2021 Dodge Durango vs 2021 Buick Enclave

Once upon a time, Buicks were revered for their grandeur and style. However, during the Malaise Era, the brand lost its way, severely impacting its popularity. Buick clawed its way back, largely due to its strong foothold in China, and by 2009 it stood as one of the four remaining General Motors brands post-bankruptcy. Buick revived itself by curating a lineup with globally sourced GM vehicles, like the Encore from South Korea and the Regal from Germany. Despite the diversified options, it was the American-made Enclave that connected Buick to its luxurious origins and met the modern consumer's demand for SUVs.

The Enclave was the largest SUV Buick offered in 2021, standing well above its siblings like the Encore, Encore GX, and Envision, which were more compact. The Enclave's look was polished and upscale, ready to compete with pricier three-row SUVs. The top-of-the-line Avenir trim boasted a distinctive grille, extra chrome, and 20-inch wheels with a polished finish, creating an aura of sophistication.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir continued the posh theme with an elegant, minimalist approach to its design. The interior featured a luxurious blend of soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather, though the wood accents were faux. The simplicity of design extended to the controls, marred only by a somewhat cumbersome electronic transmission shifter, which users adapted to quickly.

The 2021 Dodge Durango's exterior hadn’t changed much since its third generation launched in 2011, retaining its enduring muscular and athletic appearance. Built alongside the Jeep Grand Cherokee, it was remarkably different in design. Dodge's family resemblance shone through in the Durango’s design, similar to the Charger and Challenger. For 2021, the Durango SRT Hellcat model received noticeable styling upgrades like a cold-air scoop, dual exhausts, LED headlamps, and a sporty rear spoiler.

The Durango offered a range of wheel options, including six variations of 20-inch wheels and one 18-inch version, along with 11 exterior color choices and six interior color schemes, allowing for extensive customization.

The cabin introduced a revamped instrument panel for 2021, housing either an 8.4-inch or the more advanced 10.1-inch touchscreen with the new Uconnect 5 infotainment system. Moving through the trims, the Durango got progressively more luxurious, with cloth upholstery on lower trims and options for leather, suede, Nappa leather, and Laguna leather as one moved up the hierarchy. Contrast stitching and unique seatbelt colors enhanced its distinct style. Despite updates, the interior ambiance remained cohesive with the muscle-car lineage.

Under the hood, the Buick Enclave kept things straightforward. Every model came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in either front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD).

The V6 engine produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,800 rpm. This low torque peak was notable since typically only turbocharged or supercharged engines achieve such performance. The Enclave had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Acceleration was robust, partially due to the low torque peak. Despite its size, the Enclave handled like a smaller SUV, with great thrust and a seamless shifting nine-speed automatic transmission—an excellent performer overall. The FWD configuration made it easy to momentarily spin the tires before the traction control took over.

The Avenir Technology Package, a notable option, added a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and highway-speed automatic emergency braking. The suspension excelled during various driving conditions, from urban potholes to serene highway cruising. The steering and brake response were well-calibrated, though quicker steering would have been a welcome improvement.

Fuel efficiency was rated at 21 mpg in combined driving by the EPA, with an actual tested average of 21.2 mpg. With its 21.7-gallon fuel tank, the Enclave offered a commendable driving range of around 420 miles.

The 2021 Durango offered a range of four different engines, all mated to eight-speed automatic transmissions tailored to specific engine types. These included the 3.6-liter V6, 5.7-liter HEMI V8, 392 HEMI V8, and a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8, with rear-wheel drive (RWD) as standard and all-wheel drive (AWD) as an optional or mandatory feature depending on the model.

The V6, standard in the SXT, GT, and Citadel trims, produced 293 horsepower (single exhaust) or 295 horsepower (dual exhaust), along with 260 pound-feet of torque.

The R/T trim housed the 5.7-liter V8, generating 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, and could be opted for in the Citadel trim. The SRT 392 edition featured the 392 HEMI V8 cranking out 475 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. The apex of power was found in the Durango SRT Hellcat with its supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V8, creating an astounding 710 horsepower and 645 pound-feet of torque. Despite its power, the Hellcat managed remarkable city traffic comfort and smooth highway acceleration.

