Buick Enclave vs Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid

The 2026 Buick Enclave, sharing its underpinnings with the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, presented a distinct personality with its graceful exterior lines and inviting cabin, aligning with Buick's entry-level luxury positioning. The Enclave's design featured a swooping hood and narrow accent lights, creating a streamlined look, while an oversized grille dominated the front fascia. The Sport Touring trim showcased a glossy black grille, contrasting with the silvery metallic finish on other trims. From the side and back, the Enclave's design was tidy and subtle, blending into traffic like a well-fitting grey suit. Inside, the Enclave boasted a classy horizontal dashboard with a modern curved digital display, offering a more refined materials quality compared to the Traverse. However, some driver ergonomics felt off due to the low dashboard placement, and the cabin's appeal was comparable to Acura's MDX, surpassing the Lexus TX. The top Avenir trim added premium leather upholstery and upgraded ambient lighting, enhancing its luxury appeal.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, available with a standard turbocharged gas engine, a hybrid powertrain, and a powerful Hybrid Max configuration, offered a range of options for Canadian buyers. The Platinum Hybrid Max trim, evaluated in Storm Cloud paint, featured a conservative design reminiscent of the RAV4, providing seating for up to eight and ample cargo space. The interior emphasized function over form, with a layer of luxury in the Platinum trim, though glossy hard plastic and unlined storage surfaces were present. The climate system was simple and user-friendly, but the infotainment interface had a tiny volume knob and lacked a tuning knob. The Hybrid Max powertrain, with 362 horsepower, delivered satisfying performance, though it came with a fuel economy trade-off. The Grand Highlander Hybrid Max offered a soft, isolating ride, with secure handling up to a modest point. Visibility was excellent, aided by available cameras, though the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2026 Buick Enclave was powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard all-wheel drive in Canada. It accelerated to 100 km/h in just over seven seconds, though it felt slower due to the dull transmission response and loud engine noises. The brakes were predictable and easy to modulate, while the suspension prioritized ride quality over handling. The top Avenir trim offered adaptive dampers for improved handling and comfort. The Enclave provided a quiet cabin at highway speeds and a respectable towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms with an optional trailering package.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid Max, with a turbocharged 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine and electronic full-time AWD, delivered 362 net horsepower. It accelerated quickly, aided by the traditional six-speed automatic transmission, avoiding the droning of CVTs. The Hybrid Max had a fuel economy rating of 8.8 L/100 km combined, with observed figures of 9.1 L/100 km on a city-highway route and 10.1 L/100 km on a mountainous loop. It offered a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Hybrid Max's acceleration was smooth, with electric motors negating turbo lag, and the ride quality was soft and isolating. Handling was secure, though the tires scrubbed and squealed early in curves. Visibility was excellent, though the front camera's frequent screen takeover was a minor annoyance.

The 2026 Buick Enclave featured second-row captain's chairs, limiting passenger capacity to seven but providing a central pathway to the third row. Taller passengers enjoyed ample space in the middle row, while the third row accommodated adults up to 5'10". Cargo capacity was generous, with 648 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,617 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,761 litres with the second row stowed. The Enclave offered ample storage for personal items, with a large centre console and door pockets.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid offered comfortable seating in all three rows, with a maximum cargo space of over 2,700 litres. The Platinum trim featured a Portobello interior with leather and artificial suede upholstery. Second-row captain's chairs with a removable centre console provided access to the third row. The third row was comfortable for adults and tall teens, with ample crush space. Cargo capacity was 586 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,640 litres with the third row folded, and a maximum of 2,761 litres with the second row stowed.

The 2026 Buick Enclave featured a 30-inch curved digital display with a Google Built-in operating system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a wireless charging pad, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system was praised for its sharp graphics and quick response times, with physical buttons for climate controls. The Power package added a head-up display and GM's Super Cruise for hands-free highway driving.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid, in XLE trim, featured a 7-inch digital driver display with analog gauges, while Limited and Platinum trims had a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel. All trims had a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM, and Toyota Connected Services. The system was easy to use, though the font was hard to see against the background. The Platinum trim included a head-up display, digital rear-view mirror, and JBL premium audio system.

The 2026 Buick Enclave received a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, with standard features including forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitor, lane departure warning, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Power package added a digital rearview mirror and GM's Super Cruise for hands-free highway driving.

The 2026 Toyota Grand Highlander Hybrid featured Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 with standard safety features and driver assistance technologies. It received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but fell short of the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating. The safety tech operated with accuracy, though the lane keep assist system occasionally strayed too close to lane markers.