2022 Buick Enclave vs 2021 Ford Bronco Sport

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport was a nod to the classic Bronco, capturing its rugged spirit in a more compact, suburban-friendly package. It featured a modern retro design that echoed the Land Rover aesthetic, with short front and rear overhangs for improved off-road capability. The vehicle's exterior was marked by bold "BRONCO" lettering on the grille and tailgate, with a modest Ford badge on the tailgate. The Bronco Sport offered a range of wheel options, from 17-inch Sparkle Silver wheels on the Base model to 18-inch Ebony Black-painted wheels on the Outer Banks model. Inside, the Bronco Sport boasted a rugged yet tasteful interior, with a unique design for the HVAC vents and an 8-inch infotainment screen. The interior trim varied across models, offering options from cloth seats to leather-trimmed, heated sport-contour bucket seats.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more conservative design, reflecting Buick's shift from sedans to SUVs. The Enclave's exterior received a mid-cycle refresh with a new grille, fascias, and wheel designs, particularly for the Avenir trim. Inside, the Enclave featured a restyled center console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs. The Enclave's interior was spacious, accommodating six adults comfortably, with power-adjustable seats and a focus on comfort. The Enclave's design aimed to provide a premium experience, with features like a 10-speaker Bose audio system and a range of driver-assist technologies.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport offered two engine options: a 1.5-liter EcoBoost turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 181 horsepower and 190 pound-feet of torque for the Base, Big Bend, and Outer Banks trims, and a 2.0-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 245 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque for the Badlands and First Edition models. All models featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive, with a terrain management system offering up to seven G.O.A.T. modes. The Bronco Sport excelled off-road, thanks to its short wheelbase, independent suspension, and generous ground clearance. On-road, the 2.0-liter engine provided a more satisfying driving experience, while the 1.5-liter engine could feel strained under pressure.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept things simple with a single powertrain: a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The Enclave's ride was smooth and quiet, enhanced by the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. The Enclave handled well on various terrains, providing a serene cabin experience with Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, offering good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport catered to active buyers with features like a cargo space designed to hold two 27.5-inch-wheel mountain bikes and a catalog of over 100 accessories for outdoor activities. The roof could support up to 150 pounds, and the vehicle could tow up to 2,200 pounds with the 2.0-liter engine. The cargo area included a flip-up rear glass and an optional cargo management package with a slide-out work table. The front cabin offered ample storage, though visibility could be challenging for taller drivers.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and power-adjustable seats for comfort. The spacious cabin accommodated passengers in all three rows, with the third row offering enough room for six-footers. The second-row captain's chairs added versatility, though the seat-folding mechanism could be confusing. The center console featured push-button transmission gears, with concerns about potential spills affecting the electronic components. The Enclave offered ample cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row and up to 97.4 cubic feet with all seats folded.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport featured an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen with SYNC 3, compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. It offered a FordConnect 4G LTE WiFi hotspot and an available Bang & Olufsen sound system. The terrain management system included up to seven G.O.A.T. modes, with trail control technology for off-roading. Intelligent access with push-button start was standard on all trims except the Base model.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. The system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave included a range of driver-assist features, such as adaptive cruise control and a head-up display, with six USB ports for charging and data.

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport came standard with the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite of safety features, including pre-collision assist, blind-spot monitoring, and lane-keeping assist. The Co-Pilot360 Assist+ package added adaptive cruise control and evasive steering assist. All models featured all-wheel drive and a terrain management system with traction control and electronic stability control. As of the writing, crash-worthiness ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims, offering features like automatic emergency braking, lane-change alert, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking and a surround-view camera. The Enclave received a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.