2021 Jeep Renegade vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave represented a significant comeback for the brand, which had struggled through the Malaise Era of automotive design and marketing. Once a symbol of American luxury, Buick had to reinvent itself to survive, especially after the 2009 General Motors bankruptcy. The Enclave, a large, American-made SUV, helped Buick reconnect with its past while catering to modern consumer preferences for SUVs. Available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, the Enclave ranged from just over $41,000 to nearly $55,000. It competed with both higher-priced mainstream three-row SUVs and lower-priced luxury models. The Enclave's design, especially in the Avenir trim, featured a unique grille, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, giving it a premium look. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist yet luxurious interior with soft leather, polished accents, and a somewhat fussy electronic transmission shifter.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade, introduced in 2015 and refreshed in 2019, continued to draw inspiration from the iconic Wrangler SUV. Its boxy profile, circular headlights, and seven-slat grille gave it a distinctive look. The Renegade offered a variety of trims and special editions, including Sport, Jeepster, Latitude, Upland, 80th Anniversary, Islander, Limited, and Trailhawk. The base Sport trim came with push-button start, dual-zone climate control, a USB port, and a 7-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like keyless entry, remote start, larger alloy wheels, and unique badging. The adventure-minded Upland trim included beefed-up skid plates and a unique front bumper, while the Trailhawk trim, priced similarly to the Limited, offered off-road capabilities with skid plates, tow hooks, a lifted suspension, and all-terrain tires.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and 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, providing strong acceleration. The Enclave's maximum tow rating was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed smoothly, and the Enclave's ride quality was enhanced by the Avenir Technology Package, which included a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and automatic emergency braking. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg in combined driving, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade offered two engine options: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 180 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine with 177 horsepower and 210 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in FWD or 4WD. While neither engine was particularly spirited, the turbocharged engine provided better performance due to its higher torque. The Renegade's ride quality was solid, with good handling and maneuverability, especially in tight spaces. The Trailhawk trim featured an off-road suspension, 8.7 inches of ground clearance, and a terrain management system with multiple drive modes, making it capable on trails.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering spacious and comfortable seating for six or seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and massage, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Enclave's third-row seat was roomy and easy to access, and the vehicle 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 Jeep Renegade provided 50.8 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 18.5 cubic feet with the rear seats in use. Its tall, boxy design offered ample headroom in both rows, and the front seats provided good legroom. The Renegade featured various storage solutions, including small cubbies and trays, and the front passenger seat could fold forward for added space.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with quick response times, voice recognition, and a user-friendly interface. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, 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 smaller than competitors', and it lacked integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The available rear camera mirror provided a live video view of what was behind the vehicle.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade came with a standard 7-inch touchscreen, with an optional 8.4-inch screen on mid-tier trims and standard on higher trims. Both screens ran the intuitive Uconnect infotainment system, featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A Kenwood premium audio system was available.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were somewhat limited, with advanced systems like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert only available on higher trims. 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 parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking were only available on the Avenir trim with the optional Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but only four stars for frontal-impact protection. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it high marks, but a Marginal headlight rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2021 Jeep Renegade made several safety features standard across the lineup, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-path detection. Adaptive cruise control, automatic high beams, and parking sensors were optional. Despite these features, the Renegade received only four out of five stars in crash tests from the NHTSA. Parallel parking assist was also available as an option.