2022 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to the brand's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. After a period of decline, 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 interior. 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 organic forms, a minimalist approach to controls, and soft, perforated leather, though the wood accents were not genuine.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Seltos positioned itself between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, and a dual-clutch transmission. The Seltos' interior boasted a contrast-color dashboard, exposed stitching, and metallic accents, though it had an abundance of hard plastic. The controls were logically arranged, and the infotainment system, despite its odd purple theme, was intuitive. The Seltos offered a lively driving experience, especially in urban and suburban environments, with excellent outward visibility and easy parking.

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, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, offered a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Enclave's acceleration was strong, and it drove like a smaller SUV despite its size. The suspension, especially with the Avenir Technology Package, provided a smooth and comfortable ride across various driving conditions. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg in combined driving, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims had a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The Nightfall Edition and SX trims featured a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine producing 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT). The turbo engine provided a more engaging driving experience, though the DCT exhibited some quirks. The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The Seltos Nightfall Edition achieved 27 mpg in combined driving during testing.

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 front seats with massage functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Enclave's third-row seat was spacious and easy to access, and the cargo space was impressive, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy entry and exit. The Nightfall Edition had a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The rear seat provided ample legroom and footroom, though the seatback angle was slightly reclined. The Seltos offered decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf and plastic grocery sack hooks. Cargo space measured 26.6 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in screen size and smart home digital assistant integration. The Avenir trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a 10-speaker Bose sound system. However, the lack of Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant integration and short free trial periods for connected services were drawbacks. The rear camera mirror was a neat feature, providing a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which was standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims. This system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto required a cable connection. The infotainment system was intuitive, with physical buttons and knobs for primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was frustrating without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems were effective but limited to higher trim levels. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available from the Essence trim, while the Driver Confidence Plus Package, including forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, and lane-keeping assist, was standard on the Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control was only available with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and high marks from the IIHS, though its headlight performance was rated as Marginal.

The 2022 Kia Seltos came equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and lane-centering assist. The EX trim added blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS for the SX trim and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.