2022 Mazda CX-30 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 more upscale experience. The 2022 mid-cycle refresh brought new exterior styling elements and interior upgrades, particularly in the Avenir trim, which featured unique design touches and enhanced comfort features like climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30, on the other hand, was a stylish subcompact SUV that borrowed design cues from the larger CX-5. It rode on the same platform as the Mazda3, essentially serving as a raised-up version of the Mazda3 hatchback. The CX-30's cabin was noted for its comfort and quietness, with a solid feel to all its components. The interior design was one of the best in its class, blending conventional and digital displays seamlessly. However, the infotainment system, controlled by a rotary dial, had a steep learning curve, which detracted from its otherwise elegant design.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept things straightforward 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. The Enclave offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available across all trims. It had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave was praised for its smooth and quiet ride, enhanced by the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. Despite its size and weight, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, providing good off-the-line acceleration and a surprisingly pleasant engine sound at full throttle.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 came with two engine options. The base engine was a 2.5-liter four-cylinder producing 186 horsepower and 186 pound-feet of torque. Our test model featured the upgraded 2.5-liter turbocharged engine, which delivered 227 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque on regular fuel, and 250 horsepower and 320 pound-feet on premium fuel. Power was routed to all four wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission. The turbocharged engine provided decent acceleration, especially in Sport mode, which altered throttle response and shift mapping for a livelier drive. The CX-30's sporty and refined ride was complemented by well-weighted steering and quick, precise turn-in, though it did result in a rougher ride over potholes and uneven surfaces.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and windows. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat and a 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 second-row heated seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin comfortably accommodated passengers in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. 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. The restyled center console featured new push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment for cupholders and USB ports.

The 2022 Mazda CX-30 provided up to 45.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded and 20.2 cubic feet with the seats in use, which was average for its segment. The Turbo Premium Plus model included a power rear liftgate. The front seats featured a sliding center console cover, which could get stuck under the rear seats when folded. Despite this design flaw, the center console offered ample space for personal items, and the front doors had deep pockets for large water bottles. Rear seats provided adequate headroom for adults on short-to-medium trips, though longer drives might be less comfortable due to limited rear-seat headroom compared to larger models like the CX-5.

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, supporting wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The system could pair up to 10 devices, with two active simultaneously, and included a built-in WiFi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims also featured 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 2022 Mazda CX-30's infotainment system was controlled by a rotary dial and toggle buttons, with no touch functionality. This setup, inspired by luxury systems like BMW's iDrive, was criticized for its poor usability. Navigating out of Apple CarPlay was particularly cumbersome. Despite these drawbacks, the system was elegant and integrated well into the dash. The CX-30 also featured a head-up display with crisp graphics, easily readable even with polarized lenses. The Turbo Premium Plus model included a 360-degree parking camera and adaptive front headlights, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package becoming standard across 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 features on higher trims included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a 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 Mazda CX-30 came with a comprehensive suite of standard driver-assistance features, including forward collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic high beams, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, rain-sensing wipers, and adaptive cruise control. The Turbo Premium Plus model added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, traffic-sign recognition, front-and-rear parking sensors, and reverse automatic emergency braking. The CX-30 earned five stars from NHTSA and the highest Top Safety Pick+ award from IIHS, with top marks in all crash tests and a "Superior" rating for its driver-assistance technology.