2021 Land Rover Defender vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Land Rover Defender carried a rich heritage dating back to 1948, with its design inspired by the Willys Jeep. Over the years, the Defender evolved through various iterations, maintaining its distinctive look with round headlamps, a box-shaped cabin, and a tall roofline. The new Defender aimed to blend the classic vibe with modern aesthetics, featuring half-round LED headlights, a structural-looking grille, and flat-topped fenders with diamond-plate patterns. The interior emphasized exposed structure, with a dash held between horizontal beams, beefy controls, and luxury-comfortable leather seating.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, represented a shift from Buick's traditionally conservative styling to a more modern, SUV-focused lineup. The Enclave debuted in 2008 and received a significant redesign in 2018, positioning it as Buick's flagship SUV. The 2022 model featured exterior updates like a new grille, headlamps, and taillamps, with the Avenir trim getting unique styling elements. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console, upgraded materials, and available heated, cooled, and massaging seats, enhancing its appeal as a near-luxury SUV.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender offered two powertrains in the U.S.: a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four with 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, and a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six mild-hybrid producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. An eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time 4WD with low range and Terrain Response were standard. The Defender's off-road capabilities were impressive, with a 30.1-degree approach angle, 37.6-degree departure angle, and a maximum wading depth of 35.4 inches. On-road, the Defender was quick, with the 2.0-liter model reaching 0-60 mph in 7.7 seconds and the 3.0-liter in 5.8 seconds. It also had a towing capacity of 8,200 pounds and a payload capacity of over 1,700 pounds.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain: a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds. The Enclave excelled in providing a smooth, quiet ride, thanks to its premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The V6 engine offered responsive acceleration, and the nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly. The Enclave's cabin remained serene, courtesy of Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender utilized a unibody platform shared with the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Discovery, incorporating extensive aluminum for weight reduction and strength. Its four-wheel independent multi-link air suspension enhanced both on-road comfort and off-road capability. The Defender offered flexible seating options, including a jump seat between the front seats and an available third row in the long-wheelbase 110 model. Cargo space in the 110 model ranged from 34-34.6 cubic feet behind the second row to 78.8 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and standard power-adjustable front seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third row, which could comfortably seat six-footers. The Enclave offered generous cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The restyled center console featured new push-button transmission gears and accessible USB ports and wireless charging.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender featured Land Rover's Electronic Vehicle Architecture 2.0, enabling over-the-air software updates for 14 individual modules. The Pivi Pro infotainment system included a 10-inch touchscreen and a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel, with standard Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Multiple camera views, including a "transparent hood" view, aided off-roading. The audio system could be upgraded to a Meridian sound system with up to 14 speakers. A full-color head-up display and a ClearSight rear-view mirror were also available.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims featuring an 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot supporting up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology, with additional features available on higher trims.

The 2021 Land Rover Defender had not been rated by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came with a comprehensive list of standard safety features, including a perimeter alarm, front airbags, tire pressure monitoring, electronic traction control, dynamic stability control, roll stability control, emergency braking, anti-lock braking, emergency brake assist, cruise control speed limiter, blind spot assist, lane-keep assist, driver condition monitor, traffic sign recognition, rear traffic monitor, clear exit monitor, and a 360-degree parking aid. The Defender underwent extensive durability testing, ensuring its robustness in various conditions.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package now standard on all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features on higher trims included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Enclave, but it received four out of five stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave it "Good" ratings in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.