2020 Chevrolet Equinox vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox Premier trim, equipped with a more powerful engine, all-wheel drive (AWD), a power panoramic sunroof, and a Confidence and Convenience II option package, had a price tag of $40,040, including the $1,195 destination charge. While this seemed steep, Chevrolet factored in expected rebates and incentives, such as a $4,500 discount at the time. The Equinox Premier boasted a clean design with 19-inch wheels, gray contrast cladding, roof rails, and extra chrome detailing, giving it a sophisticated look. Inside, the Jet Black and Brandy leather, panoramic glass sunroof, and polished metallic accents created an upscale appearance, though the presence of hard, shiny plastic detracted from the overall feel.

In contrast, the 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to Buick's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. The Enclave, the largest of Buick's four SUVs, offered a range of trims from Preferred to Avenir, with prices from just over $41,000 to nearly $55,000, including the $1,195 destination charge. The Avenir trim added a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, enhancing its premium look. Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured organic forms, a minimalist approach to instrumentation, and tasteful polished accents. Soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather seats added a sense of luxury, though the wood trim was not genuine. The Enclave's simplicity extended to its controls, except for the fussy electronic transmission shifter, which was easy to master.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered two engine options. The standard turbocharged 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine produced 170 horsepower at 5,600 rpm and 203 pound-feet of torque between 2,500 rpm and 4,500 rpm, paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission. This engine, available in both FWD and AWD, averaged 24.3 mpg in real-world driving, below the EPA's 28 mpg combined rating. For better performance and a maximum towing capacity of 3,500 pounds, the optional 2.0-liter turbo engine delivered 252 hp at 5,500 rpm and 260 lb-ft of torque between 2,500 and 4,500 rpm, with a 9-speed automatic transmission. This version averaged 22.1 mpg, slightly below the EPA's 24 mpg combined rating. Both versions had firm, connected ride qualities, though the Premier's 19-inch wheels provided a more athletic feel on winding roads.

The 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine across all trims, generating 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Enclave offered FWD and AWD options. The V6's low torque peak ensured strong acceleration, and the nine-speed automatic provided smooth shifts. The Enclave's maximum tow rating was 5,000 pounds. Our FWD test vehicle, priced at $57,090, included the Avenir Technology Package, which added a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and highway-speed automatic emergency braking. The suspension excelled in various driving conditions, offering a comfortable and controlled ride. The Enclave averaged 21.2 mpg, slightly above the EPA's 21 mpg combined rating, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered a comfortable interior with cloth or leather upholstery, power-adjustable seats, and heated and ventilated front seats. The sliding rear seat maximized passenger or cargo space, with generous legroom in the rearmost position. The Premier trim included rear air conditioning vents and USB ports. Cargo volume measured 29.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The cabin featured ample storage, including a large center console storage bin and various bins, trays, and cubbies.

The 2021 Buick Enclave, one of the largest SUVs in its class, provided a spacious and quiet cabin for six or seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massaging functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel. The center console offered storage under the transmission shifter and in a bin beneath the center armrest. The Enclave's third-row seat was roomy and accessible, with commendable space behind it measuring 23.6 cubic feet. Folding the third row down provided 58 cubic feet of space, and the maximum cargo capacity was 97.6 cubic feet.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox offered several infotainment systems with 7-inch or 8-inch touchscreen displays, Bluetooth pairing, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and Chevrolet Connected Access services. Upgrades included a high-definition display, cloud connectivity, improved voice recognition, HD Radio, satellite radio, navigation, and a Bose premium sound system. The Premier trim featured a high-definition 8-inch touchscreen and Bose sound system. The Equinox also offered wireless smartphone charging and a dual-screen rear-seat entertainment system.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with quick response times, good voice recognition, and a simple user interface. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB charging ports in all three rows. Upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system. However, the Enclave's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and it lacked smart home digital assistant integration and high-end audio components. The available rear camera mirror provided a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2020 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, a safe following distance monitor, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional safety features included a reversing camera, rear-seat reminder system, and Teen Driver technology. Upgrades included adaptive cruise control, lane change warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic warning, and a Safety Alert Seat. The Equinox earned top safety ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were more limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available only on higher trims. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and front and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was available only on the Avenir trim with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology. The Enclave received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, though its headlight performance was rated Marginal.