2021 Subaru Forester vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Subaru Forester, despite its 2019 redesign, retained a somewhat dated appearance, largely mirroring its predecessor. The most noticeable change was the distinctive cross-shaped taillights. Subaru seemed to follow the adage, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," maintaining the boxy, upright shape that appealed to many SUV shoppers. The Base trim's 17-inch steel wheels gave it a plain look, but the overall design was clean and unpretentious. The Forester Sport model added orange striping, a rear spoiler, and black 18-inch alloy wheels, which significantly enhanced its visual appeal, especially in the Dark Blue Pearl color of our test car.

Underneath, the Forester shared the Subaru Global Platform with other models like the Impreza and Outback. The interior was practical, with materials designed to withstand wear and tear. The Sport trim added orange accents and cross-stitching, while higher trims offered leather upholstery and heated features. The Forester's interior was functional, with large knobs for controls, but the steering wheel's numerous buttons could be confusing.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, marked a significant shift from Buick's traditionally conservative styling. Over the past 15 years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio, reflecting market trends. The Enclave, introduced in 2008 and redesigned in 2018, was a key player in this transformation. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with new grille, fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels.

Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim included climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and stitching. The Enclave's spacious cabin comfortably accommodated six adults, with easy access to the third row. The flat row of buttons on the center console facilitated access to USB ports and the wireless charging pad, though potential spills could pose a risk to the electronic shifter components.

The 2021 Subaru Forester featured a single powertrain: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 182 horsepower and 176 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). The engine's boxer configuration provided a lower center of gravity. The Forester had a 1,500-pound towing capacity and standard Trailer Stability Assist. While adequate for most situations, the engine lacked the desired thrust for highway merging and overtaking, and wind noise was noticeable at higher speeds.

The Forester's suspension was tuned for comfort, resulting in a soft ride with significant body roll in corners and bounce on uneven pavement. All-wheel drive (AWD) was standard, with a sophisticated drivetrain featuring X-Mode for different surfaces. Sport models had Dual X-Mode with "Snow/Dirt" and "Snow/Mud" modes. Higher trims included hill-descent control and 8.7 inches of ground clearance, making the Forester capable on mud and dirt, though not as off-road-ready as some competitors.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) was standard, with all-wheel drive (AWD) available. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds. The Enclave provided a smooth, quiet ride, enhanced by the Avenir Technology package's premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. The AWD-equipped test vehicle handled various terrains well, with Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation ensuring a serene cabin.

The Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, with good off-the-line acceleration despite its size. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly, and the engine produced pleasant sounds at wide-open throttle. While not designed for off-roading, the Enclave's AWD and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light trails and wintry conditions.

The 2021 Subaru Forester offered generous headroom and legroom in both rows, thanks to its tall, flat roofline. This design also provided excellent outward visibility and a roomy feel, though it could lead to higher cabin temperatures on sunny days. The Forester had 35.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 76.1 cubic feet with them folded, surpassing some competitors. However, it lacked a sliding second-row bench. A power liftgate was available on higher trims.

The Forester's interior featured decently sized cupholders and a reasonably sized center console, though the phone-storage cubby was too small for an average phone, and wireless charging was not offered. A power-adjustable driver's seat was only available on the Premium trim and above. The large knobs for audio and climate controls were user-friendly, but the numerous buttons on the steering wheel could be confusing.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due 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 comfortably accommodated six adults, with easy access to the third row via standard second-row captain's chairs.

The restyled center console featured push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with two cupholders. While convenient, potential spills could pose a risk to the electronic shifter components. The Enclave offered ample 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 down. Power-folding third-row seats were available, enhancing cargo accessibility.

The 2021 Subaru Forester's standard Starlink infotainment system included a 6.5-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, Bluetooth, SiriusXM satellite radio, front-row USB ports, and a CD player. Sport models added an 8-inch touchscreen and Harman Kardon audio system, while higher trims included navigation and rear USB ports. The system was user-friendly, with well-designed graphics and backup analog controls, though the screen was slow to boot up.

The Forester also featured a secondary screen in the center of the dashboard and a small screen in the instrument cluster, displaying information like fuel economy and tire pressure. However, the setup seemed overly complex, with redundant information displayed on multiple screens.

The 2022 Buick Enclave's standard infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously, and a built-in WiFi hotspot supported up to four devices. The interface was familiar and easy to use, though some graphics appeared dated.

The Enclave's standard six-speaker audio system was adequate, but the 10-speaker Bose system in higher trims was superior, though it could use more power. Each Enclave came with a three-month SiriusXM 360L trial and six USB ports, with charging-only ports in the second and third rows. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Subaru Forester excelled in safety, earning the highest "Top Safety Pick+" award from the IIHS and a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Standard safety features included Subaru's EyeSight suite, with adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, and lead-vehicle start alert. The Forester also featured a driver-monitoring system, steering-responsive headlights, automatic high beams, and a rear seatbelt reminder. Optional features included blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and reverse automatic braking.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package now standard on all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance, 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 Enclave received a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.