2021 Nissan Murano vs 2021 Buick Enclave

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 stood out as the largest of Buick's four SUVs, offering a luxurious and spacious option for consumers. Available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, the Enclave's pricing ranged from just over $41,000 to nearly $55,000. The Avenir trim, in particular, added a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, enhancing its premium appeal. Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured 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 Nissan Murano had a design that was once ahead of its time but had since become more mainstream. Its L-shaped LED headlights and contoured front end were now standard fare in car design. The interior was conservative, focusing on comfort and ease of use, making it ideal for commutes and road trips. The Murano's trims included S, SV, SL, and Platinum, with the base S offering features like 18-inch alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, and an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added more luxury features, such as leather upholstery, heated seats, and a Bose premium stereo system. The Platinum trim topped the range with a dual-panel panoramic moonroof and premium leather seats.

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). This 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 flawlessly, and the FWD model allowed for momentary tire spin before traction control intervened. The Avenir Technology Package, priced at $57,090, included a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and highway-speed automatic emergency braking. The Enclave's suspension excelled in various driving conditions, offering a smooth and comfortable ride. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg in combined driving, and it achieved 21.2 mpg during testing, allowing for a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Nissan Murano, on the other hand, was equipped with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 260 horsepower and 240 pound-feet of torque. Power was delivered through a continuously variable transmission (CVT) with standard FWD and optional AWD. The V6 engine provided strong low-speed acceleration, making it ideal for city driving, but the CVT dulled its power at higher speeds. The Murano's ride was comfort-focused, offering refined driving characteristics and the ability to handle corners smoothly while absorbing road imperfections. However, its towing capacity was limited to 1,500 pounds, one of the lowest in its class.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six passengers (seven if needed). Its cabin was designed for comfort and quietness, featuring Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a heated wood-and-leather steering wheel. The center console provided ample storage, and the second-row captain's chairs and third-row bench seat offered comfortable seating. The Enclave's third-row seat was spacious, and access was easy through large rear doors. Cargo space was impressive, 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 the second row down.

The 2021 Nissan Murano offered up to 67 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 32.1 cubic feet with the seats in use. While other two-row SUVs provided more cargo space, the Murano compensated with ease of use. Its traditional shifter design and center console with trays and cubbies made it practical for everyday use. The Murano excelled in passenger comfort, offering ample headroom and legroom in both rows, with the second-row seats featuring partial reclining functionality.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. It featured 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 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the Enclave lacked integration with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The 10-speaker Bose sound system was also less impressive compared to competitors. One standout feature was the rear camera mirror, which provided a live video feed of the rear view.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came standard with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a user-friendly menu layout and physical buttons for easy navigation. It also included Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Available tech features included an 11-speaker Bose premium stereo system and navigation.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were somewhat limited, with many advanced systems restricted 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 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 IIHS gave it high marks, but its Marginal headlight performance prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2021 Nissan Murano came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features as part of Nissan Safety Shield 360. This included reverse automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high beams. Additional features like forward automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, and driver drowsiness monitoring were also standard. Optional features included a surround-view parking monitor, adaptive cruise control, traffic sign recognition, and front-and-rear parking sensors.