2022 Nissan Armada 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, offering a touch of luxury. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials, enhancing the overall comfort and appeal. The Avenir trim further elevated the experience with standard climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs, making it a compelling choice for those seeking a premium feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Nissan Armada exuded a commanding presence with its substantial size and bold design. Originally introduced as the Pathfinder Armada, this SUV shared its platform with the Nissan Titan and Patrol, emphasizing its robust build. The Armada's exterior was adorned with sculptural details, standard LED lighting, and tasteful chrome accents, including sharp-looking vents on the front fenders. Its tailgate featured a large expanse of convex glass and prominent taillamps, contributing to its luxurious appearance. Available in five colours, the Armada's deep, rich paint and lustrous chrome were reminiscent of a luxury vehicle. In Canada, the Armada SL came standard with LED fog lights, roof rails, a power moonroof, and 20-inch alloy wheels, while the Platinum trim boasted 22-inch diamond-cut aluminum-alloy wheels, perfectly complementing its grand stature. The Armada's design was a testament to its ability to combine size with elegance, making it an attractive option for those seeking a spacious and stylish SUV.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a straightforward yet effective powertrain, featuring a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, providing a balanced performance for a vehicle of its size. In Canada, the Enclave came standard with all-wheel drive, enhancing its capability in various driving conditions. With a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms, the Enclave was well-suited for those needing to tow moderate loads. 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, ensuring a comfortable journey across different terrains. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, offering good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound, adding a touch of personality to the driving experience.

The 2022 Nissan Armada, on the other hand, was powered by a robust 5.6-litre V8 engine, producing an impressive 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque. This naturally aspirated engine, paired with a seven-speed automatic transmission, provided ample power for the Armada's substantial weight, which could exceed 2,700 kilograms. In Canada, the Armada came standard with four-wheel drive, enhancing its capability in various conditions. The Armada's fuel consumption ratings were 17.5 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 12.9 on the highway, and 15.4 combined, reflecting its size and power. Despite its heft, the Armada offered strong acceleration, easily merging onto highways and navigating city traffic. The SUV's four-wheel independent suspension, with double wishbone front and rear, provided a controlled and comfortable ride, even on rough roads. The Armada's towing capacity of up to 3,855 kilograms made it an excellent choice for those needing to tow heavy loads, further highlighting its versatility and strength.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in providing a spacious and comfortable interior, accommodating up to seven passengers with ease. The Enclave's design allowed for easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and windows. The standard eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control, ensured a comfortable ride for front-seat occupants. The Enclave's tri-zone climate control and rear-seat climate controls added to the comfort, while the Premium and Avenir trims offered additional features like four-way power lumbar and heated second-row seats. The Enclave's cabin was roomy, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room across all three rows. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated easy access to the third row, which could comfortably accommodate six-footers. The Enclave also offered impressive cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,634 litres with the third row folded, and a generous 2,758 litres with both rows down. The power-folding third-row seats added convenience, making the Enclave a practical choice for families and those needing ample storage.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was designed to transport seven to eight passengers in comfort and style, with its spacious interior and thoughtful features. The first row featured two comfortable bucket seats with 10-way power adjustment for the driver and six-way power adjustment for the front passenger, both with power lumbar adjustment. The second row offered a choice between a fold-flat 60/40-split bench seat or available captain's chairs with a removable centre console. The third-row 60/40 split bench seat was roomy enough for three passengers and could be equipped with power folding and reclining functions. The Armada's cabin boasted ample headroom and legroom across all three rows, ensuring a comfortable ride for all occupants. Dual-zone climate control and heated seats were standard, with ventilated seats and heated second-row outboard seats available on the Platinum grade. The Armada's interior was well-appointed, with quilted leather appointments in the Platinum trim adding a touch of luxury. The SUV's size also made it a capable cargo carrier, with 467 litres of space behind the third row, expanding to 1,413 litres with the third row folded, and a substantial 2,701 litres with the second row down. The Armada's power liftgate added convenience, making it a versatile choice for those needing to transport both passengers and cargo.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a range of technology features designed to enhance the driving experience. From the driver's seat, a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre provided essential information, while Premium and Avenir trims featured a larger, 8-inch reconfigurable version with additional capabilities. The Essence trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation, enhancing the system's functionality. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously, and a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot capable of handling up to four devices up to 50 feet away. The system's interface was user-friendly, though some graphics appeared dated. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, providing superior sound quality compared to the standard six-speaker system. The Enclave also included a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports, with two in each row. Additional features like adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision were available, enhancing the Enclave's appeal.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was equipped with NissanConnect technology, featuring a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system mounted in a horizontal orientation. This wide-screen format allowed for a customizable split-screen option, enabling drivers to display different information simultaneously. The Armada's standard tech features included a wireless device charging pad, NissanConnect telematics services with a six-month trial for Premium services, Wi-Fi hotspot functionality, navigation, hands-free text messaging, a rear-view monitor, and satellite radio capability. The Bose-branded audio system, standard in all Canadian models, featured 13 speakers, a subwoofer, and a digital amplifier, providing an immersive audio experience. The Armada also offered two USB-A and two USB-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto connectivity. Platinum models included a "Family Entertainment System" with dual 8-inch headrest monitors, wireless headphones, and HDMI input, catering to tech-savvy families. The Armada's comprehensive technology suite made it a compelling choice for those seeking a well-equipped and connected SUV.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant updates in its driver-assist and safety technology, 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 standard safety features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, a rear-seat reminder system, and an HD reversing camera. Premium trim added 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 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and "Good" ratings in most crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2022 Nissan Armada was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety features, addressing the responsibilities of driving a large SUV. The Nissan Safety Shield 360 included high beam assist, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear automatic braking, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional standard safety systems in Canada included adaptive cruise control with full speed range, intelligent forward collision warning, intelligent lane intervention, and rear-door alert. An available intelligent rear-view mirror provided a high-resolution camera view, supplementing the standard reflective mirror. The Armada featured dual-stage front supplemental airbags, front-seat-mounted side impact airbags, and roof-mounted curtain airbags for all three rows. A trailer brake controller and trailer sway control were standard in Canada. The Armada had not yet received safety ratings from the IIHS or NHTSA, but its extensive safety features made it a secure choice for families.