2021 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Chevrolet Equinox

The 2021 Buick Enclave marked a significant recovery for the Buick brand, which had struggled during the Malaise Era of automotive design and marketing. The Enclave, a large, American-made SUV, helped Buick regain its footing by appealing to consumer preferences for SUVs. It was the largest of Buick's four SUV offerings, standing out with its impressive looks and premium features, especially in the Avenir trim. The Enclave's design included a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, giving it a luxurious appearance. Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured a minimalist design with organic forms, polished accents, and soft leather upholstery, although the wood trim was not genuine. The only downside was the fussy electronic transmission shifter, which required some getting used to.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received a styling update that included a new grille, LED headlights, and subtle changes to the rear fascia. The Equinox's design was more upright and chunkier, with large fake air intakes flanking the grille. Unlike some competitors, Chevy did not attempt to give the Equinox a rugged look, opting instead for a car-based crossover design. The interior featured a creative dashboard design with a touchscreen and large air vents at the center. The materials and fit and finish were decent for the price, with cloth seats standard and perforated leather upholstery available. The new RS model added black exterior trim, darkened 19-inch wheels, and a black interior with red stitching, giving it a bit more personality.

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 a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Enclave's V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and the nine-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth shifts. The Enclave's suspension, especially with the Avenir Technology Package, offered a premium-tuned ride with continuously variable damping, making it comfortable in various driving environments. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg in combined driving, and it had a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, on the other hand, was powered by a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 170 horsepower and 203 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to a six-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and AWD optional. While the Equinox had more torque than some rivals, it had less horsepower. The Equinox's engine provided good torque for city driving, but it felt coarse and unresponsive at higher speeds. The six-speed automatic transmission's shifts were also a bit rough. The Equinox was not designed for sporty handling, and it lacked the solidity and refinement of some competitors. However, it was decently comfortable on poorly maintained pavement.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six or seven passengers. The Enclave's cabin was designed for comfort and quietness, with features like Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massaging functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Enclave's third-row seat was genuinely useful, with easy access through the large rear doors and between the captain's chairs. 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 2022 Chevrolet Equinox offered seating for five across two rows, with decent headroom and good second-row legroom. However, some competitors offered more legroom for front seat occupants. The Equinox's tall seating position provided a good forward view, but the rear pillars and small rear window created some visibility issues. The climate control buttons and knobs were prominently placed below the touchscreen, making them easy to access. The Equinox offered 29.9 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 63.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was near the bottom of the segment. A power liftgate was available, but the Equinox lacked some of the cargo-area features found in competitors.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, with quick response times, good voice recognition, and a simple user 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 the largest available, and it lacked integration with smart home digital assistants. The 10-speaker Bose sound system was also not as impressive as those in some competitors. The Enclave did offer a rear camera mirror, which provided a live video view of what was behind the vehicle.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. Higher trim levels received an 8-inch touchscreen and a 4.2-inch instrument-cluster screen. Navigation and a Bose 7-speaker audio system were available. The Equinox's infotainment system was responsive and easy to use, with large, smartphone-like menu icons and good screen graphics. The addition of wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto was a significant advantage, as most competitors still required a wired connection. The Equinox also offered multiple USB ports and power outlets, although the center-console slot for a phone was too small.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems worked well, but many features were restricted to higher trim levels. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on the Essence trim and above, while the Driver Confidence Plus Package, which included forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and more, 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 optional Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave did not offer lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, or any Level 2 driving assistance technology. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, but a four-star rating for frontal-impact protection. The IIHS gave it high marks, but a Marginal headlight performance rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Chevrolet Equinox received top "Good" scores in most IIHS crash tests, but a "Marginal" rating in the updated side crash test. It received a "Superior" rating for front-crash prevention in vehicle-to-vehicle situations and an "Advanced" rating for vehicle-to-pedestrian scenarios. The Equinox also received an "Acceptable" score for LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use. The NHTSA gave the Equinox a five-star overall safety rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests, and four stars in rollover crash tests. Standard driver-assist features included automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keep assist, lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and more. Optional features included adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system.