2022 Hyundai Santa Fe vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave had a conservative yet functional design, reflecting its older customer base who valued comfort and tradition over cutting-edge style. Over the past 15 years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio, aligning with market trends. The Enclave, introduced in 2008, replaced older models and received a significant redesign in 2018, positioning it as Buick's flagship SUV. The 2022 mid-cycle refresh brought new exterior styling, including a unique grille and 20-inch wheels for the Avenir trim. Inside, the Enclave featured upgraded materials, a restyled center console, and climate-controlled front seats in the Avenir trim, enhancing comfort and luxury.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT, however, did not impress with its new treatment. The XRT trim, priced between the SE/SEL and Limited/Calligraphy trims, included side steps that impeded entry and exit and reduced off-road capability. Our test vehicle, in Portofino Gray with a black cloth interior, lacked visual contrast. Despite this, the interior patterns and brightwork made the cabin pleasant. The XRT trim demonstrated thoughtful design and high quality for its price point, though it didn't match the upscale feel of higher trims like the Limited or Calligraphy.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured 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. The Enclave offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. It had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds. The Enclave provided a smooth, quiet ride, enhanced by the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, and the nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly. The Enclave's cabin remained serene, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology.

In contrast, the 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT was equipped with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 191 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, was adequate for everyday driving but lacked the power for more demanding situations. The Santa Fe offered Comfort, Smart, Sport, and Snow driving modes, with the Smart mode best suited for low-demand driving. The XRT trim averaged 22.3 mpg, slightly below the EPA rating of 24 mpg. The Santa Fe's ride quality was good, with excellent suspension isolation and a quiet cabin. However, the engine struggled on hills and during rapid acceleration.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, excellent visibility, and comfortable seating with power adjustments and heating. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated six adults comfortably, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs provided easy access to the third row. The restyled center console featured push-button transmission gears, though their placement raised concerns about potential spills. The Enclave offered 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, expanding to 97.4 cubic feet with all seats folded. Power-folding third-row seats added convenience.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a dual-zone automatic climate control system and rear air conditioning vents. The eight-way power-adjustable driver's seat and heated front seats provided comfort, though the front passenger seat lacked height adjustment. The Santa Fe's rear seats offered generous legroom and foot room, with rear side-window shades and USB charging ports. Storage space was adequate, with various compartments and a hands-free power-opening "Smart Tailgate." The Santa Fe provided 36.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats, expanding to 72.1 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came with a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, upgraded to an 8-inch version in higher trims. The Essence trim featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system supported up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims included a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Other notable features included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT featured a 12.3-inch digital instrumentation panel and an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The system was user-friendly, with large knobs and clean graphics. The XRT trim included Hyundai's digital key technology, though it was limited to Android devices. The Santa Fe also featured a Leading Vehicle Departure Alert system and Bluelink connected services with a complimentary three-year subscription. Higher trims offered a larger touchscreen and a 12-speaker Harman Kardon sound system.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant updates to its safety tech, standardizing the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package across all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance, and more. Additional features in higher trims included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. 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 Hyundai Santa Fe XRT came with Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of driver-assist and collision-avoidance systems. These included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, and adaptive cruise control. The XRT trim also featured Junction Turning Detection and Safe Exit Assist. The Santa Fe's ultrasonic rear occupant alert system monitored the interior for movement and could alert the driver if necessary. The Santa Fe earned a Top Safety Pick+ rating from IIHS and five-star ratings from NHTSA, except for a four-star rollover resistance score.