2021 Toyota Sienna vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid aimed to redefine the minivan's aesthetic, presenting a more SUV-like appearance. Its wide grille and horizontally arranged LED headlamp arrays gave it a sleek look, while the sculpted sliding side doors and various alloy wheel sizes added to its assertive stance. The rear design managed to look wide and low, maintaining Toyota's high standards of fit and finish. Inside, the Sienna emphasized width with horizontal lines, offering a higher seating position than a sedan and a simple, uncluttered dashboard. The center console was practical, featuring a gear selector lever, cupholders, and a large storage compartment. The second and third rows were comfortable for adults, with the second row sliding for maximum utility and comfort.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, historically conservative in design, had undergone a significant transformation over the past 15 years, shifting from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio. The Enclave, introduced in 2008 and redesigned in 2018, received a mid-cycle refresh for 2022, featuring new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim level boasted unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave's restyled center console included new push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching, enhancing comfort and visual appeal.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid marked Toyota's first hybrid minivan, featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and two electric motors, producing a combined 243 horsepower. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The Sienna used an electronically controlled continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), which, while maximizing fuel efficiency, tended to blunt throttle response. The Sienna's handling improved significantly with new front suspension and independent rear trailing arm suspension, offering a comfortable ride. The big news was its impressive fuel economy, with FWD models achieving 36 mpg city, highway, and combined, and AWD models rated at 35/36/35 mpg combined.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept it simple with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds. The Enclave provided a smooth, quiet ride, enhanced by the optional Avenir Technology package, which included premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed flawlessly. The Enclave's cabin remained serene, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna excelled in convenience functions, with a standard third-row 60/40-split bench that stored away easily and a second row that slid up to 25 inches for easy access. The cabin featured 16 cupholders and ample storage cubbies. The Sienna could carry a full four-by-eight sheet of plywood inside, with cargo measurements of 33.5 cubic feet behind the third row, 75.2 cubic feet behind the second row, and 101.0 cubic feet behind the first row. The hybrid battery was cleverly tucked under the front seats, preserving cargo space. Power-operated sliding doors and tailgate responded to kick motions, a family-friendly feature.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. All Enclaves came with 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 accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room. The restyled center console featured new push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with cupholders. The Enclave provided 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 folded.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna packed a nine-inch touchscreen standard in all grades, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa, SiriusXM, and multiple USB ports. Connectivity features included Safety Connect, Remote Connect, Service Connect, and AT&T WiFi Connect. Higher trims offered Qi-compatible charging, a 1500-watt inverter, and a Premium Audio + JBL package with 12 speakers. A rear-seat entertainment system was available, featuring an 11.6-inch display, remote, and wireless headphones. The driver enjoyed a color multi-information display, with a 10-inch Head-Up Display available on Platinum trims. Limited and Platinum models could upgrade to a digital rearview mirror.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting a larger, 8-inch version. The Essence trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, 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 handling up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims offered a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Toyota Sienna Hybrid came with Toyota Safety Sense 2.0, including dynamic radar cruise control, lane-tracing assist, pre-collision system with pedestrian and bicyclist detection, lane-departure alert, automatic high beams, and road sign assist. The Star Safety System included enhanced vehicle stability control, traction control, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, brake assist, and smart stop technology. The Sienna had 10 airbags and LATCH connectors, with a rear-seat reminder system and tire pressure monitoring system standard. The 2020 Sienna received "Good" ratings from IIHS in most categories and a Five-Star Overall Rating from NHTSA.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard, including 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. Other standard safety items 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.