2022 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling to embrace a more modern and upscale aesthetic. This transformation was evident in the Enclave's exterior, which featured a refreshed grille, updated fascias, and new headlamp and taillamp designs. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave offered a refined cabin with upgraded materials, a restyled centre console, and available climate-controlled seats, enhancing both comfort and visual appeal. The Enclave's interior was spacious and well-appointed, with the Avenir trim providing a touch of luxury that, while not quite reaching Cadillac levels, was certainly a step above the norm.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer took inspiration from the Camaro, resulting in a sporty and aggressive design. The Blazer's exterior featured bold lines and a distinctive front fascia, with the RS trim adding unique styling elements like 20-inch wheels and a twin-clutch AWD system. Inside, the Blazer's cabin echoed the Camaro's design cues, with an 8-inch touchscreen and innovative climate control systems. However, the interior was marred by the use of hard plastics, particularly on the upper door panels. Despite this, the Blazer's colour scheme, especially in the RS trim with red accents, added a layer of sophistication. The Blazer's interior was functional, with ample storage and a sliding rear seat for added versatility, though it lacked the premium feel of the Enclave.

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. This powertrain provided a smooth and responsive driving experience, with the Enclave's AWD system ensuring stability across various terrains. The Enclave's ride quality was enhanced by the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping, making it one of the most comfortable medium-large crossovers on the market. Despite its size and weight, the Enclave offered surprisingly good acceleration, and its QuietTuning technology ensured a serene cabin environment.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered two engine options: a standard 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, and an available 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. The V6, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, was standard on higher trims and provided satisfying acceleration, though it was often loud and unrefined. The Blazer's RS trim featured a dual-clutch AWD system for improved traction. While the Blazer was sporty and firm in city and highway driving, it struggled on winding roads, with a suspension that felt unsettled and a transmission that was slow to downshift. The Blazer's fuel efficiency was slightly below expectations, averaging 11.5 L/100 km in testing.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in interior space and comfort, offering easy ingress and egress, excellent visibility, and a spacious cabin with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room across all three rows. The Enclave's second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row, which could comfortably accommodate six-footers. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, and the Enclave offered generous cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row and up to 2,758 litres with all seats folded. The power-folding third-row seats added convenience for accessing the cargo area.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's interior was functional and comfortable, with black leather upholstery and red accents lending a sporty appearance. The front seats offered power adjustment and heating, though they lacked thigh support. The Blazer's rear seat was spacious and could slide to adjust for more cargo or passenger space. Storage options were plentiful, with a large glove compartment, centre armrest bin, and door panel shelves. The Blazer's cargo area measured 864 litres with the rear seats up and 1,818 litres with them folded, though these figures were smaller than those of the Enclave. The power rear liftgate, available on higher trims, had inconsistent hands-free operation.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with an 8-inch version available on higher trims. The Essence trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, supporting Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot supporting up to four devices. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology, with additional features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display available on higher trims.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's technology offerings included a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The RS trim added navigation and a premium audio system. The Blazer's infotainment system was user-friendly, with physical controls for easy operation. Standard safety features included forward-collision alert, pedestrian detection, and lane-keep assist, with available upgrades like adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring. The Blazer's advanced driving aids worked well, providing smooth and responsive assistance in traffic.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came standard with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package, which included 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 Chevrolet Blazer featured the Chevy Safety Assist suite, with standard forward-collision alert, pedestrian detection, and lane-keep assist. Available safety upgrades included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control, and blind-spot monitoring. The Blazer's safety systems were effective and user-friendly, though its headlights did not earn high ratings from the IIHS, preventing it from receiving a "Top Safety Pick" designation.