2021 Buick Enclave vs 2020 Toyota Highlander

The 2020 Toyota Highlander had a design that was somewhat nondescript from the side, but it featured a few notable updates compared to its predecessor. The tailgate glass was slanted more, and the body panels had more pronounced creases around the fenders. Toyota's trapezoidal theme was evident in various elements, including the tailgate's license plate cutout, the rear bumper, headlights, grille, and lower front bumper. All trims except the base L had projector-beam LED headlights and fog lights, with the higher trims, Limited and Platinum, boasting prettier LED running lamps and new 20-inch wheels. The new paint colors, like the Blueprint on the Limited test car, were particularly attractive. The exterior might not have been exciting, but it wasn't bad either.

Inside, Toyota focused on quality fit and finish. Silver-painted accents highlighted the armrests, steering wheel, and gear selector, while an 8-inch touchscreen and polished black plastic climate controls floated above the multi-layered dash. The color palettes were pleasing, even on the L trim's fabric seats. The Limited trim featured a three-tone interior with brown, beige, and black elements. Padded surfaces and rich textures were prevalent, except for the middle portions of the door panels. The Highlander's interior quality was unmatched by competitors like the Ford Explorer or Honda Pilot, with only the Kia Telluride coming close. The leatherette had a perforated texture, and the Platinum trim featured diamond quilting on the seat backrests. While the exterior styling might not have been as inviting, the Highlander excelled where it mattered most.

The 2021 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, harkened back to Buick's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. After a period of decline, Buick found its footing by offering globally-sourced and rebadged GM vehicles. The Enclave, however, was a distinctly American-made SUV that connected Buick to its past while catering to modern consumer preferences for SUVs.

The Enclave was the largest of Buick's four SUVs, with the others being smaller models. It was available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, with prices ranging from just over $41,000 to just under $55,000. Competing with higher-priced three-row SUVs from mainstream brands and lower-priced luxury models, the Enclave had the looks to take on premium-priced SUVs. The Avenir trim added extra presence with a unique grille pattern, brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured organic forms, a minimalist approach to instrumentation and controls, and tasteful polished accents. The two-tone interior treatment included soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather, though the wood was not genuine. Simplicity ruled the interior, except for the fussy electronic transmission shifter, which was easy to get used to.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine, available in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). Unlike competitors with turbocharged four-cylinder engines, the Highlander's V6 delivered brisk acceleration without labor. The eight-speed automatic transmission made full use of the engine's 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque, though it required a heavy foot to initiate a kickdown. The steering was loose, requiring adjustments at highway speeds, and the soft suspension had too much rebound. Despite being on a brand-new chassis, the Highlander lacked the expected control and steering feel, resulting in a ride that bobbed and floated like an older Buick. However, the Highlander offered a wonderfully isolating experience, calming drivers on long road trips.

The Limited and Platinum trims included torque vectoring on the rear axle for AWD models, selectable driving modes, and two off-road modes. Fuel economy was impressive for a large vehicle, with the FWD model rated at 21 mpg city, 29 mpg highway, and 24 mpg combined. The AWD model achieved 20/27/23 mpg, while the hybrid version could reach up to 36 mpg combined. The auto stop-start feature was customizable, allowing drivers to extend the time by adjusting the climate control.

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 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,800 rpm. When properly equipped, the Enclave had a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds. Acceleration was strong, and the Enclave drove like a smaller SUV despite its size. The nine-speed automatic transmission never missed a shift, and the FWD model could momentarily spin the tires 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 proved its worth on various road surfaces, providing a comfortable and controlled ride. The steering assist effort levels and brake pedal response were well-tuned, though quicker steering response would have been appreciated. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg combined, and during testing, it averaged 21.2 mpg, allowing for a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander seated eight or seven with the second-row captain's chairs, standard on Limited and Platinum trims and optional on the XLE. The Platinum model exclusively featured captain's chairs, while the L and LE trims had bench seats. The second-row seats were versatile, with generous adjustments and easy access to the third row. The rear doors opened wide, making ingress and egress exceptional. The Highlander's ergonomics were appreciated, especially for those with weak knees.

