2021 Lincoln Navigator 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 known for its big, shiny, and impressive vehicles, Buick had to rebuild its reputation. The Enclave, the largest of Buick's four SUVs, played a crucial role in this revival. It was a stylish, American-made SUV that appealed to consumers' preferences for larger vehicles. The Enclave's design, especially in the Avenir trim, featured a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, giving it a premium look. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist design with organic forms, polished accents, and soft leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The electronic transmission shifter was a bit fussy, but users quickly adapted to it.

In contrast, the 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a luxurious SUV that stood out from its predecessors, which were essentially dressed-up Ford Expeditions. The Navigator shared some design elements with the Expedition but had a unique elegance and understatement. The exterior featured simple rectilinear shapes, a body-color grille, and 22-inch wheels. The interior was equally impressive, with seven color palettes, layered wood trim, a floating center console, and a minimalist digital instrument panel. The materials were high-quality, and the panel gaps were tight. The Navigator's Perfect Position seats offered 30 different adjustments, making them incredibly comfortable. The overall design and build quality of the Navigator made it feel worth its $92,000 MSRP.

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 produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration. The Enclave had a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly, and the FWD model allowed for easy tire spins before traction control intervened. The Avenir Technology Package, which included a premium-tuned suspension and automatic emergency braking, enhanced the driving experience. The suspension provided a smooth ride across various driving conditions, and the steering and brake response were satisfactory. The Enclave achieved an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, was powered by a twin-turbo 3.5-liter V6 engine, producing an impressive 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, made the Navigator feel surprisingly agile for its size. The 4WD system was smooth and responsive, and the Navigator had a towing capacity of 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models. However, the Navigator's fuel economy was less impressive, averaging in the teens, with an EPA-estimated 17 mpg combined. The adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, but the suspension felt less refined compared to competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The Navigator excelled in highway driving, offering a quiet and plush cabin, but its steering and brake feel were less precise.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six to seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seats with lumbar support and massage functions, while front passengers enjoyed 10-way power-adjustable seats with similar features. The seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The Enclave's center console provided convenient storage, and the third-row seat was genuinely useful, with easy access through the large rear doors. The Enclave offered 23.6 cubic feet of cargo 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 2021 Lincoln Navigator, with its boxy design, provided ample space for six adults. It was technically a seven-passenger SUV, but the third-row middle seat was best suited for children. The second-row captain's chairs were manually reclining and tilting, with an optional bench seat for a total of eight passengers. The Navigator offered 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 57 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103 cubic feet in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L provided even more cargo space. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, adding convenience. The Navigator Reserve trim featured heated second-row seats and a three-zone climate control system. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with various settings for lumbar support, thigh extensions, and massage functions.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system was responsive, with good voice recognition and a user-friendly interface. However, it lacked smart home digital assistant integration and high-end audio components. The Avenir trim's 10-speaker Bose sound system was decent but not exceptional. The Enclave also offered a rear camera mirror, providing a live video view of what was behind the vehicle.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator's 10-inch touchscreen felt small compared to newer competitors. While the software was intuitive and shared its interface with Ford vehicles, it lacked wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo was good but not outstanding. The Navigator offered 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, a smartwatch app, and the ability to use a smartphone as the vehicle's ignition key. The rear entertainment system included Roku media streaming and various connectivity options. The Navigator's technology was simple and user-friendly, but it lacked some of the advanced features found in competitors.

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 on the Essence trim and above. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and parking sensors, was standard on the Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was only available on the Avenir trim with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but had a four-star rating for frontal-impact protection.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, with five stars in every test except for rollover resistance. The IIHS had not rated the Navigator in its current generation. The Navigator offered standard automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Adaptive cruise control was optional, but the Navigator's self-steering and lane-tracking capabilities were not as advanced as some competitors. Inflatable rear seat belts for the second row were optional, providing additional safety for rear passengers.