2022 Honda Odyssey vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was a minivan that catered to families with its practical design and thoughtful features. Its sliding side doors were a boon for parents, making it easier to load children into car seats, especially in tight parking spaces. The Odyssey offered a spacious and comfortable third-row seat, accommodating additional passengers like grandparents or carpool groups without hassle. Its cargo space was impressive, with the ability to fold down seats to rival the capacity of a Chevrolet Suburban. Despite the minivan's practicality, its image was a deterrent for some, though the Odyssey did offer a touch of style with its kinked sliding doors and dark grey 19-inch aluminum alloy wheels on the Touring trim. The interior was designed with quality materials and a classic open-concept layout, providing ample storage and easy access to controls.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more conservative yet upscale design, appealing to those who valued comfort and tradition. Over the years, Buick had shifted its focus from sedans to SUVs, aligning with market trends. The Enclave, a three-row crossover SUV, was a significant part of this transition, offering a luxurious experience with its mid-cycle refresh for 2022. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements, including a distinctive grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim provided climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs, enhancing comfort. The Enclave's spacious interior and thoughtful design made it a strong contender in the SUV market, appealing to those seeking a premium ride.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey was equipped with a 3.5-litre V6 engine, delivering 280 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. It featured a front-wheel-drive system paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission. Unlike some competitors, the Odyssey did not offer all-wheel drive or an electrified powertrain, resulting in a fuel consumption estimate of 10.6 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. Despite this, the Odyssey was enjoyable to drive, with responsive handling and quick acceleration. However, its brakes tended to heat up during downhill driving, leading to pedal vibration and noise. The Odyssey's driving character was generally pleasant, making it a reliable choice for families.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. It came standard with all-wheel drive in Canada, providing a maximum towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave offered a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. The nine-speed automatic transmission was responsive, and the Enclave's powertrain delivered impressive acceleration for its size. Buick's QuietTuning technology further enhanced the cabin's serenity, making it a comfortable and refined choice for long journeys.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey provided easy access with its wide-opening doors and lower ride height. Inside, the Odyssey Touring featured quality leather seats with power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. The minivan offered ample storage space, including shelving in the front door panels and a floor tray. The second-row Magic Slide seats allowed for versatile configurations, enhancing passenger safety and convenience. The third-row seat was comfortable for adults, and the Odyssey offered generous cargo space, with 929 litres behind the third row and up to 3,984 litres with seats removed.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility from its large windows. The Enclave's interior was spacious, accommodating six adults comfortably. The second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row, and the restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears. The Enclave offered ample cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row and up to 2,758 litres with seats folded. The power-folding third-row seats added convenience, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey Touring was equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering satellite radio, Bluetooth, and smartphone connectivity. The Touring trim included CabinWatch and CabinTalk technology, as well as a rear entertainment system with a 10.2-inch display. However, the Odyssey's infotainment features were considered outdated compared to rivals, with a small screen and limited voice command capabilities. The Odyssey's technology package needed a significant upgrade to remain competitive.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system allowed pairing of up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Enclave also offered advanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. The Enclave's technology package was user-friendly and well-equipped, providing a modern and connected experience.

The 2022 Honda Odyssey came standard with Honda Sensing, which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist. However, the system lacked refinement, occasionally issuing false warnings. The Odyssey received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick+ rating from the IIHS, highlighting its strong safety performance.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package as standard, offering a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-change alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests. The Enclave's safety features were effective and reliable, providing peace of mind for drivers.