2022 Jeep Wrangler vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's evolution from 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 shift towards a more SUV-centric lineup, reflecting broader market trends. The 2022 model, part of a mid-cycle refresh, featured several exterior enhancements, including a new grille and updated fascias, headlamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials, enhancing comfort with available heated and cooled seats. The Avenir trim further elevated the experience with standard climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler offered a rugged and adventurous aesthetic, appealing to those seeking a unique driving experience. Buyers had to choose between the classic two-door or the more practical four-door body style, with various engine options, including a turbocharged four-cylinder, gasoline V6, turbodiesel V6, gas V8, and a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The Wrangler's design was functional, with removable roof panels and doors, allowing for an open-air experience. The High Tide model, based on the Sport S trim, featured LED exterior lighting, a body-colour hardtop with a Sunrider Fliptop, and a Gorilla Glass windshield. The Wrangler's interior was basic, with durable cloth upholstery and plastic and rubber materials, emphasizing its off-road capabilities. Despite its simplicity, the Wrangler's design encouraged exploration and adventure, making it a favourite among off-road enthusiasts.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Enclave offered a smooth and responsive driving experience. In Canada, all trims came standard with all-wheel drive, providing a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) when properly equipped. The Enclave's ride quality was enhanced by the optional Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. This setup allowed the Enclave to handle various terrains with ease, offering a quiet and serene cabin experience thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler, on the other hand, featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with eTorque mild-hybrid electrification, producing 285 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque at 4,800 rpm. Equipped with an eight-speed automatic transmission and the optional Selec-Trac full-time 4WD system, the Wrangler was well-suited for challenging weather conditions. Despite its off-road prowess, the Wrangler's fuel consumption was relatively high, averaging 14.0 L/100 km over a week of testing. The Wrangler's driving experience was unique, characterized by its loud cabin, vague steering, and touchy brakes. However, these traits were part of the Wrangler's charm, offering an immersive and adventurous driving experience that appealed to off-road enthusiasts.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with easy ingress and egress thanks to its large windshield and window openings. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. The Enclave's cabin was roomy, accommodating six full-size adults comfortably across its three rows. The second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row, which offered ample headroom and legroom. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, enhancing accessibility to USB ports and the wireless phone charging pad. The Enclave also provided generous cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,758 litres with both rows folded.

In contrast, the 2022 Jeep Wrangler's interior was more utilitarian, with a focus on durability and functionality. Entry and exit were challenging, especially with a raised suspension, and the manual height adjuster required frequent readjustment. The Wrangler's seats were comfortable, with durable cloth upholstery and plastic and rubber materials dominating the interior. Visibility varied, with some areas offering excellent views while others were compromised. Rear-seat passengers faced similar entry challenges but enjoyed agreeable accommodations once seated. Storage options were limited, with netting on door panels and small compartments available. The Wrangler Unlimited offered 898 litres of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 2,050 litres with the rear seat folded.

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

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler, based on the Sport S trim, offered basic infotainment technology with a 7-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth connectivity, and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The optional Uconnect 8.4 infotainment system provided upgrades like satellite radio, connected services, and a navigation system, bundled with an Alpine premium audio system. Despite the basic setup, the Wrangler included remote engine starting, satellite radio, passive keyless entry, and single-zone automatic climate control with a new air filtration system. The Cold Weather Group added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel, extending the open-air driving season.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package becoming standard across all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features on the Premium trim included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests.

The 2022 Jeep Wrangler included both the Safety Group and the Advanced Safety Group, adding features like blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and automatic high-beam headlights. Despite these features, the Wrangler's crash-test ratings were less impressive. The NHTSA gave it a three-star rating for rollover resistance, while the IIHS rated it "Marginal" in several tests. The Wrangler's safety features were optional rather than standard, and its ratings suggested the need for extra caution when driving.