2023 Hyundai Santa Fe 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, over the past 15 years, Buick shifted its focus entirely to SUVs, reflecting broader market trends. The Enclave, a three-row crossover, was a significant part of this transformation, offering a refreshed exterior with a new grille, fascias, and lighting elements. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave featured upgraded materials, a restyled centre console, and climate-controlled seating options, enhancing its appeal as a near-luxury vehicle.

In contrast, the 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe maintained a more conservative exterior design compared to some of Hyundai's bolder models. The five-passenger SUV continued with the same styling as the previous year, with distinctive wide grilles and thin LED headlights. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim, tested in a striking Stormy Sea paint, offered a high-quality interior with Nappa leather seats and a dark, monotone appearance. The Santa Fe's cabin was equipped with heated and cooled front seats, and the second row also featured seat heaters. The overall design was functional and comfortable, with a focus on practicality and user-friendly features.

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, and the Enclave boasted a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped. 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 vehicle's acceleration was surprisingly responsive, and the nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly. Buick's QuietTuning technology further contributed to a serene cabin experience, rivaling more expensive luxury vehicles.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe offered two engine options: a naturally aspirated 2.5-litre engine with 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged version producing 281 horsepower and 311 pound-feet. The turbocharged engine, available in the Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims, was paired with an eight-speed "wet" dual-clutch automatic transmission. The Santa Fe featured a drive-mode selector with four modes, enhancing its versatility. The turbocharged model provided immediate acceleration and passing power, with no noticeable turbo lag. The ride was smooth, with minimal body lean during cornering, and the dual-clutch transmission operated without the typical low-speed clunkiness.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windows. The interior was spacious, accommodating six adults comfortably across three rows. The Enclave featured standard power-adjustable front seats, tri-zone climate control, and heated second-row seats in higher trims. The centre console was redesigned with push-button transmission gears, and the vehicle provided ample cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row and up to 2,758 litres with all seats folded. The power-folding third-row seats added convenience for accessing the cargo area.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe, with its two-row configuration, provided generous rear-seat legroom of 1,060 millimetres and competitive cargo space of 1,032 litres behind the second row. Folding the second row expanded the storage capacity to 2,041 litres. The Santa Fe's interior featured standard eight-way power driver's seat and heated front seats, with additional comfort and convenience features in higher trims. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a panoramic sunroof, head-up display, and Remote Smart Parking Assist. However, the wide centre console slightly reduced driver leg and hip space.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with an 8-inch version available in higher trims. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave supported pairing up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims offered a 10-speaker Bose audio system, and the vehicle included several standard and available safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and a head-up display.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe excelled in in-vehicle technology, with a standard 4.2-inch display in lower trims and a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster in higher trims. All trims featured a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation, wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and Bluetooth. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim included a 12-speaker Harman Kardon audio system and wireless device charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with customizable settings, though voice-recognition capabilities were mixed. The Santa Fe also offered advanced driver assistance systems, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant updates to its safety features, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. The Enclave earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Hyundai Santa Fe came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including forward-collision avoidance, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim added Highway Driving Assist. The Santa Fe received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and was named a "Top Safety Pick+" by the IIHS, with "Good" ratings in all crashworthiness tests.