2020 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2021 Buick Enclave

When shopping for a new 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe, buyers had the choice between SE, SEL, and Limited trim levels. The versions with "2.0T" in their name featured a turbocharged engine for enhanced power and performance. All-wheel drive (AWD) was an optional feature, allowing the automatic transmission to transfer power from the front wheels to the rear wheels when necessary. The Santa Fe's design was bold and experimental, with a grille shape, stacked front lighting elements, and asymmetrical fender stampings that could be polarizing. Inside, the Santa Fe offered a dramatic dual-cowl dashboard design, diamond-textured speaker grilles, and high-contrast interior colors. However, the materials quality didn't quite match the high-style design, with glossy plastic and stiff leather upholstery. Despite this, the build quality was exceptional, and the controls operated with refinement.

The 2021 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, represented a return to Buick's roots of big, shiny, impressive vehicles. It was the largest of Buick's four SUVs, with a design that exuded premium appeal, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted organic forms, a minimalist approach to instrumentation, and tasteful polished accents. The seats were wrapped in soft, perforated leather, and the wood trim, though not real, added to the luxurious feel. The Enclave's simplicity extended to its controls, with the exception of a fussy electronic transmission shifter that users quickly adapted to.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe had a minimum curb weight of 3,591 pounds and a maximum of 3,946 pounds. Its standard 185-horsepower 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine was shared with the Kia Sorento but was not the preferred choice. The turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 235 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque between 1,450 rpm and 3,500 rpm, was the better option. This engine provided a significant boost in power and torque, making it more responsive, especially at higher altitudes. The eight-speed automatic transmission funneled power to the front wheels, with AWD as an option. The Santa Fe had a towing capacity of 3,500 pounds and an EPA-rated fuel economy of 23 mpg in combined driving, with the test model achieving 22.1 mpg. The Santa Fe offered a smooth ride, decent handling, and a quiet highway experience, especially in the Limited trim with laminated glass. It handled moderate off-roading with ease but lacked driver engagement.

The 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a choice between FWD and AWD. The V6 generated 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 lb-ft of torque at 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration. The Enclave drove like a smaller SUV despite its size, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly. The test vehicle, equipped with FWD, had a tendency to spin the tires momentarily before traction control intervened. The Avenir Technology Package, which included a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and automatic emergency braking, was highly recommended. The suspension provided a smooth and comfortable ride across various driving environments. The Enclave had an EPA-rated fuel economy of 21 mpg in combined driving, with the test model achieving 21.2 mpg. With a 21.7-gallon fuel tank, the Enclave could travel up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was a thoughtfully designed two-row SUV with creative storage spaces and stain-resistant fabric in cloth seat versions. The test vehicle featured eight-way power-adjustable, heated, and ventilated front seats, with additional lumbar support and an extending thigh support for the driver. The dual-zone automatic climate control system included a Clean Air ionizer, and the air conditioning was effective even with the panoramic glass sunroof. The back seat was comfortable for adults, with air conditioning vents, rear side-window sunshades, and heated bottom cushions in the Limited trim. However, the Santa Fe's cargo space was limited, with 35.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and a maximum of 71.3 cubic feet. The hands-free "smart" liftgate was a convenient feature, opening automatically when the key fob was in proximity.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six people (seven if needed). The Avenir trim featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and a basic massaging function, while the front passenger seat was 10-way power-adjustable with matching massage. The seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The center console was stylish and offered storage under the transmission shifter and in a bin beneath the center armrest. The Enclave had standard seven-passenger seating with second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat. The third-row seat was genuinely useful, with easy access through the large rear doors. The Enclave offered 23.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe's infotainment system was a standout feature, with a high-mounted touchscreen that was easy to see and use. It included stereo control knobs, main menu shortcut buttons, and a programmable button for custom functions. Every Santa Fe had Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The SEL trim added SiriusXM satellite radio and Blue Link connected services with three free years of service, including remote engine starting, automatic emergency assistance, and more. The Limited trim featured a larger 8-inch display, navigation, a surround-view camera, wireless smartphone charging, and a 12-speaker Infinity surround sound system. The head-up display provided valuable information, including blind-spot alerts. The voice recognition system was sophisticated and responsive.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. It responded quickly to inputs, had good voice recognition, and featured a simple and logical user interface. Every Enclave came with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB charging ports in all three rows. The Teen Driver function provided a driving report card for parents. Upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system. However, the 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the Enclave lacked smart home digital assistant integration and high-end audio components. The rear camera mirror, which showed a live video view of what was behind the Enclave, was a neat feature.

The 2020 Hyundai Santa Fe was a safe family SUV, earning a five-star overall crash-test rating from the NHTSA and a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS. It came with a range of safety features, including adaptive cruise control, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. A driver monitoring system and rear-seat reminder system were also standard. The SEL trim added blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, and a safe exit assist system. The SEL Convenience Package included an ultrasonic occupant alert system that worked with the Blue Link app to alert the driver if a child or pet was left in the SUV. The Limited trim featured a Blind-Spot View Monitor, which displayed a live video feed of the blind spots in the instrument cluster.

The 2021 Buick Enclave needed improvement in its safety systems. While the features worked well, many were restricted to higher trim levels. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available from the Essence trim upwards. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and front and rear parking sensors. The Avenir Technology Package added adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking. However, the Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology. The NHTSA gave the Enclave a five-star overall rating, though frontal-impact protection rated four stars. The IIHS gave high marks, but a Marginal headlight performance rating prevented a Top Safety Pick accolade.