2021 Hyundai Tucson vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson featured a more conventional design compared to its futuristic successor. It had an upright layout that provided a commanding view of the road. Inside, the Tucson boasted a modern and attractive dash design, seamlessly integrating tech features into the overall aesthetic. Every button and dial was easy to find, making the interior user-friendly and visually appealing.

Trim levels for the 2021 Tucson included SE, Value, SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate. The base SE trim came with 17-inch alloy wheels, manually adjustable front seats, a digital driver information display, and a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Higher trims added features like LED headlight accents, heated side mirrors, roof rails, and more luxurious interior options, culminating in the Ultimate trim with a panoramic sunroof and heated rear seats.

The 2021 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, was a large, impressive SUV that harkened back to Buick's glory days. It was the largest of Buick's four SUVs, offering a spacious and comfortable ride for up to seven passengers. The Enclave's design was both stylish and functional, with the Avenir trim adding extra presence through a unique grille pattern, brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured a minimalist approach to instrumentation and controls, with organic forms and tasteful polished accents. The seats were wrapped in soft, perforated leather, and the wood trim, though not real, added a touch of luxury. The Enclave's simplicity extended to its electronic transmission shifter, which, despite being fussy at first, became intuitive with use.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered two engine options. The base engine was a 2.0-liter four-cylinder producing 161 horsepower and 150 pound-feet of torque. The SEL, Sport, Limited, and Ultimate trims came with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that generated 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and offered standard front-wheel drive (FWD) or optional all-wheel drive (AWD).

The base engine felt underwhelming, especially at highway speeds, making the 2.4-liter engine a better choice for most drivers. The Tucson provided a comfortable and refined ride, striking a balance between softness and athleticism. The 2.0-liter engine allowed for a towing capacity of up to 1,500 pounds, while the 2.4-liter engine increased this to 2,000 pounds.

The 2021 Buick Enclave came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine, a nine-speed automatic transmission, and a choice between FWD and AWD. The V6 produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,800 rpm, providing strong acceleration and a maximum tow rating of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Enclave's V6 engine and nine-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth and responsive performance. The premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping, available in the Avenir Technology Package, provided an outstanding ride quality 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 2021 Hyundai Tucson offered 31 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 61.9 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. While this was on the lower side for the compact SUV segment, it provided adequate space for weekend bags or larger items. The Tucson's front seats were comfortable and supportive, with solid headroom and legroom. The rear seats were less spacious but still accommodating for adults on road trips. The Tucson also featured plenty of storage compartments and a hands-free power liftgate on higher trims.

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 massaging functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The Enclave's center console provided additional storage, and the second-row captain's chairs and third-row bench seat offered comfortable seating for passengers.

The Enclave's third-row seat was genuinely useful, with easy access through the large rear doors and between the captain's chairs. The Enclave provided 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 seats folded down.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson came standard with a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Ultimate trim offered an upgraded 8-inch touchscreen, which was optional on other trims. The touchscreen was user-friendly, with logical menu layouts and helpful hard buttons. Additional available features included navigation, satellite radio, and wireless device charging.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in some areas. It featured Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB charging ports in all three rows. The Enclave also offered a Teen Driver function, a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system.

However, the Enclave's 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and it lacked integration with smart home digital assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The 10-speaker Bose sound system was also less impressive compared to other SUVs in the segment. The Enclave did offer a rear camera mirror, providing a live video view of what was behind the vehicle.

The 2021 Hyundai Tucson provided a solid list of standard driver-assistance features, including automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane departure warning, lane-keeping assist, and driver drowsiness monitoring. Higher trims offered additional features like adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, automatic high-beams, a 360-degree parking monitor, and blind-spot monitoring. The Tucson earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA and a "Top Safety Pick" rating from the IIHS.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's safety systems were less comprehensive. Features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on higher trims. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, 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. Adaptive cruise control and enhanced automatic emergency braking were only available with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA but had a four-star rating for frontal-impact protection. The IIHS gave it high marks, but a Marginal headlight performance rating prevented it from earning a Top Safety Pick accolade.