2023 Lexus RX 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 broader market trends. The Enclave, with its 2022 refresh, featured a new grille, updated fascias, and distinctive headlamps and taillamps, particularly in the Avenir trim. 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 stood out with its unique seat stitching and climate-controlled front seats, offering a near-luxury experience.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus RX continued its legacy into a fifth generation with a design that was both familiar and fresh. Built in Canada, the RX was shorter in height but broader and longer in wheelbase, offering more cargo space than its predecessor. The exterior featured a well-integrated spindle-style grille, upswept body sides, and a light-blade taillight design, giving it a modern yet conservative look. Inside, the RX embraced a minimalist approach with fewer buttons, digital instrumentation, and a choice of touchscreen displays. The interior materials ranged from NuLuxe artificial leather to genuine leather, with options for real wood and aluminum trims, ensuring a sophisticated cabin environment.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft 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. 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 responsive, providing good acceleration and a surprisingly engaging engine sound.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 2.4-litre inline four-cylinder engine, producing 275 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, coupled with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX 350 AWD could accelerate to 100 km/h in approximately 7.3 seconds, with a combined fuel economy estimate of 9.9 L/100 km. The RX 350 Executive trim displayed occasional torque steer and body motion, while the F Sport 3 trim, with its adaptive suspension, offered a more composed ride. The turbo engine provided better performance at higher altitudes and improved fuel efficiency, though it lacked the smoothness of the previous V6.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat, tri-zone climate control, and second-row captain's chairs. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated six adults comfortably, with ample headroom and legroom across all three rows. Cargo space was generous, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,758 litres with all seats folded. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, though concerns about potential spills affecting the electronic shifter were noted.

The 2023 Lexus RX 350 provided a comfortable interior, with the F Sport 3 package offering sport seat bolsters for added support. The Executive trim featured semi-aniline leather upholstery, ten-way power-adjustable front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The RX's back seat was roomy, though taller passengers might find headroom limited. Cargo space improved over the previous generation, with 838 litres available with the second row in place, expanding to 1,308 litres with the seats folded. Storage areas were practical, though the overall cargo capacity was not as generous as some competitors.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with an 8-inch version available on higher trims. The infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot supporting up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator and Teen Driver technology, with adaptive cruise control and a head-up display available on higher trims.

The 2023 Lexus RX introduced the new Lexus Interface multimedia system, available with a 9.8-inch or 14-inch touchscreen. It supported wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and various connected services. The system included Drive Connect with Intelligent Assistant voice recognition, though some inaccuracies were noted. User profiles could be set up for different drivers, and streaming services like Apple Music were integrated. The 21-speaker Mark Levinson sound system was available, though it required tone adjustments for optimal performance. Digital instrumentation, Digital Latch door handles, and a colour head-up display were also offered.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came standard with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keep assist. Additional features like adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera were available on higher trims. 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 2023 Lexus RX was equipped with Lexus Safety System+ 3.0, featuring lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and blind spot monitoring. New features included motorcycle detection, evasive steering assistance, and intersection turn assistance. Semi-autonomous technologies like Proactive Driving Assist and Traffic Jam Assist were introduced, though some limitations were noted. The system's curve-speed reduction technology was criticized for its reactive nature, and the driver monitoring system could be obstructed by certain driving positions.