2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 INFINITI QX80

The 2022 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's evolution from its conservative roots 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 in response to market trends. The 2022 model, part of a mid-cycle refresh, featured several exterior enhancements, including a new grille and updated fascias, headlamps, and taillamps. The Avenir trim stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheel design. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials, offering heated and cooled seats for added comfort. The Avenir trim further elevated the experience with climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs.

In contrast, the 2022 INFINITI QX80 shared its platform with the Nissan Armada, yet distinguished itself with unique front-end styling, including a prominent Infiniti grille. The QX80's design was both tasteful and upscale, with LED lighting and conservative chrome use enhancing its appearance. The interior, while echoing Nissan's design theme, featured upscale materials like quilted semi-aniline leather seats and tasteful wood trim. Despite its luxurious cabin, the QX80's style was beginning to show its age compared to newer competitors. The spacious interior offered a comfortable experience, but the premium SUV market's high standards meant the QX80's interior fell slightly short of expectations.

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 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. The Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, providing good acceleration despite its size and weight. The nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly, and the QuietTuning technology ensured a serene cabin environment.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80, on the other hand, was equipped with a robust 400-horsepower, 5.6-litre V8 engine, producing 413 lb-ft of torque. This engine, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, offered smooth and linear power delivery. The QX80's four-wheel drive system, based on the Nissan Patrol's off-road capabilities, provided ample ground clearance and a computer-controlled transfer case for various terrains. With a towing capacity of 3,855 kilograms, the QX80 was well-suited for hauling large trailers or boats. Despite its size, the QX80 managed to control body lean effectively, thanks to the Hydraulic Body Motion Control system.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. Standard features included 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 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 all seats folded.

In contrast, the 2022 INFINITI QX80 required a climb to enter, owing to its tall ride height and body-on-frame construction. The cabin offered a spacious and airy feel, with good front-seat head- and legroom. The QX80 could seat up to eight passengers, but the third row was cramped for adults. Cargo space was less impressive, with 470 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,694 litres with all seats folded. The power-operated liftgate and third-row seats were convenient but slow to operate.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with an 8-inch version on higher trims. The 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system included Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. The Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. 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, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2022 INFINITI QX80, while based on an older design, featured a new 12.3-inch Infiniti InTouch infotainment system with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The system included navigation, voice recognition, and Infiniti InTouch connected services. A Bose 17-speaker Performance Series sound system was standard, along with a wireless smartphone charger. The dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system was a nice touch, but the absence of HDMI adapters was a drawback. The QX80 lacked Infiniti's ProPilot Assist, a notable omission in the premium SUV segment.

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. Additional features on higher trims included 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 INFINITI QX80 offered standard safety features such as forward automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and forward-collision warning. Additional features included driver attention alert and front knee airbags. The QX80 received a three-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA, with the structurally similar 2021 model receiving four stars for overall crash protection. The IIHS had not rated the QX80 for safety.