Three-zone climate control was standard, with upper trims offering a 120-volt outlet, side window shades, and a heated second row. The Platinum trim included a large panoramic moonroof. Cargo space was generous, with 16 cubic feet behind the third row, 48 cubic feet behind the second, and 84 cubic feet with both rows folded. Six tie-down hooks helped secure items, and the hybrid model had a second 120-volt outlet in the cargo area.

The Highlander featured eight cupholders, four bottle holders, and two shelves integrated into the dash. The center shelf could fit large phones and had a pass-through for cables. However, the wireless charging pad blocked the cubby under the center armrest, requiring it to be moved to access the cubby. Controls were simple and legible, with analog buttons and dials surrounding the touchscreen. The infotainment interface was quick to respond but could use a software overhaul.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample room for six people (seven if needed). It was one of the most comfortable and quiet vehicles in its segment, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning effort, Active Noise Cancellation, and laminated windshield glass.

The Avenir trim featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with a basic massaging function and a 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat with matching massage. The seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The wood-and-leather, power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel included automatic heating.

The center console was stylish and padded for comfort, offering storage under the transmission shifter and in a bin beneath the center armrest. A cover hid the cupholders when not in use. Seven-passenger seating was standard, with second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat. A second-row bench seat was unavailable, and no version offered second-row side window sunshades. Triple-zone climate control was standard, and the Avenir trim included heated second-row captain's chairs.

The Enclave's size allowed for a genuinely useful third-row seat, comparable to the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. Entering and exiting through the large rear doors and between the captain's chairs was easy. The Enclave offered 23.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander featured an infotainment system that felt outdated. The maps lacked detail, there were no onboard apps, and the screen and 360-degree cameras were low-resolution. The 12.3-inch touchscreen, optional on the Limited and standard on the Platinum, couldn't fully display maps or adjust vehicle options. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration were standard. The Highlander was saved by a large 10-inch head-up display and a 7-inch display in the instrument cluster, both crisp and full of useful information. The semi-automated driving system was effective, and adaptive cruise control, road sign detection, and automatic high beams were standard. The optional JBL audio system had 11 speakers and was decent. SiriusXM, HD radio, WiFi, and four USB-A ports were standard, along with a one-year trial for Safety Connect and three years of traffic data for trims with factory navigation.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but needed improvement to compete in the premium SUV segment. The existing system responded quickly, had good voice recognition, and a simple, logical user interface with pleasing graphics. 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. Upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system.

However, the Enclave's technology fell short in screen size, smart home digital assistant integration, and high-end audio components. The Avenir's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the Enclave didn't offer Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant integration. The 10-speaker Bose sound system was underwhelming compared to competitors. Buick's free trial periods for connected services were short. A notable feature was the available rear camera mirror, which showed a live video view of what was behind the Enclave on the rearview mirror.

The 2020 Toyota Highlander came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keeping assist, adaptive cruise control, and automatic high beams. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, parking sensors, and rear emergency braking. A driver's knee airbag and a special cushion airbag for the front passenger were standard. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) had not yet rated the 2020 Highlander, but the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded it a 2020 Top Safety Pick for top ratings in all six crash tests, optional headlights, and emergency braking performance.

The 2021 Buick Enclave needed improvement in its safety systems. While the systems worked well, Buick restricted features that were standard on more basic vehicles to the most expensive Enclave trims. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on the Essence trim and above. 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 only available on the Avenir trim with the optional Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology.

In terms of crash protection, the Enclave performed well. The NHTSA gave it a five-star overall rating, though frontal-impact protection rated four stars due to a four-star front passenger rating. The IIHS gave high marks across the board, but a Marginal headlight performance rating prevented the Enclave from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.