2021 Buick Enclave vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to the brand'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, the largest of Buick's four SUVs, stood out with its American-made build and premium looks, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist design with organic forms, polished accents, and luxurious leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The interior was simple, except for the electronic transmission shifter, which required some getting used to.

The 2021 Ford Edge maintained a consistent styling since its 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford look with the existing Edge body. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome, while the ST trim had a blacked-out grille, 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The interior, however, showed its age with a design that had been awkwardly updated over the years. The Titanium models offered leather upholstery, and the ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) options. The Enclave could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The V6's low torque peak provided strong acceleration, and the nine-speed automatic delivered smooth shifts. The Enclave's suspension, especially with the Avenir Technology Package, offered a premium-tuned ride with continuously variable damping, making it suitable for various driving conditions. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg in combined driving, and it achieved 21.2 mpg during testing.

The 2021 Ford Edge came with a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, generating 250 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It offered FWD as standard and AWD as an option. The Edge ST model featured a twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, producing 335 horsepower and 380 pound-feet of torque, with standard AWD and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Edge ST also had model-specific suspension tuning and an optional package with upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels. The Edge's towing capacities ranged from 3,958 pounds for the base FWD model to 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six to seven passengers. It featured Buick's QuietTuning technology, Active Noise Cancellation, and laminated windshield glass for a serene cabin. The Avenir trim included a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and massage, a 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, and heated and ventilated leather seats. The Enclave's third-row seat was spacious and accessible, and it offered 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2021 Ford Edge provided competitive interior space, with the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. It featured dual-zone automatic climate control and a foot-activated power liftgate on higher trims. The Edge offered 39.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The center console had a rotary shift knob to free up space, but the narrow console width limited its usefulness.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with quick response times, good voice recognition, and a user-friendly interface. It included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB ports in all three rows. Upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera. However, the 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the Bose sound system was not as impressive as competitors' offerings. The rear camera mirror was a notable feature, providing a live video feed of the rear view.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured the latest Sync 4 infotainment system with a 12-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The Edge ST models came with a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge also had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for the 2021 model year. Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts made it user-friendly.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were limited to higher trims. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available from the Essence trim, while the Driver Confidence Plus Package, including forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more, was standard on Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking were only available on the Avenir with the optional Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but had a four-star frontal-impact rating. The IIHS gave it high marks, but its Marginal headlight rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, with top ratings in all crash tests and a Superior rating for vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention. It received an Advanced rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention and Acceptable and Poor headlight ratings. The NHTSA gave the Edge a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests. The Edge's standard safety features included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, post-collision braking, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and Evasive Steering Assist were standard on all but the base SE trim.