTA update capability, allowing for software updates without visiting a dealership. The Recharge lacked a start button, requiring only a key fob to shift out of park.

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 had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system 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 a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave also included a three-month SiriusXM 360L trial, six USB ports, and various driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

The 2021 Volvo XC40 Recharge received the highest “Top Safety Pick+” rating from the IIHS and a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA for gasoline models. It came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, automatic emergency braking, and more. The Recharge model featured Volvo’s latest sensor suite, scalable for future driver aids.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant updates to its safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. It included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.