2021 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Ford Explorer was the latest in Ford's lineup of midsize SUVs, boasting a striking family resemblance to its siblings - the Escape, Edge, and Expedition. This design strategy reminded many of the brand loyalty campaigns of the 1950s, where manufacturers hoped customers would start with an entry-level model and stick with the brand as they moved up the price ladder. The Explorer, with its sporty, raked belt lines and squinting headlights, maintained a distinctive look that set it apart from other brands' SUVs, even though it closely mirrored its sibling, the Edge, at a quick glance. Ford offered the Explorer in six separate trim levels: base, XLT, Limited, Limited Hybrid, ST, and Platinum. These trims featured varying grille designs, from black to chrome, with or without a red stripe, and ranged in price from $32,925 to $52,730. Inside, the Explorer came standard with three rows of seats, with the base trim featuring comfortable cloth upholstery. However, like many vehicles in this segment, the third row was not ideal for adults on long trips. The dashboard was clean and user-friendly, dominated by an 8-inch touchscreen complemented by tactile buttons and knobs for audio and climate controls. The center console’s rotary gearshift freed up storage space and neatly housed cupholders and bins. Most consumers gravitated toward the XLT trim, which accounted for 56% of sales. This trim offered enhanced comfort and tech, including a power front passenger seat and a 6.5-inch instrument panel screen. Leather upholstery became standard in the mid-tier Limited trim and higher, providing a more luxurious feel. Overall, the Explorer’s interior and exterior progressively improved with each trim level. In contrast, the 2021 Buick Enclave hearkened back to Buick’s past of big, shiny, impressive vehicles. However, after a tough period known as the Malaise Era, the brand struggled to regain its footing. Its salvation came from its popularity in China, allowing it to survive post-2009 GM bankruptcy. As Buick's American car lineup dwindled, the Enclave remained a bridge to its glorious past, meeting modern consumer preferences for SUVs. The Enclave, available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims priced from $41,000 to $55,000, was the largest Buick SUV by a wide margin. Its design allowed it to compete with higher-priced three-row SUVs from mainstream and luxury brands alike. The top-tier Avenir trim enhanced its presence with a unique grille, additional brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured a luxurious design with organic forms, minimalist controls, and plush accents. Soft leather with tasteful embroidery and polished finishes created a sense of opulence, although the wood trim was not authentic. Despite a fussy electronic transmission shifter, the Enclave’s simplicity and elegance remained appealing.

The 2021 Ford Explorer had a weight of 4,345 pounds, making its base 2.3-liter EcoBoost turbocharged four-cylinder engine seem underpowered at first glance. However, this engine delivered a notable 300 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque, outperforming the slightly lighter Kia Telluride's V6 engine. Each Explorer trim came with a 10-speed automatic transmission offering SelectShift capability. The Explorer Limited Hybrid boasted a V6 hybrid drivetrain with 310 hp and 331 lb-ft of torque. Higher trims featured a 3.0-liter EcoBoost twin-turbo V6, producing 365 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque, while the sporty Explorer ST pushed up to 400 hp and 415 lb-ft of torque, making it the most engaging to drive. Nevertheless, considering that full-size, three-row SUVs generally don’t excel in “engaging performance,” the Explorer aimed more at towing power. Depending on the configuration, it could tow between 5,000 and 5,600 pounds, not exceptional but respectable within its class. On the other hand, the 2021 Buick Enclave simplified its powertrain choices by offering a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in both FWD and AWD formats. This engine produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 lb-ft of torque, delivering its peak torque at a low 2,800 rpm. This low torque peak typically reserved for turbocharged engines contributed to strong acceleration. The Enclave’s drive felt like a smaller SUV, with precise steering and a flawless nine-speed automatic transmission. With proper equipment, the Enclave could tow up to 5,000 pounds. Although this towing capacity didn’t outshine its rivals significantly, the combination of the V6 engine and the premium-tuned suspension provided an exceptional driving experience. The Avenir Technology Package, which included a premium suspension with continuously variable damping, further enhanced its ride and handling across diverse driving conditions, making it a remarkable performer for its size. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 21 mpg in combined driving, effectively making the most out of its 21.7-gallon fuel tank.

