2022 Chevrolet Traverse vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's evolution from conservative styling to a more modern SUV-focused lineup. Historically, Buick's designs were characterized by softer lines and functional interiors, appealing to an older demographic prioritizing comfort over cutting-edge design. However, the Enclave marked a shift, offering a refreshed exterior with a new grille, fascias, and lighting, alongside a restyled interior featuring upgraded materials and push-button gears. The Avenir trim, in particular, elevated the Enclave's appeal with unique styling elements and enhanced comfort features, making it a standout in Buick's SUV lineup.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse embraced its role as a practical family SUV, offering a design that balanced utility with style. The Traverse's restyle included new lighting, grille designs, and wheel options, with special editions adding blacked-out trim for a sportier look. The RS trim, with its dark grey wheels and blacked-out accents, was particularly appealing, showcasing a restrained yet modern aesthetic. Inside, the Traverse prioritized functionality with a straightforward layout, though it featured some hard plastic surfaces. Despite this, the Traverse's design was praised for its practicality and ease of use, making it a strong contender in its segment.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a singular powertrain option: a 3.6-litre V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This setup 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, contributing to its reputation for a quiet and comfortable ride. The Enclave's towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms, making it a versatile choice for families needing to haul additional gear.

Similarly, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse was equipped with a 3.6-litre V6 engine, also producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Traverse offered multiple driving modes, including Tow/Haul, Snow, and Off-Road, to adapt to different conditions. While the engine could be a bit noisy under acceleration, it was well-suited to the Traverse's size, providing adequate power for family trips. The Traverse's fuel economy was rated at 11.8 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with our test vehicle achieving 11.3 L/100 km. The Traverse's handling was predictable and stable, though it felt softer at higher speeds, particularly on uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in providing a spacious and comfortable interior, with easy ingress and egress and excellent visibility. Standard features included power-adjustable heated front seats and tri-zone climate control, with higher trims offering additional comforts like heated second-row seats. The Enclave's cabin was roomy, accommodating six adults comfortably, with versatile second-row captain's chairs for easy access to the third row. Cargo space was generous, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,758 litres with all seats folded, making it ideal for families needing ample storage.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse also offered a spacious interior, though the RS trim's captain's chairs limited seating to seven. The Traverse featured power-adjustable heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and triple-zone climate control. The second-row Smart Slide function and wide rear doors facilitated access to the third row, which, while not as comfortable as some rivals, was adequate for adults. The Traverse boasted abundant storage, including a hidden compartment behind the infotainment screen and another under the cargo floor. Cargo capacity was impressive, with 651 litres behind the third row and up to 2,781 litres with seats folded.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came equipped with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Higher trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though some users desired more power. The Enclave's infotainment system supported up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator and Teen Driver technology, with available options like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display enhancing the driving experience.

In comparison, the 2022 Chevrolet Traverse featured a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system on the LS model, with an 8-inch display on higher trims. The system supported Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The Traverse's voice recognition system was praised for its accuracy, and the available digital rearview mirror improved rear visibility. Safety features included Teen Driver technology, with higher trims offering adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera, enhancing the Traverse's appeal as a family-friendly SUV.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant strides in safety, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard across all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Premium trims added features like enhanced automatic emergency braking and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2022 Chevrolet Traverse also prioritized safety, with Chevy Safety Assist standard on all trims. This included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. Higher trims offered adaptive cruise control and a rear pedestrian alert system. The Traverse received "Good" ratings from the IIHS in most categories, though it scored "Acceptable" in the new side-impact test and "Poor" for its LED headlights and seatbelt reminders. NHTSA ratings were not available at the time of review.