2021 Subaru Crosstrek vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek was a testament to Subaru's strategy of transforming the Impreza hatchback into a crossover. It featured rugged looks, standard all-wheel drive (AWD), and a taller driving position, which made it appealing to crossover enthusiasts. The Crosstrek stood out visually with black body cladding, model-specific 17-inch wheels, and an 8.7-inch ground clearance. These changes gave it an SUV-like character, enhanced by vibrant color options like Plasma Yellow Pearl. Despite its SUV impression, the Crosstrek retained the Subaru Global Platform, ensuring a polished and refined ride.

Inside, the Crosstrek's interior was functional but somewhat plain, mirroring the Impreza hatchback. The Sport trim level added some flair with Plasma Yellow Pearl accents and simulated carbon-fiber trim, though these elements didn't always mesh well. The water-repellant StarTex upholstery was a practical touch for outdoor adventures. Overall, the Crosstrek's interior was more about utility than luxury, with a higher driving position and good outward visibility.

The 2022 Buick Enclave marked a significant shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving from conservative styling to a more modern and upscale approach. This transformation was part of Buick's broader strategy to focus exclusively on SUVs, reflecting market trends. The Enclave, a three-row crossover, played a crucial role in this transition, offering a fresh and appealing design. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with updated exterior styling, including a new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, and taillamps. The top-tier Avenir trim level featured unique design elements and 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the Enclave's cabin was spacious and comfortable, with a restyled center console and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim level added luxurious touches like climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching. The Enclave's interior was designed for comfort and convenience, with features like push-button gears and ample storage space. The deep red Rich Garnet Metallic exterior and Ebony perforated leather seats in our test vehicle added to its premium feel.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered two gasoline powertrain options. The Sport and Limited trims featured a new 2.5-liter boxer-four engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque. The base and Premium trims continued with the 2.0-liter boxer-four engine, delivering 152 hp and 145 lb-ft of torque. The Crosstrek Hybrid plug-in hybrid was also available. The boxer engine's lower profile contributed to a lower center of gravity, enhancing handling. A six-speed manual transmission was standard on Base and Premium trims, while a continuously variable transmission (CVT) was optional. The Sport and Limited trims were CVT-only.

All Crosstrek trims came with standard AWD, featuring torque vectoring and X-Mode for improved traction on loose surfaces. The Sport trim added Snow/Dirt and Deep Snow/Mud modes. Despite its SUV-like features, the Crosstrek excelled on pavement, offering predictable handling and a comfortable ride. The new 2.5-liter engine provided adequate acceleration, though the CVT's droning was noticeable.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This setup produced 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The Enclave came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) available on all trims. The SUV's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave's ride quality was exceptional, thanks to the optional Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping.

The Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, delivering good off-the-line acceleration despite its size. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly, and the engine produced pleasant sounds under wide-open throttle. The Enclave's AWD and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek offered the same front and rear legroom as the Impreza hatchback, with slightly more rear headroom. Cargo space was competitive for its class, with 20.8 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 55.3 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The rear bench seat had a 60/40 split fold. While the Crosstrek provided more cargo space than some rivals, it lagged behind others like the Honda HR-V and Kia Seltos. The CVT-equipped models featured a rear-seat reminder system to prevent leaving children or pets unattended.

Up front, the Crosstrek had a handy cubby hole with USB and auxiliary ports, though rear-seat passengers had limited access to USB ports. Storage space was minimal, but the driving position was higher than the Impreza's, offering good outward visibility.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in passenger comfort and space. Ingress and egress were easy, and visibility was excellent. The Enclave's cabin was roomy, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room for passengers in all three rows. The third row was comfortable even for six-footers, and the second-row captain's chairs made access easy. The restyled center console featured push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with cupholders.

Cargo space was generous, 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 power-folding third-row seats added convenience. The Enclave's interior was designed for versatility and comfort, making it suitable for long journeys and family trips.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek featured Subaru's Starlink infotainment system with a standard 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility, and Bluetooth. Premium and Sport trims added WiFi, SiriusXM satellite radio, and a single-disc CD player. The top Limited trim had an 8-inch touchscreen with navigation. The Crosstrek also had a second screen above the main touchscreen for additional information.

Our test car had the 8-inch touchscreen, which was user-friendly and responsive. Subaru included large analog knobs and buttons for essential functions like audio volume and climate control. The steering wheel had chunky buttons for EyeSight driver-assistance features, ensuring ease of use.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting an 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim featured 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. A built-in WiFi hotspot supported up to four devices. The system was easy to use, though some graphics looked dated. The Premium and Avenir trims had a 10-speaker Bose audio system, which was superior to the standard six-speaker system. The Enclave also had six USB ports, with two in each row.

Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features were adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance with hitch view, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Subaru Crosstrek received a five-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in side crash tests and four stars in frontal and rollover crash tests. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) awarded the 2020 model, virtually identical to the 2021 version, a "Top Safety Pick" with the highest "good" rating in all crash tests and for front-crash prevention tech.

The Crosstrek's EyeSight system included adaptive cruise control with lane centering, automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning. Additional features like automatic high beams, reverse automatic braking, lane-change assist, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert were available on higher trims. The system's cameras were well-protected but could be blocked by windshield wipers or direct sunlight.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates in safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package becoming 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, rear-seat reminder system, and HD reversing camera. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave received four out of five stars for rollover resistance from NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.