2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Cadillac Escalade

The 2022 Buick Enclave continued Buick's tradition of conservative styling, featuring softer, less aggressive character lines and simple, functional interiors. This design approach catered to an older customer base that prioritized comfort and tradition over cutting-edge design. However, Buick had overhauled its product lineup over the past 15 years, shifting from sedans to SUVs, reflecting broader market trends. The Enclave, introduced in 2008 and redesigned in 2018, was Buick's flagship three-row crossover SUV. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with exterior enhancements like a new grille, fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. 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 front seats. The Avenir trim included standard climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade made a bold first impression with its unapologetically massive size and distinctive styling elements. The front end, with its tall hood, vertical running lights, and horizontal headlights, resembled a diesel locomotive. The Escalade's design emphasized its bulk, with 22-inch wheels appearing small against the vast expanse of sheet metal. Cadillac offered different trim pieces for "sport" and "luxury" models, with bright exterior trim for Luxury and Premium Luxury trims and darkened trim for the Sport model. The Escalade shared its body-on-frame architecture with other GM full-size SUVs and trucks, providing a solid foundation. Inside, the Escalade featured leather upholstery, wood trim, and a panoramic sunroof, but lacked a cohesive design theme. While the materials were generally nice, some cheap-looking plastic bits detracted from the overall luxury feel.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine 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 (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 provided a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The Avenir Technology package, with premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping, further enhanced the driving experience. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly. The Enclave's AWD and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade offered two powertrain choices: a standard 6.2-liter gasoline V8 producing 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque, and an optional 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six diesel engine with 277 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel drive (RWD) or optional four-wheel drive (4WD). The Escalade diesel, despite its lower horsepower, provided smooth power delivery and excellent torque for pulling away from stops. The gasoline engine had a maximum towing capacity of 8,200 pounds, slightly higher than the diesel's 8,100 pounds. The Escalade's ride quality, however, was less refined, with a body-on-frame construction and 22-inch wheels contributing to an unsettled ride. The Escalade lacked the off-road capability of some of its GM cousins and competitors.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and window openings. The Enclave's cabin was spacious, 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 standard second-row captain's chairs made access to the third row easy. 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. Power-folding third-row seats added convenience.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade shared its body shell and chassis with other GM full-size SUVs, resulting in a cavernous cabin. The standard Escalade measured 211.9 inches long, while the extended ESV version was 227 inches long. The Escalade offered the most first-row and third-row legroom among full-size luxury SUVs, with second-row captain's chairs and a 60/40 power split-folding third-row bench seat as standard. The Escalade excelled in cargo space, with 25.5 cubic feet with all seats in place, 63.0 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 109.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. However, the raised center console provided limited storage space, and the 12-way power adjustable front seats, while comfortable, felt similar to those in other GM SUVs. Cadillac included dedicated buttons for seat heating and ventilation and large sun visors for the expansive side-window glass.

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 came with 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 included a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system's interface was user-friendly, though some graphics appeared dated. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, which, while superior to the standard six-speaker system, lacked power for back-seat passengers. The Enclave also included a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance with hitch view, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade boasted a 38-inch curved OLED display, comprising a 14.2-inch digital instrument cluster, a 16.9-inch touchscreen, and a 7.2-inch screen for trip-computer functions. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as Bluetooth connectivity, were standard. Cadillac integrated the display seamlessly into the dashboard, with icons arranged to fit the screen's shape. Physical toggles for climate control and other functions were retained. However, the carousel format for changing radio stations was awkward to use while driving, and the rotary controller felt like an afterthought. The Escalade's OLED screens provided excellent resolution for the 360-degree camera system, and the rearview camera mirror eliminated blind spots. The Escalade also offered advanced tech features like night vision, augmented-reality navigation, and a 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system, though the latter was difficult to tune properly.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its driver-assist and 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 no false alarms during testing. 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.

The 2022 Cadillac Escalade came standard with adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking (front and rear), front and rear park assist, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. Many warnings were dispatched through Cadillac's vibrating Safety Alert Seat. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were standard on Premium Luxury and higher trims, with trailer blind-spot monitoring standard on Premium Luxury Platinum trims and above. Super Cruise, a $2,500 option on most trims, offered hands-free driving on pre-mapped highways and used a driver-facing camera to ensure attention. Super Cruise's responses were smooth and natural, making it easier to place the Escalade on the road. The IIHS and NHTSA had not published safety ratings for the 2022 Escalade.