The Durango's handling was commendable, thanks to its well-tuned steering. However, its chassis sometimes betrayed its age, particularly in the suspension's reactionary nature over road bumps. The system's technology, though effective, seemed to battle the vehicle’s aged structure.

Braking performance was impressive, notably in the Hellcat, equipped with six-piston Brembo brakes. Towing capacity was another strength, with the R/T’s Tow N Go Package enabling stable towing of up to 8,700 pounds due to a 50/50 AWD torque distribution in 'Tow' mode.

The 2021 Buick Enclave distinguished itself as one of the largest SUVs in its class. With ample width and length, it provided roomy and comfortable seating for up to seven passengers, though four or six were ideal for optimal comfort. The Avenir trim went above and beyond with 12-way power-adjustable, massaging, and heated leather seats for the driver and 10-way for the passenger.

A sleek center console offered practical storage, while triple-zone climate control and heated second-row seats ensured passenger comfort. Accessing the spacious third row was facilitated by large rear doors and a walkthrough between the second-row captain’s chairs.

Cargo capacity was another highlight for the Enclave. With 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with all rear seats folded, it offered impressive space for various needs.

As a family vehicle, the 2021 Durango performed admirably. Offering comfortable seating configurations for five to seven passengers across three rows, it accommodated taller occupants well in the front and second rows. The third row, while optional, was surprisingly spacious compared to competitors, ensuring easier access and decent passenger comfort.

Dodge presented 21 different seating configurations, providing numerous comfort and style options. Storage space was functional and typical for its class, efficiently meeting everyday needs without any standout features.

The Durango had evolved significantly in quality compared to Dodge’s earlier models, like the Journey and Grand Caravan, earning accolades for its fit and finish.

Cargo Comparison:

• Buick Enclave: 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet.
• Dodge Durango: Standard cargo space was average for its class but efficient, accommodating routine family storage needs without additional flair.

Buick’s infotainment technology in the Enclave was serviceable but needed updates to match up to its premium aspirations. The Buick Infotainment System was responsive, user-friendly, and featured Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, 4G LTE WiFi, and USB ports across all three rows.

However, the 8-inch touchscreen felt undersized compared to competitors, and the Enclave lacked integration with digital assistants like Amazon Alexa. The 10-speaker Bose audio system, while adequate, didn’t measure up to the high-end systems in rival SUVs. Buick's subscription model for connected services also seemed unappealing with its short free trial periods.

A unique feature was the rear camera mirror, which provided a live video feed of the rear view, enhancing visibility when needed.

The 2021 Durango showcased significant technological improvements with the Uconnect 5 system. The 10.1-inch touchscreen in higher trims offered faster performance, personalized user profiles, dual Bluetooth connections, Amazon Alexa connectivity, TomTom navigation, SiriusXM with 360L, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and over-the-air updates via 4G LTE WiFi.

The system was user-friendly, visually appealing, and responsive. The Durango also provided a family entertainment system for selected trims, featuring a Blu-ray and DVD player with two 9-inch screens.

However, the analog speedometer’s half-circle shape made it difficult to gauge speed accurately, an issue the TomTom navigation system helped mitigate with its superior graphics and real-time recalibration ability. Notably, a head-up display (HUD) wasn’t available, which could have further enhanced the driving experience.

Safety was an area where Buick needed improvement. While the Enclave had essential safety features available, they were often restricted to higher trims. Features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert required upgrading to the Essence trim and above. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, and a Safety Alert Seat.

For further advanced safety tech like adaptive cruise control at highway speeds, one needed the top-tier Avenir trim with the optional Avenir Technology Package. The lack of lane-centering or self-parking features made the Enclave less competitive in safety tech.

In terms of crash protection, the Enclave scored well with a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and high marks from the IIHS, aside from a 'Marginal' rating for headlight performance.

The 2021 Durango trailed behind competitors in safety. It came standard only with a rearview camera, with other active safety features available as optional extras depending on the trim. These included adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, and front and rear parking sensors.

The NHTSA awarded the Durango a five-star side crash-test rating and a four-star rollover rating, with the front crash ratings pending due to the updated front design for 2021. Active safety features weren’t as frequently standard across the lineup compared to rivals, and the lack of available crash-test data from IIHS for 2021 further complicated assessments.