2022 Chevrolet Blazer vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift from Buick's traditionally conservative styling. Historically, Buick's designs were characterized by softer lines and functional interiors, catering to an older demographic focused on comfort and tradition. However, over the past 15 years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio, reflecting broader market trends. The Enclave, introduced in 2008 and redesigned in 2018, became a flagship model, offering a blend of style and functionality. The 2022 mid-cycle refresh brought new exterior enhancements, including a redesigned grille, fascias, headlamps, and wheel designs. Inside, the Enclave featured a restyled center console, upgraded materials, and available heated, cooled, and massaging seats, particularly in the top-tier Avenir trim.

In contrast, the 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered a sportier, more aggressive design inspired by the Camaro. Available in 2LT, 3LT, Premier, and RS trims, the Blazer featured a standard turbocharged four-cylinder engine, with the RS trim boasting a V6 engine and a sophisticated twin-clutch AWD system. For 2022, the Blazer saw minor updates, including revised bumper and bodyside trim for the Premier version, a new Enhanced Convenience Package, and a Trailering Package for models with the turbocharged engine. The Blazer's interior echoed the Camaro's design, with an 8-inch touchscreen display, large round air vents, and a mix of hard plastics and sporty accents. The RS trim, in particular, stood out with red interior accents matching the exterior paint, adding a layer of sophistication.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept things straightforward with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Available in both FWD and AWD, the Enclave could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave's ride quality was a standout feature, thanks to the optional Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. This setup ensured a smooth, quiet ride, enhanced by Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Despite its size and weight, the Enclave's powertrain delivered responsive acceleration, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered two engine options. The standard 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine generated 228 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, while the RS trim featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 308 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. Both engines were paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, with the V6 offering a more sophisticated dual-clutch AWD system. The Blazer RS provided a firm and sporty driving experience, with satisfying acceleration from the V6 engine. However, the suspension could feel bouncy on back roads, and the nine-speed automatic was sometimes slow to downshift. The steering in Sport mode felt artificially heavy, and the overall driving dynamics didn't quite match the Blazer's sporty appearance. Fuel economy for the Blazer RS AWD was rated at 21 mpg combined, with our test vehicle averaging 20.5 mpg.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in interior space and comfort. With easy ingress and egress, excellent visibility, and standard power-adjustable heated front seats, the Enclave catered to passenger comfort. The spacious cabin accommodated six full-size adults comfortably, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room in all three rows. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the seats could flip and fold for added versatility. The restyled center console featured new 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 down. Power-folding third-row seats added convenience.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer offered a reasonably comfortable and functional interior. The RS trim's black leather upholstery with red perforations added a sporty touch, though the quality was average. The steering wheel featured power tilt and telescopic adjustment and heating, while the front seats offered power adjustment, heating, and ventilation. However, the seats lacked thigh support and side bolsters. Dual-zone automatic climate control, rear air vents, and USB ports provided comfort and convenience for passengers. The back seat was spacious and could slide forward and back to adjust cargo or passenger space. Storage options included a large glove compartment, a bin under the center armrest, and various door bins and seatback pockets. The Blazer's cargo space measured 30.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 64.2 cubic feet with the seats folded, which was smaller than many midsize SUVs.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims upgrading to an 8-inch reconfigurable 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 infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with two active simultaneously, and included a built-in WiFi hotspot. The standard six-speaker audio system was adequate, but the 10-speaker Bose system in higher trims offered better performance. Other standard features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance, digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer's infotainment system was user-friendly, with an 8-inch touchscreen display, high-resolution graphics, and physical controls for volume and tuning. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were standard, with an upgraded system offering satellite radio and connected navigation. Connected services included OnStar Safety and Security and a 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The infotainment system was easy to use, with separate stereo volume and tuning functions and climate controls. Enhanced voice recognition and connected navigation systems performed well, and the Blazer also featured wireless smartphone charging and an 8-speaker Bose audio system. Safety features included rear parking sensors, a high-resolution reversing camera, a 360-degree surround-view camera, and a rear camera mirror.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package now 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 trims added 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 NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2022 Chevrolet Blazer came standard with Chevy Safety Assist, which included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, low-speed automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional standard features included a rear-seat reminder system and Teen Driver technology. Available safety upgrades included a vibrating Safety Alert Seat, adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and LED headlights. The Blazer's advanced driving aids performed well, with smooth adaptive cruise control and effective lane-keeping assistance. However, the Blazer did not receive a "Top Safety Pick" rating from IIHS due to its headlight performance.