2022 Lincoln Navigator 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, 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, upgraded materials, and available heated and cooled seats, enhancing its appeal. The Avenir trim offered additional luxury with climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs, making it a comfortable and visually appealing choice.

In contrast, the 2022 Lincoln Navigator underwent subtle styling changes, maintaining its luxurious appeal. The updates included new headlights, taillights, and wheel designs, with a restyled front end that drew mixed reviews due to its Audi-esque grille. Despite this, the Navigator's interior continued to impress with high-quality materials and a mid-century modern design. The introduction of Lincoln's Constellation instrumentation and infotainment display theme added a unique touch, enhancing the overall cabin experience. The new Sync 4 infotainment system, with a larger 13.2-inch touchscreen, improved the Navigator's technological edge, while the adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview ensured a smooth ride. The Navigator's interior comfort was further elevated with heated, ventilated, and massaging seats, making it a top choice for those seeking luxury and advanced technology.

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 (5,000 pounds) when properly equipped. The Enclave was renowned for its quiet and smooth ride, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The Avenir Technology package further enhanced the driving experience with a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, providing good off-the-line acceleration and a pleasant engine sound. While not designed for off-road adventures, the Enclave's AWD and 19 centimetres of ground clearance made it capable of handling light trails and wintry conditions.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, featured a twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, producing a robust 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. In Canada, the Navigator came standard with four-wheel drive, offering a towing capacity between 3,674 and 3,765 kilograms (8,100 and 8,300 pounds) with the maximum tow package. The Navigator's adaptive-damping suspension with Road Preview ensured a smooth ride, even on imperfect pavement. The new electronic brake booster improved brake pedal feel and response, addressing previous concerns. The Navigator excelled in snowy and muddy conditions, thanks to its 24.5 centimetres of ground clearance and appropriate driving modes. Fuel consumption was rated at 13.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with the test vehicle averaging 12.6 L/100 km.

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 and with power lumbar control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably in 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 restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, and the Enclave provided generous cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,758 litres with all seats folded.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator continued to impress with its exceptionally comfortable heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats, adjustable in 30 ways. The second-row captain's chairs offered similar comfort, with the added benefit of the updated Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system. The Navigator's third-row seat remained spacious and supportive, thanks to its independent rear suspension design. The Navigator excelled in storage and cargo space, with 546 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,925 litres with the second-row seats collapsed. The long-wheelbase Navigator L offered even more cargo capacity, making it ideal for larger families and their gear.

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 came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a superior 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system allowed pairing of 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. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced a new Sync 4 infotainment system with a 13.2-inch touchscreen display, offering improved functionality and ease of use. The system supported Bluetooth, Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay, with the ability to save up to 80 individual vehicle settings to a user profile. The voice recognition system was improved, though not perfect, and the Lincoln Play rear-seat entertainment system was enhanced with Amazon Fire TV, providing access to popular streaming services. The optional 28-speaker Revel 3D audio system delivered an exceptional listening experience, further elevating the Navigator's technological appeal.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package now standard on all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and more. Additional features on the Premium trim 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, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2022 Lincoln Navigator introduced new driver assistance systems, including Intersection Assist, Active Park Assist 2.0, and ActiveGlide. The surround-view camera system became standard, enhancing safety. ActiveGlide, Lincoln's semi-autonomous driving technology, allowed for hands-free driving on approved highways, though driver attention was still required. The system performed well within its operational limits, but drivers needed to remain vigilant. These advancements represented steps towards fully autonomous driving, emphasizing the importance of responsible driving.