2021 Kia Sportage vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured a distinctive design with its tiger-nose grille and bulbous headlights, which some might have described as frog-like. Kia, however, marketed the Sportage’s styling as “Euro-focused.” This two-row crossover SUV had a relatively short wheelbase and short overhangs, making it ideal for city driving. The headlights carried over from the 2020 model, and the Sportage could be equipped with 17-, 18-, or 19-inch wheels. Inside, an 8-inch touchscreen display served as a stylish centerpiece, flanked by air vents and physical buttons and knobs for tuning and volume. The interior, while not the most tech-forward, was still a pleasant place to sit.

In contrast, the 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to Buick’s glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. The Enclave was the largest of Buick’s four SUVs, offering a commanding presence with its unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels in the Avenir trim. Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured organic forms, a minimalist approach to instrumentation, and tasteful polished accents. The soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather seats added a sense of luxury, although the wood trim was not genuine. The Enclave’s simplicity extended to its controls, except for the fussy electronic transmission shifter, which users quickly adapted to.

The 2021 Kia Sportage offered three trims: LX, EX, and SX Turbo, with options for front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). The LX and EX trims were powered by a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine producing 181 horsepower and 175 pound-feet of torque. The SX Turbo trim featured a 2.0-liter turbocharged GDI four-cylinder engine, delivering 240 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. All Sportage models used a six-speed automatic transmission. Fuel economy for the FWD 2.4-liter engine was 23 mpg city, 30 highway, and 26 combined, while the AWD version achieved 21/25/23. The turbocharged engine’s fuel economy was 20/28/23 for FWD and 19/24/21 for AWD. The Sportage’s McPherson-strut front suspension and multi-link rear suspension provided a smooth ride, though the steering and tire grip left room for improvement.

The 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, available in both FWD and AWD. The V6 generated 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 2,800 rpm, allowing for strong acceleration. The Enclave’s maximum tow rating was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly, and the Enclave drove like a smaller SUV despite its size. The Avenir Technology Package, which included a premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping and highway-speed automatic emergency braking, enhanced the driving experience. The Enclave’s suspension excelled in various driving conditions, and the steering and brake response were well-calibrated. The EPA rated the Enclave at 21 mpg combined, and during testing, it averaged 21.2 mpg, allowing for a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2021 Kia Sportage, while on the smaller side of the compact crossover segment, offered good interior space for passengers. The SX Turbo trim featured a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and an 8-way power-adjustable passenger seat, both heated and ventilated. Rear legroom and headroom were adequate, but cargo space was limited to 30.7 cubic feet behind the second row and 60.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, which was not competitive with other compact crossovers.

The 2021 Buick Enclave, one of the largest SUVs in its class, provided ample space for six passengers (seven if necessary) and was known for its comfort and quietness. 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 Enclave’s center console was stylish and functional, with storage options and hidden cupholders. The seven-passenger seating configuration included second-row captain’s chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat. The third-row seat was genuinely useful, with easy access and commendable room. Cargo space measured 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.6 cubic feet with the second row down.

The 2021 Kia Sportage featured an 8-inch touchscreen interface with Bluetooth connectivity, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and USB ports as standard equipment. Most trims also included Kia’s UVO Link connected services. The SX Turbo trim added wireless charging and an eight-speaker Harman Kardon premium audio system. The Sportage’s technology was user-friendly, with logical menus, physical buttons, and handy knobs, though it was not the most cutting-edge.

The 2021 Buick Enclave’s infotainment system met basic expectations with quick response times, adequate voice recognition, and a simple user interface. 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 8-inch touchscreen was the largest available, and it lacked smart home digital assistant integration and high-end audio components. The available rear camera mirror provided a live video view of what was behind the Enclave, enhancing visibility.

The 2021 Kia Sportage excelled in safety, offering a comprehensive list of standard advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) such as forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, automatic high beams, and a driver-monitoring system. The SX Turbo trim added adaptive cruise control. The Sportage’s safety features contributed to its Top Safety Pick status from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) and strong crash test performance from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

The 2021 Buick Enclave’s safety systems were effective but limited in availability. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were only available on the Essence trim and above, while 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 on the Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was only available with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave lacked lane-centering assistance, rear automatic braking, self-parking, and Level 2 driving assistance technology. The NHTSA awarded the Enclave a five-star overall rating, though it received four stars 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.