2021 Lexus RX vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Lexus RX showcased a modern design aesthetic that was unmistakably Lexus. It featured a large grille, angular headlamps, a shapely body, and a floating roof. Inside, the RX offered sumptuous seating with perforated leather upholstery, although the center console design was considered bland and dated. Lexus offered the RX in five variants: RX, RX F Sport, RXL, RX Hybrid, and RXL Hybrid. The RX F Sport was the most performance-focused, while the RXL and RXL Hybrid had extended bodies and a third row of seating. Standard features included 18-inch aluminum wheels, LED lighting, and rear privacy glass, with available upgrades like 20-inch wheels and triple-beam LED headlights. The interior was well-appointed, even in the base model, with options for semi-aniline leather upholstery, heated and ventilated seats, and more.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave took a more conservative approach to styling, reflecting its traditionally older customer base. However, over the past 15 years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio. The Enclave, which debuted in 2008, received a significant redesign in 2018 and a mid-cycle refresh for 2022. This refresh included new exterior styling elements like a new grille, front and rear fascias, and updated wheel designs. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim also included standard climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs. The Enclave's interior was spacious and comfortable, with ample room for passengers in all three rows.

The 2021 Lexus RX, RXL, and RX F-Sport were powered by a 3.5-liter V6 engine delivering 295 horsepower and 267 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The RX Hybrid and RXL Hybrid models featured a 3.5-liter V6 and three electric motors, producing 308 horsepower managed by an electronic continuously variable transmission (e-CVT). The front-wheel-drive RX 350 was the most fuel-efficient, with an EPA rating of 20 mpg city, 27 mpg highway, and 23 mpg combined. All-wheel-drive models and the RXL had slightly lower fuel economy. The RX Hybrid achieved 29-31 mpg city and 28 mpg highway. The RX's suspension and handling were improved for 2020, making it more dynamic, with the F Sport Handling package adding adaptive variable suspension and other performance features. The RX had a top speed of 124 mph and could accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 7.7-7.9 seconds, depending on the drivetrain.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The SUV had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave provided a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to its premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The AWD-equipped test vehicle handled well on various terrains, and the powertrain was surprisingly responsive for a vehicle of its size. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly, and the engine produced pleasant sounds under wide-open throttle. The Enclave had 7.5 inches of ground clearance, making it capable of handling light off-road trails or wintry conditions.

The 2021 Lexus RX was a highly functional SUV, seating five in the two-row RX 350, RX F-Sport, and RX 450h models, and six or seven in the three-row RXL and RXL Hybrid models. Front-seat occupants enjoyed plenty of space, and the second row was comfortable for adults. However, the third row in the RXL models was tight for any age group. The RX's cargo space was limited compared to traditional SUVs, with 18.4 cubic feet behind the second row and 56.3 cubic feet with the seats folded. The three-row versions offered just 7.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 23 cubic feet behind the second row, and 58.5 cubic feet with both rows folded. A power liftgate was standard, with a hands-free liftgate available.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and windows. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. Premium and Avenir trims added four-way power lumbar with massage and heated second-row seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin provided ample room for passengers in all three rows, with the third row accommodating six-footers comfortably. The second-row captain's chairs made access to the third row easy and could flip and fold for added versatility. The restyled center console featured new push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with cupholders. The Enclave offered 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. Power-folding third-row seats were available.

The 2021 Lexus RX came standard with dual-zone automatic climate control, keyless entry, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, satellite radio, HD Radio, a WiFi hotspot, six USB ports, and a nine-speaker sound system. Available upgrades included a 12.3-inch touchscreen, additional USB ports, a moonroof, a panoramic roof, wireless charging, navigation, a 12-speaker audio system, and a 15-speaker Mark Levinson surround-sound system. The touch aspect of the infotainment screen worked well, but the operating system was not the easiest to use. The Remote Touch controller allowed drivers to navigate the screen without touching it, but it took up valuable center console space. The RX did not have wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting a larger 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously, and a built-in WiFi hotspot could handle up to four devices up to 50 feet away. The system was easy to use, though some graphics looked dated. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, which was superior to the standard six-speaker system. The Enclave also came with a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance with hitch view, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Lexus RX received the IIHS Top Safety Pick designation, scoring all Good marks on crashworthiness tests. The RXL and RXL Hybrid had not been tested by IIHS. The NHTSA rated the RX 350, RX 350L, and RX 450h with four out of five stars overall and five stars for side-impact crashworthiness. Standard safety features included a rearview camera, 10 airbags, enhanced vehicle stability control, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. The Lexus Safety System+ 2.0 suite included a pre-collision system with forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, cyclist detection, automatic high beams, adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning with steering assist, lane-keep assist, lane-trace assist, and road sign assist. The RX had two complete sets of LATCH connectors in the rear outboard seats.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made 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. Other standard safety features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, a rear-seat reminder system, and an HD reversing camera. Premium trim added 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 the Enclave "Good" ratings in all but one crash test, where it received an "Acceptable" score.