2022 Subaru Ascent 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 known for its softer lines and functional interiors, Buick had shifted its focus entirely to SUVs, reflecting the broader market trend. The Enclave, with its 2022 mid-cycle refresh, showcased several exterior enhancements, including a new grille and updated fascias, headlamps, and taillamps. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique design elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave offered a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials, enhancing comfort with features like climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs.

In contrast, the 2022 Subaru Ascent embraced a sporty aesthetic with its new Onyx Edition trim, featuring blacked-out exterior trim and badges, black 20-inch aluminum wheels, and a unique grille design. The interior of the Onyx Edition was equipped with water-repellant StarTex synthetic leather in a grey two-tone scheme, complemented by metallic trim on the dashboard and door panels. While the blacked-out treatment gave the Ascent a sporty appearance, the StarTex material had a tendency to trap sweat, making ventilated seats a desirable feature. The Ascent's interior was designed for practicality, with a focus on comfort and functionality, especially in challenging weather conditions.

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 Enclave 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. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, providing good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning technology.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 260 horsepower and 277 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and all-wheel drive. The Ascent's fuel consumption was rated at 10.5 litres per 100 kilometres combined. The CVT offered eight programmed ratios and manual shift control, ensuring brisk acceleration and commendable passing power. Subaru's X-Mode off-road traction control system, hill descent control, and 22 centimetres of ground clearance provided the Ascent with superior off-roading capabilities. The Ascent's handling was nimble and responsive, although its lane-keeping and lane-centring assistance technologies could feel uncertain at times.

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 six full-size adults comfortably, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, and the Enclave provided generous cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row and up to 2,758 litres with both rows folded.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent could carry up to eight people, though the third row was best suited for children. The Ascent offered a comfortable driving position and was equipped for winter weather with features like heated front seats and a wiper de-icer. The second-row seats were easily accessible, and the available panoramic sunroof extended over them. The Ascent provided 458 litres of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 2,061 litres with both rows folded. The base model without the panoramic sunroof offered slightly more cargo space.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with an 8-inch version available on higher trims. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. 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. Safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology.

The 2022 Subaru Ascent's base trim came with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto connectivity. The Touring trim added an 8-inch display with Starlink connected services. While the system was user-friendly, its voice recognition technology needed improvement. The Onyx Edition used standard stereo speakers, with the Harman Kardon premium sound system available on higher trims. Additional technology features included a digital rearview mirror and a 180-degree-view front camera on the Premier trim.

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. 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 Subaru Ascent earned a "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and five-star crash-test ratings from the NHTSA, except for a four-star rating in rollover resistance. The Ascent featured Subaru's EyeSight driver-assist technology, which included adaptive cruise control and lane-centring technology. While effective, EyeSight's performance could be affected by direct sunlight, and its adaptive cruise control lacked refinement.