2022 INFINITI QX60 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. It was the largest of Buick's four SUV offerings, standing out with its impressive looks, especially in the Avenir trim, which featured a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist design with organic forms, polished accents, and luxurious leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The interior was simple and elegant, except for the somewhat fussy electronic transmission shifter.

In contrast, the 2022 INFINITI QX60 underwent a complete makeover, introducing a new exterior design, interior, powertrains, and technologies. The redesign brought a dramatic and attractive look, with a prominent grille, slim LED headlights, and oversized air intakes. The QX60's long hood and steeply-raked windshield conveyed elegance, while the blacked-out pillars created a floating roof effect. The top-of-the-line Autograph trim level featured a contrasting black roof and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the QX60 felt wide and open, with quilted leather upholstery on the seats and dash in the Autograph trim. The 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment display was well-placed, and the TFT instrument panel provided crisp graphics. The center console controls were intuitive and easy to master.

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 produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 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 premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, part of the Avenir Technology Package, delivered a smooth and comfortable ride. The Enclave achieved an EPA-rated fuel economy of 21 mpg in combined driving, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 featured a 3.5-liter V6 engine, naturally aspirated and direct-injected, producing 295 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. The new nine-speed automatic transmission replaced the previous CVT, providing a superior driving experience with clean and crisp shifts. The QX60's suspension, with MacPherson struts up front and an independent multilink setup in the rear, offered a smooth and serene ride. The QX60's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg city/26 mpg highway/23 mpg combined for FWD models and 20 mpg city/25 mpg highway/22 mpg combined for AWD models. The QX60 excelled on highways and suburban streets, providing comfort for passengers in all three rows.

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 seat with lumbar support and massage, while the front passenger seat had 10-way adjustments and massage. The seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. 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 provided 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 INFINITI QX60 offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with storage throughout the cabin and charging ports for all passengers. The center console featured a cubby for smartphones, cupholders, and covered storage. The second-row seats slid fore and aft to share space between the rows, with the Autograph trim offering captain’s chairs separated by a removable center console. The third-row seats were roomy and accessible, providing comfort for adults. The QX60 offered 14.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 41.6 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 75.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The QX60 also had a towing capacity of up to 6,000 pounds with the towing package.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, with quick response times, voice recognition, and a simple user interface. It 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 8-inch touchscreen display was the largest available, and the 10-speaker Bose sound system was not as impressive as those in other SUVs. The rear camera mirror was a neat feature, providing a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 came with a 12.3-inch InTouch Interactive display, wireless Apple CarPlay, and wired Android Auto. An AT&T WiFi hotspot could connect up to seven devices, and there were six USB charge points throughout the cabin. The navigation system, powered by TomTom, was standard in all but the base Pure trim. The QX60 also featured a simplified version of Amazon Alexa for voice commands. The Autograph trim included a 10.8-inch head-up display and a smart rearview mirror. The standard audio system had nine speakers, while the Sensory and Autograph trims came with a 17-speaker Bose Performance series sound system.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety features were somewhat limited, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available only on the Essence trim and above. 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, automatic high-beam headlights, 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 NHTSA, though its frontal-impact protection rated four stars.

The 2022 INFINITI QX60 came with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including front- and side-impact airbags, roof-mounted curtain side-impact airbags, knee airbags, and second-row side-impact airbags. Advanced driver assistance systems included forward emergency braking with pedestrian detection, predictive forward-collision warning, rear automatic braking, rear cross-traffic alert, rearview camera, rear sonar, and blind-spot warning. ProPilot Assist was standard on all trims except Pure. Optional features included blind-spot intervention, lane-departure warning, lane-departure prevention, around-view monitor camera system, front sonar, and driver attention alert.