2022 Ford Expedition vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave represented a significant comeback for the Buick brand, which had struggled through 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. Available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, the Enclave ranged in price from just over $41,000 to just under $55,000. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, giving it a premium look. Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured a minimalist design with organic forms, polished accents, and soft, perforated leather, although the wood trim was not genuine.

In contrast, the 2022 Ford Expedition underwent several updates, including exterior styling revisions and updated infotainment technology. The new grille, headlights, and bumper gave the front a fresh look, while the rear received revised taillights and a new bumper. The Expedition was available in XL STX, XLT, Limited, King Ranch, and Platinum trims, with prices ranging from just over $55,000 to just under $84,000. A new Timberline trim catered to off-road enthusiasts with features like standard 4WD, all-terrain tires, and suspension modifications. The Stealth Edition packages added black 22-inch wheels and a mix of blacked-out and body-color exterior trim, with the Stealth Performance Package offering red-painted brake calipers.

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 suitable for various driving environments. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 21.2 mpg.

The 2022 Ford Expedition, on the other hand, came with a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine. The standard version produced 380 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 470 pound-feet of torque at 2,250 rpm, while the high-output version offered 440 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque on 93-octane fuel. The V6 engine was paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, and the Expedition offered both rear-wheel drive and 4WD options. The Expedition's fuel economy ranged from 17 to 19 mpg in combined driving, and it could tow between 9,000 and 9,300 pounds. During testing, the Expedition averaged 16.2 mpg. The Expedition's sport-tuned suspension in the Stealth Edition provided improved handling but resulted in a sometimes harsh ride quality.

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 massaging functions, heated and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Enclave's second-row captain’s chairs and three-person third-row bench seat provided comfortable seating, with heated second-row seats in the Avenir trim. 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 both rear rows folded.

The 2022 Ford Expedition excelled in interior comfort, with power-adjustable, leather-wrapped, heated, and ventilated front seats, and a heated steering wheel. The second-row captain’s chairs offered plenty of legroom, and the third-row seat provided outstanding leg support and a power recline function. The Expedition offered 19.3 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 57.5 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 104.6 cubic feet with both rear rows folded. The Expedition Max variant provided even more cargo space, with 34.3 cubic feet behind the third row and a maximum of 121.5 cubic feet.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations with an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, it lacked advanced features like smart home digital assistant integration and high-end audio components. The Avenir trim offered a 10-speaker Bose sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system. The rear camera mirror was a neat feature, providing a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2022 Ford Expedition featured Ford's next-generation Sync 4 and Sync 4A infotainment systems. The standard Sync 4 system included a 12-inch touchscreen, while the optional Sync 4A system offered a larger 15.5-inch touchscreen. Both systems included wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, FordPass Connect with a Wi-Fi hotspot, and natural voice recognition. Higher trims added features like SiriusXM satellite radio, HD Radio, wireless smartphone charging, and Bang & Olufsen premium sound systems. The Sync 4A system also featured an adaptive dashcard user interface and personal profiles for multiple drivers. The Expedition's technology included Pro Trailer Backup Assist 2.0 and an upgraded rear-seat entertainment system with Amazon Fire TV.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were somewhat limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available only on higher trims. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and front and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was available only on the Avenir trim with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) but had a four-star rating for frontal-impact protection.

The 2022 Ford Expedition offered a comprehensive suite of safety features through its Ford Co-Pilot360 packages. The standard package included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and a driver monitoring system. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control, lane-centering assist, intersection assist, and evasive steering assist. The Co-Pilot Assist 2.0 package, standard on higher trims, included a surround-view camera system, rear automatic emergency braking, and Active Park Assist 2.0. The Expedition also offered Ford's BlueCruise hands-free driving technology on approved highways.