2022 Volkswagen Taos vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave represented a significant comeback for the brand, which had struggled during the Malaise Era of automotive design and marketing. Buicks had once been big, shiny, and impressive, but it took years for the brand to recover. 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, including the destination charge. It competed with higher-priced three-row SUVs from mainstream brands and lower-priced versions of luxury models. The Enclave's design, especially in the Avenir trim, featured a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, giving it a premium look. Inside, the Enclave Avenir boasted a minimalist approach to instrumentation and controls, with soft, perforated leather and polished accents, although the wood trim was not genuine.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos, positioned as a compact SUV, competed at the lower end of the segment, with the Tiguan at the higher end. The Taos came in S, SE, or SEL trims, with prices ranging from $22,995 to $33,045, including the destination charge. It offered a choice between front-wheel drive and 4Motion all-wheel drive. The Taos's design fit well within Volkswagen's lineup, with the SEL 4Motion test vehicle featuring 19-inch machined-finish aluminum wheels and Cornflower Blue paint. The SUV also had roof rails, dark gray plastic cladding, and simulated skid plates. Inside, the Taos's cabin was spacious, with hard plastic surfaces but soft materials where it mattered most. The SEL trim level included two-tone perforated leather with contrast stitching, an upscale strip of stitched material on the dashboard, and matching door panel inserts.

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 SUV drove like a smaller vehicle despite its size. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly, and the Enclave's suspension, especially with the Avenir Technology Package, offered a premium-tuned ride with continuously variable damping. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 21.2 mpg, allowing for a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos was powered by a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 158 horsepower at 5,500 rpm and 184 pound-feet of torque at 1,750 rpm. The Taos's engine provided adequate power, but the turbocharger's delayed response resulted in sudden torque delivery. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) paired with the 4Motion AWD system offered spirited performance but could be erratic and harsh. The standard eight-speed automatic transmission, available only with front-wheel drive, provided smoother driving but lacked the sophistication of the DCT. The Taos's driving experience was otherwise enjoyable, with responsive steering, effective brakes, and commendable grip. However, its ground clearance of 6.6 inches was less than some competitors. The Taos SEL 4Motion was rated at 28 mpg in combined driving, and during testing, it averaged 27.1 mpg.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering ample space for six or seven passengers. The Avenir trim featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver's seat with lumbar support and a basic massaging function, while the front passenger seat had 10-way power adjustment and massage. The seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The Enclave's cabin was quiet, thanks to Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The third-row seat was genuinely useful, and the Enclave provided 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos offered a spacious cabin, with the SEL trim featuring deeply bolstered seats with plenty of adjustment options. The driver's seat had eight-way power adjustment and lumbar support, and the front seats were heated and ventilated. The rear seat was also roomy, with generous legroom and rear air conditioning vents. Cargo space varied depending on the drive system, with the front-wheel-drive model offering 27.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 65.9 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The 4Motion model had slightly less cargo space, with 24.9 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 60.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded. The Taos also featured a center pass-through for carrying long items like skis.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen display, 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 lacked smart home digital assistant integration and high-end audio components. The Avenir's 10-speaker Bose sound system was not as impressive as those in other SUVs. One notable feature was the rear camera mirror, which provided a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos came with Digital Cockpit instrumentation and a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the S trim. The SE and SEL trims had 8-inch touchscreen displays with more advanced MIB3 software. All Taos models included Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Car-Net connected services with an available Wi-Fi hotspot. The SE trim added wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, SiriusXM satellite radio with 360L service, voice control, and wireless smartphone charging. The SEL trim included a navigation system and an eight-speaker BeatsAudio premium sound system. However, the voice-recognition technology in the pre-production test vehicle was problematic, and the user experience could be improved. The transition from Fender to BeatsAudio components was also seen as a downgrade.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems were effective but limited in availability. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available only on the Essence trim and higher. 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 only on the Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was available only on the Avenir trim with the optional Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology. 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 Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave it high marks, but its Marginal headlight performance rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos democratized its IQ Drive safety technologies, making them standard or available for all trim levels. The IQ Drive package, available for $995 on the Taos S, included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-departure warning, and lane-keeping assistance. It also added Travel Assist and Emergency Assist. Travel Assist combined adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and lane-centering assistance, while Emergency Assist responded to an inactive driver by slowing the Taos and bringing it to a safe stop. The Taos SEL included all these features as standard, along with rain-sensing wipers, road sign recognition, and rear parking sensors with automatic braking. The Taos's reverse automatic braking could be turned off and remained off, unlike similar systems in other vehicles. As a new model, the Taos had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS.