2021 Toyota 4Runner vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner had not seen a major redesign in 12 years, making it a familiar sight on the road. While updates were made over the years, a used 4Runner was nearly identical to a new one, save for some modern infotainment and safety technologies. Its design, characterized by a two-box body with flared fenders and trapezoidal wheel arches, aged well, offering balanced proportions and timeless styling. The 4Runner's rugged appearance, especially in the Trail Special Edition, emphasized its utility and durability, making it a reliable tool for various adventures.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave showcased Buick's shift from conservative styling to a more modern and upscale design. The Enclave's exterior received several updates, including a new grille, front and rear fascias, and redesigned headlamps and taillamps. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console, upgraded materials, and available heated, cooled, and massaging seats. The Avenir trim added climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and exclusive trim and seat stitching, enhancing the overall luxury feel.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner was built for off-road adventures, as demonstrated during a test at Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreational Area. Equipped with a 4.0-liter V6 engine producing 270 horsepower and 278 pound-feet of torque, the 4Runner handled challenging terrain with ease, thanks to its A-Trac off-road traction control system. However, on paved roads, the 4Runner felt slow, heavy, and clunky, with a five-speed automatic transmission that contributed to its dated driving experience. The 4Runner's fuel efficiency was also a drawback, averaging 16.8 mpg during the test.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, offered a more refined driving experience with its 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Enclave provided smooth and responsive acceleration. The Avenir Technology package further enhanced the ride quality with a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The Enclave's AWD system and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions. The Enclave's fuel efficiency was not specified, but its overall performance was impressive for a midsize crossover.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner's high ground clearance made ingress and egress challenging for shorter individuals, but once inside, passengers found the seats comfortable and supportive. The rear seats offered ample legroom, good visibility, air conditioning vents, and USB charging ports. The 4Runner's cargo space was generous, with up to 47.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 89.7 cubic feet with the seats folded down. The Trail Special Edition's sliding cargo deck and roof rack added to its practicality.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in passenger comfort and convenience. With standard eight-way power driver and six-way power front passenger seats, both heated and with power lumbar control, getting comfortable was easy. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row simple. The Enclave's cargo space was also impressive, 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 to the convenience.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner Trail Special Edition was light on technology, featuring an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa compatibility, SiriusXM satellite radio, and five USB ports. The premium audio upgrade added dynamic navigation, dynamic point-of-interest search, and dynamic voice recognition. The system's physical buttons and knobs were easy to use, even with gloves on, but the overall tech offering felt dated.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a more advanced technology suite. 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 and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot supporting up to four devices. The system's interface was user-friendly, though some graphics appeared dated. Additional tech features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, Teen Driver technology, adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Toyota 4Runner came with Toyota Safety Sense P (TSS-P), which included adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic forward emergency braking, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, it lacked a blind-spot warning system and rear cross-traffic warning. The 4Runner received mixed safety ratings, with a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and a "Marginal" rating for driver protection in a small overlap frontal-impact collision from the IIHS.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant strides in safety, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package 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 safety features on higher trims included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, 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.