2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was built on a new platform, offering North American buyers a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front showcased Hyundai's new vehicle face, featuring a parametric grille that cleverly concealed LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. The headlights and daytime running lights formed a distinctive shape reminiscent of the Aztec Spirit Bird's wings. The Tucson's side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, with a silver D-pillar creating a floating roof effect. At the rear, the Tucson sported LED-illuminated toothy taillights, setting it apart from other compact SUVs. Depending on the trim level, the Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch alloy wheels, with high-end models featuring premium fascias, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. The interior was well-appointed, with standard stain- and odour-resistant cloth seats, sport combination seats in the N-Line, and leather-trimmed seats available from the Preferred Trend trim upward. The dashboard's horizontal lines and uncluttered design contributed to a sense of spaciousness.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, had undergone a transformation over the years, moving from a conservative design to a more modern and stylish approach. As part of a mid-cycle refresh, the Enclave received exterior styling enhancements, including a new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim level featured unique design elements, such as 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 offered climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and a split sunroof. The Enclave's interior was spacious, with comfortable seating for six adults, thanks to its second-row captain's chairs and roomy third row. The Enclave's cabin was designed for comfort and convenience, with features like tri-zone climate control and a user-friendly infotainment system.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson offered two powertrain options: a 2.5-litre direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a hybrid powertrain with a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine and an electric motor. The ICE engine produced 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain delivered 226 combined horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, making it more powerful and enjoyable to drive. The Tucson Hybrid was also more fuel-efficient, with a combined fuel consumption rating of 6.4 L/100 km. The Tucson's AWD system performed well in off-road testing, providing stability and control. The upcoming plug-in hybrid version promised even more power, with an estimated 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain option: a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, and all Enclave trims came standard with AWD. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave offered a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The Enclave's powertrain was responsive, providing good acceleration for a vehicle of its size. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly, and the engine produced pleasant sounds under wide-open throttle. While the Enclave wasn't designed for off-road adventures, its AWD system and ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with a well-appointed interior. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver's seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Heated front seats were standard, and ventilated front seats, heated rear seats, and memory settings for the driver's seat were available. The Tucson's new platform provided more space for passengers and cargo, with rear seats offering 90 millimetres more legroom than the RAV4. The Tucson's 1,095-litre cargo space was comparable to other compact SUVs, and its 60-40 split-folding rear bench seat added versatility.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, as a midsize crossover, offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and windows. The Enclave's interior was spacious, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for passengers in all three rows. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the third row provided comfortable seating for adults. The Enclave's restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, and the cabin offered plenty of storage space. Cargo room behind the third row measured 668 litres, expanding to 1,634 litres with the third row folded and 2,758 litres with both rows down. Power-folding third-row seats added convenience.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came equipped with an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, HD Radio, Bluetooth, and two USB ports. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen with navigation and a fully digital instrument cluster. The Tucson's touchpoints were responsive, but the lack of physical buttons made it challenging to operate while driving. Steering wheel controls and voice commands were essential for ease of use.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously. A built-in Wi-Fi hotspot supported up to four devices. The Enclave's audio system varied by trim, with a six-speaker system in the Essence and a 10-speaker Bose system in Premium and Avenir trims. The Enclave also offered a range of advanced features, including adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and a surround-view camera.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson featured the Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite, which included forward collision-avoidance assist, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, and rear occupant alert as standard. Additional safety features were available, such as blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera system. The Tucson had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package as standard, offering automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and more. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests.