2021 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to the brand's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. After a period of struggle, 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 and polished accents. The two-tone interior treatment, soft perforated leather, and embroidered seats imparted a sense of luxury, although the wood trim was not genuine. The electronic transmission shifter was initially fussy but became intuitive with use. Overall, the Enclave's interior was simple yet elegant, aligning with its premium positioning.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid arrived with a bold new design, featuring sharp, angular cues and a longer, wider stance. This dramatic transformation ensured that no shopper would mistake it for the previous model. The Tucson's exterior styling was a departure from its predecessor's bubbly design, opting for a more aggressive and futuristic look. The grille seamlessly integrated with the LED headlights, running lights, and turn signals, creating a striking visual effect.

Inside, the Tucson Hybrid offered a spacious and airy cabin with a dual-level cargo floor for added versatility. The base Blue trim included heated front seats, cloth upholstery, and an eight-way power driver seat, while the SEL Convenience trim added a 10.25-inch digital driver information display, wireless device charging, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Limited trim further enhanced the interior with a 64-color ambient lighting kit, heated steering wheel, and ventilated front seats. Despite its bulkier center console, the Tucson's interior remained open and unobstructed, thanks to its integrated infotainment display and hoodless driver information display.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offering a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The V6 engine generated 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave's ride and handling were impressive, thanks to the premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, which proved its worth on various road surfaces. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 21.2 mpg.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, on the other hand, featured a 1.6-liter turbo-four engine combined with an electric motor, delivering a total system output of 226 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. The Tucson Hybrid's AWD and six-speed automatic transmission provided responsive and direct steering, while the suspension effectively absorbed road imperfections. The EPA rated the Tucson Hybrid at 37 mpg city, 36 highway, and 37 combined, with the Blue trim achieving 38 mpg across the board. During testing, the Tucson Hybrid averaged 36.5 mpg. For those seeking even greater efficiency, the upcoming plug-in hybrid Tucson promised 80 MPGe and 33 miles of all-electric range.

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 a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with a basic massaging function, while the front passenger seat offered 10-way power adjustments. The seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather, and the wood-and-leather steering wheel included automatic heating. The Enclave's spacious interior included a stylish center console with ample storage and a cover for the cupholders. The third-row seat was genuinely useful, with 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind it, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded down, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, despite its larger footprint, did not appear overly large. It offered 38.8 cubic feet of cargo space in the trunk, expanding to 74.5 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down. The Tucson's dual-level cargo floor added versatility, while the front and rear legroom exceeded 41 inches each. The rear seats reclined for added comfort, and the interior featured multiple cupholders and bottle holders. The Limited trim's ambient lighting system added a touch of flair to the cabin.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, with quick response times, voice recognition, and a user-friendly interface. Standard features included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, connected services with 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 and high-end audio components. The rear camera mirror, which provided a live video feed of the rearview, was a notable feature.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid's tech was consistently good but occasionally frustrating. The 10.25-inch touchscreen in the Limited trim looked great with native software but only utilized about 8 inches for Android Auto or Apple CarPlay, which required a wired connection. The Blue and SEL Convenience trims offered wireless connectivity with their smaller 8-inch screens. The touch-capacitive buttons for the infotainment and HVAC controls were less user-friendly than physical buttons or knobs. However, the Tucson provided ample USB ports, a beautiful touchscreen display, and a Bose premium stereo in the test vehicle.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems worked well but were limited to higher trim levels. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available from the Essence trim upward, while 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 front and rear parking sensors, was standard on the Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was only available with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though its frontal-impact protection rated four stars. The IIHS awarded it high marks, but a Marginal headlight performance rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid came standard with a comprehensive suite of safety features, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, cyclist detection, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic alert, driver-attention monitor, lane-keeping assist, lane-following assist, safe-exit warning, and rear occupant alert. The Limited trim added a surround-view monitor, highway-driving assist with adaptive cruise control, navigation, blind-spot view monitor, and remote smart park assist. The IIHS awarded the Tucson a Top Safety Pick+ rating, while the NHTSA had yet to test it.