2021 Buick Enclave vs 2021 Toyota Highlander

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to a time when Buicks were big, shiny, and impressive. Having recovered from a challenging period known as the Malaise Era, Buick managed to stay afloat due to its popularity in China and emerged stronger post the 2009 General Motors bankruptcy. The Enclave, the largest of Buick's SUV offerings, successfully combined its American-made heritage with the consumer shift toward SUVs.

The Enclave was offered in four trims: Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir, priced between just over $41,000 and nearly $55,000. Competing with higher-priced mainstream three-row SUVs and entry-level luxury models, the Enclave possessed a styling that allowed it to hold its own. The Avenir trim particularly stood out, with a unique grille, polished 20-inch wheels, and plenty of extra brightwork.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir continued with an upscale theme featuring organic forms, minimalist controls, and tastefully polished accents. While the soft, perforated leather and two-tone interior added a sense of luxury, the wood trim fell short of being genuine. The electronic transmission shifter required a bit of getting used to but ultimately complemented the otherwise simplistic design ethos.

Conversely, the 2021 Toyota Highlander tried hard to avoid the stigma of being just another bland, three-row crossover. Its design elements, such as wide headlights, a long hood, and an assertive trapezoidal grille, were a departure from the usual. The pronounced character lines along the side and Lexus-inspired taillights lent the Highlander a sportier and more dynamic appearance.

The addition of the XSE trim meant more aggressive styling with a restyled front end and 20-inch black-accented wheels, making it seem sportier than it was. The Limited trim highlighted the Highlander's upscale intentions, especially with chrome roof rails and accents. Inside, it excelled at fit and finish. Soft tan leather seats complemented dark brown trim, and while the wood details weren't real, they added to the truck's overall aesthetic. The interior was squeak- and rattle-free with tight panel gaps, which enhanced the premium feel.

Under the hood, every 2021 Buick Enclave housed a 3.6-liter V6, pushing out 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the SUV offered both front-wheel and all-wheel drive options. The Enclave’s towing capacity capped a respectable 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

Acceleration was commendable, facilitated by the low torque peak, making the Enclave feel nimbler than its size suggested. The nine-speed automatic transmission reliably executed smooth shifts. With front-wheel drive, it was possible to momentarily spin the tires before the traction control smoothly intervened.

An optional Avenir Technology Package, priced at $57,090, was worth recommending for its superior premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and highway-capable automatic emergency braking. This robust suspension proved its mettle over various terrains during testing on a 140-mile loop.

Fuel efficiency stood at 21 mpg in combined driving, with a 21.2 mpg average over the testing loop. The Enclave’s large 21.7-gallon fuel tank provided an impressive range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Highlander came with a 3.5-liter V6 engine producing 295 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque. Its drivetrain configurations included both front-wheel and all-wheel drive, managed by an eight-speed automatic transmission.

While not a performance powerhouse, the Highlander's powertrain was steady and reliable, delivering enough power to confidently merge onto highways. Against competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride, the Highlander held its own in horsepower and torque figures, only falling short when compared to high-torque models like the Mazda CX-9.

The Highlander’s XSE trim added slightly sportier suspension tuning, including higher-rated springs, retuned shocks, and a rear stabilizer bar. This enhanced handling a bit but didn't drastically alter the Highlander's family-focused nature.

The Buick Enclave excelled in terms of space and comfort, being one of the largest vehicles in its segment. It offered roomy seating for six people, with the possibility of squeezing a seventh. Buick’s QuietTuning technology, active noise cancellation, and laminated windshield glass ensured an exceptionally serene cabin.

Highlighting comfort, the Avenir trim came with a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, both featuring heating, ventilation, and a massage function. The leather-wrapped, heated steering wheel added to the luxury feel.

Seating arrangements included standard second-row captain’s chairs and a three-person third-row bench, though a second-row bench wasn't available. Regardless, the Enclave’s large rear doors made accessing the relatively spacious third row hassle-free. Cargo space was impressive, boasting 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and maxing out at 97.6 cubic feet with all rear seats down.

Meanwhile, the 2021 Toyota Highlander focused on practicality with features designed for convenience. The front row had a series of shelves spacious enough for large smartphones, complete with a pass-through for charging cables leading to USB ports. Higher trims included a wireless charging pad within the center console.

Second-row passengers enjoyed substantial legroom, with seats that moved to adjust space between rows. The third-row seats could accommodate adults, provided the second-row passengers agreed to a slight compromise. However, rear-seat climate control vents were oddly positioned in the ceiling, which might not be ideal for passenger comfort.

Cargo capacity was less generous compared to the Enclave, with only 16 cubic feet behind the third row, increasing to 48.4 cubic feet with the third row folded. Flattening both the second and third rows expanded the space to 84.3 cubic feet, which was still quite practical but fell short of the Enclave’s capacity.

In terms of infotainment, the Buick Enclave met basic expectations but needed upgrades to truly compete in the premium segment. The Buick Infotainment System responded swiftly, featuring simple and logical user interface and reliable voice recognition. Standard features across the lineup included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB ports in all three rows.

However, the Avenir trim's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the SUV lacked smart home digital assistant integration and a high-end audio system. The 10-speaker Bose system didn't match the capabilities of competitors' offerings. A notable feature was the available rear camera mirror, providing a live video feed of what's behind the vehicle.

On the Toyota Highlander, lower trims came with an 8-inch touchscreen, while the Limited trim offered an optional 12.3-inch touchscreen, standard on the Platinum trim. Both interfaces were user-friendly, but navigation systems weren’t flawless, struggling with point-of-interest searches.

Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard across all trims, and the optional 12.3-inch screen added visual appeal despite its partial utilization for certain apps. The JBL audio system was acceptable but didn’t stand out in terms of premium audio performance.

The Buick Enclave required improvements in its safety features, as many were only available on higher trims. For example, basic features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert required upgrading to the Essence trim, and the comprehensive Driver Confidence Plus Package was standard only on Premium and Avenir trims.

This package included essentials such as forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and front and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking were available only on the Enclave Avenir with an additional tech package. Though crash ratings were generally high, with a five-star NHTSA rating and favorable IIHS scores, missing features like lane-centering and self-parking made the Enclave less competitive.

In contrast, the 2021 Toyota Highlander came loaded with advanced driver assistance systems courtesy of the updated Toyota Safety Sense 2.5+ suite. This included advanced features like automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection and intersection support, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-tracing assist, and automatic high beams.

It received top safety ratings, earning a five-star overall rating from NHTSA and the Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS, making it an excellent option for safety-conscious buyers.