2022 Volvo XC60 vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Volvo XC60 underwent subtle styling changes, enhancing its sporty appearance with new "air blades" on the front fascia and a redesigned rear bumper that concealed the tailpipes. The front grille was reworked to house sensors for driver-assist systems behind a heated Volvo logo, ensuring functionality in cold weather. Built on the Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform, the XC60 shared its foundation with other Volvo models like the XC90 and S90. Inside, the XC60 retained its clean design, featuring a new digital instrument cluster and a portrait-oriented touchscreen. While the interior was generally subdued, the B6 R-Design model added flair with aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats. The Inscription trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2022 Buick Enclave reflected Buick's shift from conservative styling to a more modern SUV-focused lineup. The Enclave, a three-row crossover, had been a significant player since its 2008 debut, with a 2018 redesign pushing it further upmarket. For 2022, the Enclave received a mid-cycle refresh with new exterior styling, including a redesigned grille, fascias, and lighting elements. The Avenir trim featured unique design elements 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 spacious interior and premium features made it a comfortable choice for families.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 options. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system, providing an additional 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 version also included an electric supercharger. The B5 delivered 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission and came with standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The XC60 B5 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds, and the B6 in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid offered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 5 seconds, while the Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.9 seconds.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain option: a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, with standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds). Known for its quiet and smooth ride, the Enclave excelled in providing a premium driving experience. The Avenir Technology package enhanced the ride with a premium suspension and real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, offering good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound. The nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly, contributing to the Enclave's overall driving comfort.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained its competitive interior space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom, tying with the Audi Q5 for the worst in its segment. Legroom was average for both rows. The mild-hybrid models offered 611 litres of cargo space with rear seats up and 1,410 litres with them folded. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly reduced cargo capacity, with 597 litres and 1,396 litres, respectively. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good visibility, aided by large exterior mirrors.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due to its large windshield and windows. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat, six-way power front passenger seat, and tri-zone climate control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third row. The restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears, and the Enclave provided generous cargo space: 668 litres behind the third row, 1,634 litres with the third row folded, and 2,758 litres with both rows down.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul, featuring a 9-inch touchscreen with Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. Android-specific features included Google Assistant voice control, Google Maps navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. The system supported over-the-air updates and promised full iPhone compatibility. The digital instrument cluster offered a "Calm" setting to minimize distractions.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with Premium and Avenir trims offering an 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system supported pairing up to 10 devices, with a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims included a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2021 model received a "Top Safety Pick+" from IIHS and a five-star overall rating from NHTSA. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross traffic alert. An optional driver assistance system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centring.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant updates to its safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. The NHTSA gave the Enclave a five-star overall safety rating, while the IIHS rated it "Good" in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.