2025 Buick Enclave vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern aesthetic, reminiscent of the automaker's compact crossover, the Envista. Its front design featured slim DRLs, a large angular grille, and a high beltline, drawing comparisons to luxury models like Lamborghini. While the side profile appeared slightly more generic, the Enclave's overall look was sharper and more refined than its predecessor. The vehicle's design included fewer creases, a flatter roof, and subtly sharpened wheel arches. Standard 20-inch wheels adorned the base and Sport Touring trims, with the latter featuring unique High Gloss Black accents. The top-tier Avenir trim boasted 22-inch wheels with a special "Avenir Pearl Nickel" finish. Inside, the Enclave exuded a modern and premium feel, with a floating centre console and a large curved display that echoed the futuristic vibe of electric vehicles. The Sport Touring model's seats, trimmed in perforated leatherette with contrast piping, added a touch of luxury, while a panoramic power sunroof was standard on the Avenir and optional on lower trims.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S hardtop, with its black-on-black colour scheme, was less visually appealing in a tropical climate. However, once behind the wheel, with windows down and roof panels removed, the colour became less significant. The Wrangler's design, rooted in its World War II military heritage, emphasized function over form, with a focus on off-road capability. Despite its uninspired wheel design and all-season tires, the Wrangler remained a fundamentally appealing vehicle, known for its ability to traverse challenging terrains. The interior, though not sophisticated, featured a grey fabric dashboard trim, metallic accents, and a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The Wrangler's design prioritized practicality, with a focus on getting dirty and handling rugged conditions.

The 2025 Buick Enclave was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. The Enclave's fuel efficiency was rated at 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres in city driving, 9.9 on the highway, and 11.2 combined. It could tow up to 2,268 kilograms when properly equipped. The Enclave featured two versions of Active Noise Cancellation, standard in Canada, which effectively reduced road and engine noise. Despite its large size and loose steering at slower speeds, the Enclave's driving dynamics were not a primary concern for its target audience.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-litre V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The turbocharged engine was more fuel-efficient, with a rating of 11.0 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving. During testing, the Wrangler achieved an average fuel economy of 12.3 L/100 km. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it highly capable off-road. However, its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The ride was rough, with a steady stream of jiggles and jolts, and the steering felt disconnected at modest speeds.

The 2025 Buick Enclave offered eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger's seat. With captain's chairs in the second row, it accommodated up to seven passengers. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, while the Avenir trim added heated second-row seats and front-row ventilation. Tri-zone climate control allowed passengers to manage their own temperature. The Enclave featured power-folding second and third-row seats, with a standard AutoSense liftgate providing access to 648 litres of cargo space. Folding the third row expanded cargo volume to 1,617 litres, and with both rear rows folded, it reached 2,761 litres.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was comfortable, and the Convenience Group option added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Wrangler seated five, but four passengers were more comfortable. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Storage space was limited, with small items often ending up in cupholders. The Wrangler's cargo space was reasonable, with a square-shaped 897-litre cargo hold that expanded to 2,050 litres with the back seat folded. However, accessing the cargo area required opening the tailgate and lifting the hardtop's rear window.

The 2025 Buick Enclave showcased its premium positioning with a 30-inch ultrawide touchscreen that integrated the infotainment display and digital gauge cluster. While seamless most of the time, Apple CarPlay caused a noticeable interruption in the display. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with the Avenir trim featuring a 16-speaker Bose Performance system. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In for navigation and other apps. The Enclave also offered a Wi-Fi hotspot and wired charging with USB ports in each row.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler featured the Uconnect 5 infotainment system with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. An eight-speaker stereo was standard, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect provided access to adventure guides and GPS trail logs for off-road navigation. The touchscreen remained bright and easy to use, even with the roof panels removed. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display, passive entry, remote engine starting, and rear parking sensors.

The 2025 Buick Enclave prioritized safety with advanced driver-assistance tech, including blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with seven selectable camera views was standard, with an option to boost to nine. Adaptive cruise control was standard, while a head-up display was optional. The Enclave featured GM's Teen Driver technology and Super Cruise, GM's highway hands-free driving technology, available on all trims. The 2024 Enclave scored well in most IIHS tests but received an "Acceptable" rating for the updated side crash-test and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler included side curtain airbags for front and rear seats as standard. Advanced driver assistance systems were optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on most trims. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was standard on the Sahara trim. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were available, but our rental lacked these features. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler "Good" for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact test but "Marginal" for the small overlap frontal-impact test.