The base 2021 Ford Explorer offered seating for seven, while other trims provided seating for six with second-row captain’s chairs. Second-row passengers enjoyed 39 inches of legroom, placing it ahead of vehicles like the Nissan Murano and Buick Enclave, but slightly behind the Mazda CX-9 and Chevrolet Blazer. Unfortunately, it lagged significantly behind the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade. The Explorer also featured an impressive 21 cubic feet of cargo space with the third row deployed and a maximum cargo volume of 81 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, positioning it in competition with smaller SUVs. In contrast, the 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, comfortably seating six or seven passengers. The Enclave prioritized comfort and serenity, with standard Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass to ensure a tranquil cabin. The luxurious Avenir trim featured a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and a 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, both with basic massaging functions and wrapped in soft leather. The Enclave also included thoughtful touches like a power-adjustable steering wheel and a stylish center console for additional comfort and storage. Seven-passenger seating with second-row captain’s chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat was standard. While the Enclave didn’t offer a second-row bench seat or window sunshades, its triple-zone climate control and heated second-row seats added to passenger comfort. The Enclave’s spacious third row ranked on par with popular competitors like the Hyundai Palisade and Kia Telluride in terms of comfort and ease of access. Furthermore, the Enclave provided an impressive 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 58 cubic feet with the third row folded down and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet with the second-row seats down—superior to the Explorer’s cargo capacity.

The 2021 Ford Explorer, even at its base trim, offered a robust set of tech features. An 8-inch touchscreen was standard, eliminating the era of minuscule screens. This screen supported AM/FM radio, SiriusXM satellite radio, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G WiFi hotspot for up to 10 devices. The infotainment was managed by Ford’s Sync 3 system, accompanied by a six-speaker audio setup. Stepping up to the Limited trim added a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system and HD radio. Higher trims brought in a 10.1-inch touchscreen and an upgraded 14-speaker B&O sound system. The Explorer also provided ample charging options with two USB ports in the center console and five 12-volt power points scattered throughout the cabin. From the Limited trim onwards, a wireless charging pad was included. In comparison, the 2021 Buick Enclave’s infotainment technology met basic expectations but lagged behind in several areas necessary for competing in the premium SUV segment. Its Buick Infotainment System, while responsive and user-friendly, featured an 8-inch touchscreen, the largest available. The system supported Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and 4G LTE WiFi. Charging ports were available in all three rows, and additional 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 found in rivals. For instance, while the Enclave Avenir’s 10-speaker Bose system was decent, it couldn’t match the higher-quality systems in other SUVs. Additionally, Buick’s short free trial periods for connected services required early subscription sign-ups. A notable feature was the available rear camera mirror, providing a live video feed on the rearview mirror—a useful addition for the Enclave but not enough to offset its technological shortcomings.

The 2021 Ford Explorer earned the highest rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) as a Top Safety Pick+. It achieved top "Good" scores in all crash tests and an "Acceptable" rating for adaptive headlights. The Explorer's commendable list of active safety features included in the Ford Co-Pilot360 suite: auto high-beam headlights, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist and alert, forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, and dynamic brake support. Yet, comprehensive safety systems required upgrading to the Limited trim for the Co-Pilot360 Assist+ suite, which added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, evasive steering assist, a forward sensing system, rain-sensing wipers, and speed sign recognition. On the Buick Enclave side, its safety systems worked well but were limited across trims, contrary to rivals offering them more broadly. Advanced features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert required at least the Essence trim. The Premium and Avenir trims offered additional safety through the Driver Confidence Plus Package, including forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, automatic high-beams, parking sensors, and a Safety Alert Seat. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced emergency braking was exclusive to the Enclave Avenir with an additional package, and other advanced safety features like lane-centering, rear automatic braking, or self-parking, were not available. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) rated the Enclave with five stars overall, although it scored four stars in frontal-impact protection. Despite high marks from the IIHS, marginal headlight performance prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.