2022 Kia Sportage 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 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 tasteful polished accents. The two-tone interior treatment included soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The cabin was simple and elegant, except for the somewhat fussy electronic transmission shifter, which users quickly adapted to.

The 2022 Kia Sportage, on the other hand, had a mixed reception regarding its exterior design. While Kia's tiger-nose grille worked well on other models, it appeared less cohesive on the Sportage. Despite this, the SUV boasted several stylish elements, such as the four-dot running light signature reminiscent of the Porsche Macan and a symmetrical rear fascia. The SX Turbo trim, with its 19-inch wheels, gave the Sportage a planted stance and proper proportions.

Inside, the Sportage adopted Germanic design cues, featuring a black dashboard with polished metallic accents and plain white markings on a black background for instrumentation. The SX Turbo trim included metal pedal covers and offered a choice of black, gray, or beige interior colors. The cabin was user-friendly, with buttons and knobs for easy adjustments, and the transmission shifter provided a solid and fluid operation.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD) configurations. The V6 engine produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 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 seamlessly, and the FWD model allowed for momentary tire spin before traction control intervened.

Our $57,090 test vehicle included the Avenir Technology Package, which added a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and highway-speed automatic emergency braking. The suspension excelled in various driving conditions, from residential streets to highways, offering a smooth and comfortable ride. The Enclave's steering and brake response were satisfactory, though quicker steering response would have been appreciated. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg in combined driving, and our testing loop averaged 21.2 mpg, allowing for a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered two engine options. Most models came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 lb-ft of torque. The Sportage SX Turbo, however, featured a more powerful 2.0-liter turbocharged engine delivering 240 hp (237 hp with AWD) and 260 lb-ft of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, with the option of Kia's Dynamax all-wheel-drive system, which included a locking center differential for low-speed power distribution.

The SX Turbo's acceleration was quick, with maximum torque available from 1,450 to 3,500 rpm, providing a sudden surge of power. The Sport mode further enhanced the SUV's performance, making it eager to accelerate. The Sportage's suspension system, featuring a MacPherson strut front suspension and independent multi-link rear suspension, offered a smooth and compliant ride. The SX Turbo trim included upgraded brakes and exclusive 19-inch wheels with 245/45 tires, contributing to its athletic and sporty feel. However, the steering could have been quicker, and the tires offered limited grip before starting to howl. The Sportage's ride was generally smooth, though some impacts were felt through the aging architecture.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six to seven passengers. The cabin was designed for comfort and quietness, with features like Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and a basic massaging function, while the front passenger seat offered 10-way power adjustment and massage. Both seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel was also heated.

The Enclave's center console was stylish and functional, with storage options and a cover for the cupholders. The SUV featured seven-passenger seating with second-row captain's chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat. The third-row seat was spacious and comfortable, comparable to the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride. 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 Kia Sportage, while smaller, provided a surprisingly roomy passenger compartment. The SX Turbo trim featured perforated leather upholstery with contrast stitching and piping. The driver's seat offered ten-way power adjustment, and the front passenger seat had eight-way power adjustment. Both front seats were heated and ventilated, and the SX Turbo included a heated flat-bottom steering wheel.

Rear seat passengers enjoyed generous legroom, comfortable seating, air conditioning vents, and a USB charging port. However, the rear doors were wide at the top, requiring caution when opening. The Sportage's interior storage was generous, but its maximum cargo volume was limited. With the second-row seats folded, the Sportage offered 60.1 cubic feet of cargo space, and 30.7 cubic feet behind the back seat. The smart liftgate technology allowed for hands-free access, though it could be turned off if not needed.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. The Buick Infotainment System responded quickly, featured voice recognition, and had a simple user interface with pleasing graphics. 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 technology lagged in screen size, smart home digital assistant integration, and high-end audio components. The Avenir's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and the SUV lacked Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant integration. The 10-speaker Bose sound system was underwhelming compared to competitors. The free trial periods for connected services were also short. A notable feature was the rear camera mirror, which provided a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2022 Kia Sportage came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen display, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Most trims included UVO Link connected services and satellite radio, while the SX Turbo added wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system with Clari-Fi technology. USB data and charging ports were also available.

The infotainment system was user-friendly, with knobs for stereo volume and radio tuning, and logical onscreen menus. However, the UVO Link system was becoming outdated, with an 8-inch screen, no WiFi hotspot, hit-and-miss voice recognition, and wired smartphone mirroring. Despite these limitations, the system was simple and easy to use.

The 2021 Buick Enclave needed improvement in its safety systems. While the features worked well, many were restricted to higher trim levels. For example, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available from the Essence trim upwards. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, which included forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, automatic high-beam headlights, and parking sensors, was standard only on the Premium and Avenir trims.

Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was available only with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology. Despite these limitations, the Enclave performed well in crash tests, earning a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA and high marks from the IIHS, though its headlight performance was rated Marginal.

The 2022 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of safety features across all trim levels. Standard features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assistance, automatic high-beam headlights, and a driver monitoring system. Blind-spot warning and rear cross-traffic warning were available with the LX Value Edition Package or higher trims.

The SX Turbo trim included adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability. The safety technology was effective, though the lane-keeping assistance could be irritating when not needed. The Sportage received high safety ratings from the NHTSA and IIHS, with the SX Turbo earning an Acceptable headlight rating, qualifying it for an IIHS Top Safety Pick award.