Buick Enclave vs Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid

The 2026 Buick Enclave shared its underpinnings with other General Motors vehicles like the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, yet it carved out its own identity with elegant exterior lines and a welcoming cabin that aligned with Buick's entry-level luxury status. The Enclave's design featured a swooping hood and narrow accent lights, creating a streamlined appearance, while the oversized grille dominated the front. The Sport Touring trim showcased a glossy black grille, contrasting with the silvery metallic finish on other trims. From the side and rear, the Enclave's design was subtle, blending into traffic like a well-tailored grey suit, emphasizing quiet refinement over excitement.

Inside, the Enclave boasted a sophisticated horizontal dashboard with a modern curved digital display. The materials were of higher quality than the Traverse, with fewer hard plastics and more soft-touch surfaces. However, some driver ergonomics felt off, as the dashboard was mounted low, giving the impression of sitting too high. Despite this, the Enclave's cabin was as appealing as the Acura MDX and surpassed the Lexus TX. The top Avenir trim added premium leather upholstery and upgraded ambient lighting, offering a slight edge in the entry-level luxury class.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid was available in Canada exclusively with the Sport design, including the base SE, XSE, and the new GR Sport trim. The sixth-generation RAV4 maintained the same footprint as its predecessor, with the GR Sport's assertive grille and rear diffuser extending its length by nearly five centimetres. The RAV4 embraced a boxy, truck-like presence, with square front and rear ends, boxy wheel arches, and bulges over the fenders reminiscent of the Highlander models. Daytime running lights bracketed the corners, and an integrated rear roof spoiler extended over a vertical tailgate, while the taillights resembled vertical slash marks.

The Sport trims featured gloss black accents on the rocker panels, fenders, and bumpers, with the GR Sport showcasing racier elements like red brake calipers, 20-inch black alloy wheels, and a wide mesh grille. Inside, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid offered mild differentiation with accents like red stitching on the GR Sport's black upholstery. All trims came with a standard 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 10.5-inch or available 12.9-inch touchscreen. The centre console housed a mechanical gear shifter on lower grades, while the XSE's Technology Package or GR Sport featured a shift-by-wire setup. The GR Sport trim sat 1.5 centimetres lower than the SE and XSE grades, enhancing its handling and sportier appeal.

The 2026 Buick Enclave was powered by a 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, delivering 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, which was average for its class. However, the transmission response felt dull, and the engine emitted loud and raspy noises when pushed hard. The brakes were predictable and easy to modulate, providing a limo-like stop. The suspension prioritized ride quality over handling, smoothing out road bumps effectively. The top Avenir trim offered adaptive dampers for improved handling and comfort. The Enclave's cabin remained quiet at highway speeds, with only a hint of road noise. Despite its adequate power, the Enclave offered a respectable 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) of towing capacity with an optional trailering package.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid featured an updated 2.5-litre inline four-cylinder engine, producing 186 horsepower, up from 177 hp in the previous year. The PHEV benefited from a larger 22.7-kwh battery pack and more efficient silicon carbide semiconductors, boosting its range to 80 kilometres. With a total power output of 324 hp, it was the most powerful RAV4 to date. The all-wheel-drive system included a large front motor rated at 203 hp and 201 lb-ft of torque, with a smaller rear motor for assistance and traction. In EV mode, the RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid excelled in quiet cruising around town, while Auto mode delivered a 0-100 km/h time in the low five seconds. The transition of power was seamless, and paddle shifters allowed drivers to override the CVT. The RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid maintained its comfort while offering spirited performance, with a strengthened chassis for improved rigidity. The GR Sport trim, with its lower ride height and enhanced suspension, provided more pronounced handling attributes.

The 2026 Buick Enclave offered second-row captain's chairs as standard, limiting passenger capacity to seven. The captain's chairs provided a permanent central pathway to the third row, enhancing accessibility. Taller passengers enjoyed ample headroom and legroom in the middle row, with raised seat cushions offering an expansive forward view. Tri-zone automatic climate control and dual USB-C charge ports were standard. The third-row seats accommodated adult-sized passengers, though the seat cushions were lower, reducing thigh support. The Enclave boasted a cargo capacity of 648 litres behind the third row, expandable to 1,617 litres with power-folding third-row seatbacks. The second row could be stowed from the cargo area, creating a maximum cargo space of 2,761 litres. The front seats provided ample storage, with a wireless charging pad and larger cupholders.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid's base SE trim came equipped with power-adjustable and heated front seats, five USB ports, and push-button start. The front seats offered adequate bolstering and thigh support, with SofTex synthetic leather upholstery on all but the base SE. Ventilated seats were standard on the GR Sport and XSE trims. The RAV4 maintained its dimensions from the previous generation, optimizing interior space with clever storage features. The centre console storage could be flipped up from either side, and deep door pockets accommodated large water bottles. The RAV4 seated four passengers comfortably, with 960 millimetres of rear legroom. The cargo area offered 951 litres of space, expandable to 1,798 litres with the rear seats folded down. The flat cargo floor and temporary spare tire added to its practicality.

The 2026 Buick Enclave featured a 30-inch curved digital display housing both the instrument panel and infotainment touchscreen. It ran on a Google Built-in operating system with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Other standard features included a wireless charging pad, a subscription-based Wi-Fi hotspot, and a 12-speaker Bose audio system. The infotainment system received high marks for its sharp graphics and quick response times. Physical buttons for climate controls allowed for less distracting adjustments. The Power package added a large head-up display, reducing the need to glance at screens. Voice commands performed audio, phone, and navigation functions with natural speech patterns. The standard Bose audio system offered decent clarity, with the top Avenir trim featuring a 16-speaker system.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid boasted a new 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and an enhanced 10.5-inch touchscreen system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with a larger 12.9-inch touchscreen on top trims. The touchscreen featured customizable tiles and a quick menu for commonly used settings. The cluster graphics and user interface were improved, with options to customize the displayed information. Toyota's new operating system, Arene, enhanced responsiveness and loading times. The subscription-based Voice Assistant responded to a range of prompts, including adjusting cabin temperature and locating chargers. The touchscreen's bolt icon provided data for the plug-in hybrid system, such as charging schedules and a range map.

The 2026 Buick Enclave received the top score of "Good" in all crashworthiness evaluations from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and was named a Top Safety Pick+ for 2025. Standard safety features included forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, lane keep assist, reverse automatic braking, and a surround-view camera system. The optional Power package added a digital rearview mirror and a head-up display. GM's Super Cruise, available as an option, allowed for hands-free automated highway driving on select roads, reducing driver fatigue on long trips.

The 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 4.0, offering a comprehensive suite of driver assistance features. The system included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, updated lane departure alert and lane keep assist systems, adaptive cruise control, blind spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert, automatic emergency braking, a safe exit alert, and an enhanced rearview camera. All but the base SE had a surround-view camera system. The enhancements aimed to improve the RAV4's safety record, with crash-testing results pending from the IIHS and NHTSA.