2022 Acura RDX vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's evolution from its traditionally conservative styling to a more modern and upscale design. Historically, Buick's designs were characterized by softer lines and functional interiors, catering to an older demographic focused on comfort. However, the Enclave marked a significant shift, reflecting Buick's strategic pivot towards SUVs, aligning with market trends. The 2022 model, particularly in the Avenir trim, showcased a refreshed exterior with a new grille, fascias, and wheel designs, while the interior boasted upgraded materials and a restyled centre console. The Avenir trim offered exclusive features like climate-controlled front seats and unique seat stitching, elevating the Enclave's appeal without quite reaching luxury levels akin to Cadillac.

In contrast, the 2022 Acura RDX presented subtle yet impactful styling changes inspired by its larger sibling, the MDX. The RDX's updates included a revised grille surround, bumper styling, and new wheel designs, with the PMC Edition standing out in exclusive Long Beach Blue Pearl paint. The RDX lineup, topped by the PMC Edition, offered a range of trims with starting prices from $45,800 to $61,500. Our test vehicle, the A-Spec Platinum Elite, justified its price with high-quality materials, solid build quality, and a quieter interior. Despite some polarizing design elements, the RDX maintained a stylish edge over many competitors, appealing to those seeking a blend of luxury and sportiness.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, all Enclave trims came standard with all-wheel drive, offering a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave was renowned for its quiet and smooth ride, enhanced by the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. This setup allowed the Enclave to handle various terrains with ease, providing a serene cabin experience thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, offering good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound.

The 2022 Acura RDX featured a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder VTEC engine, producing 272 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque. This engine, combined with a 10-speed automatic transmission and paddle shifters, offered an engaging driving experience. The RDX's Super Handling All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, standard in Canada, provided excellent torque-vectoring capabilities, enhancing cornering performance. The RDX's Integrated Dynamics System (IDS) offered distinct driving modes, with the adaptive-damping suspension providing a smoother ride in Comfort mode and increased responsiveness in Sport mode. The RDX's cabin was notably quieter than previous models, thanks to sound control enhancements, making it a compelling choice for those seeking dynamic driving and comfort.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due to its large windshield and windows. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated, with tri-zone climate control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably across 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 Enclave's cargo space was generous, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,758 litres with both rows folded. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, enhancing accessibility to USB ports and the wireless charging pad.

The 2022 Acura RDX, though a compact SUV, provided ample room for four adults and their luggage, complemented by a standard panoramic sunroof. The interior emphasized a sporty driving position, with a unique control layout that included the True Touchpad Interface (TTI) infotainment system. The RDX's front seats were comfortable and supportive, with available ventilation and a heated steering wheel. However, the rear seats lacked support, prioritizing a flat cargo load floor. The RDX offered 835 litres of cargo space, expandable to 1,668 litres with the rear seats folded, and featured a power liftgate with available hands-free operation.

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 infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system supported up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims boasted a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though it lacked power for back-seat passengers. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology, with notable available features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

The 2022 Acura RDX's TTI infotainment system paired a 10.2-inch display with a touchpad controller, offering a direct one-to-one relationship between touchpad and screen. While the system required acclimation, the RDX included Amazon Alexa Built-in, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a wireless charging pad. The RDX offered three premium sound systems, with the A-Spec Platinum Elite trim featuring a 16-speaker ELS Studio 3D surround-sound audio system. Additional features included satellite radio, AcuraLink connected services, and a navigation system, with a 10.5-inch head-up display available on higher trims.

The 2022 Buick Enclave's safety updates included the standard Buick Driver Confidence Plus package, featuring automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Premium trims added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. 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.

The 2022 Acura RDX received structural upgrades for improved side-impact safety, maintaining its Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS. New safety features included a rear seatbelt reminder and enhanced AcuraWatch systems, such as forward collision warning and blind-spot monitoring. The RDX's adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping assist systems were refined but not as sophisticated as some competitors. The RDX earned a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA, with four-star frontal-impact and rollover resistance ratings.