2022 Buick Enclave vs 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift in Buick's design philosophy. Historically, Buick had favored conservative styling with softer lines and functional interiors, catering to an older demographic more interested in comfort than cutting-edge design. 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 upmarket feel. The 2022 mid-cycle refresh brought exterior enhancements like a new grille, updated fascias, and redesigned headlamps and taillamps. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave received a restyled center console, upgraded materials, and available heated, cooled, and massaging front seats, with the Avenir trim offering additional luxury touches.

In contrast, the 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid marked the most significant styling departure for the model to date. The new CR-V adopted a more assertive, truck-like appearance, with a longer and wider body, giving it a muscular stance. The classic D-pillar taillights were updated with three L shapes for a modern look, and the rear end became blockier to match the bold front fascia. The Sport Touring trim featured black roof rails, mirrors, dual chrome exhaust finishers, and 19-inch wheels. Inside, the CR-V Hybrid followed the design direction of the 2022 Civic and 2023 HR-V, with a honeycomb grille spanning the dash and high-quality materials. The Sport Touring cabin included contrast stitching on the seats and steering wheel, enhancing its premium feel.

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. This setup delivered 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. The Enclave came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. It had a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave was known for its quiet and smooth ride, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The Avenir Technology package added a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping, enhancing the driving experience. Despite its size and weight, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly. The Enclave handled various terrains well, from highways to city streets, although it wasn't designed for off-road adventures.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid offered a simplified powertrain lineup, with buyers choosing between a turbocharged or hybrid setup. The hybrid powertrain combined a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with a two-motor hybrid-electric system, producing 204 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque, making it the most powerful CR-V to date. The hybrid setup provided a responsive driving experience, particularly useful for highway merging. The CR-V Hybrid introduced a fourth drive mode, Snow, in addition to Sport, Normal, and Econ, adjusting accelerator response for different conditions. The updated Real Time AWD system could send up to 50% of engine torque to the rear wheels, and a new hill-descent control system was included. The "B" shifter position allowed for increased regenerative braking, approximating a one-pedal driving experience. The CR-V Hybrid also offered a front-wheel drive option, achieving impressive fuel efficiency ratings of 43 mpg city, 36 highway, and 40 combined.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in providing a spacious and comfortable interior. Ingress and egress were easy, and visibility was excellent. The Enclave came standard 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 second-row heated seats. The Enclave's cabin was roomy, 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 second-row captain's chairs made access easy. The restyled center console featured new push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with cupholders. The Enclave offered generous 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 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid benefited from its larger exterior, translating to more interior volume. Cargo space increased by 3 cubic feet over the 2022 model, with 36.3 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 76.5 cubic feet with them folded. This was comparable to the 2023 Hyundai Tucson Hybrid and more than the 2022 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. The Sport Touring model featured a hands-free power tailgate, and all CR-Vs had wide-opening rear doors for easy access. Rear seat legroom increased to 41 inches, accommodating taller passengers comfortably. The reclining rear seats offered eight positions, maximizing headroom and cargo space flexibility. The cubby ahead of the shifter could hold two smartphones side by side, and the console provided best-in-class storage. The CR-V Hybrid's interior was designed with practicality and comfort in mind, making it a strong contender for families.

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. A built-in WiFi hotspot supported up to four devices up to 50 feet away. The system was user-friendly, though some graphics appeared dated. The Premium and Avenir trims included a 10-speaker Bose audio system, which, while superior to the standard six-speaker system, could have used more power. The Enclave also came with a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports, two in each row. 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 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid catered to consumers' preference for physical buttons for important functions. The standard 7-inch touchscreen display had physical volume and tuning knobs, while the 9-inch touchscreen on the Sport Touring trim had a volume knob and hard Seek buttons. Both Hybrid models included two USB-A and two USB-C ports, Bluetooth connectivity, dual-zone climate control, heated mirrors, and heated front seats. The Sport Touring trim added driver’s seat memory, a four-way power-adjustable front passenger’s seat, heated steering wheel, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, Sirius XM, HD radio, Wi-Fi capability, a wireless charging pad, and a 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system. The Sport Touring also featured Honda’s smart navigation system, optimizing fuel efficiency based on the route. The CR-V Hybrid's technology offerings were comprehensive, ensuring a connected and comfortable driving experience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech. The Buick Driver Confidence Plus package became standard on all Enclaves, including features like 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 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, a 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 it "Good" ratings in all but one crash test, where it received an "Acceptable" score.

The 2023 Honda CR-V Hybrid came with the Honda Sensing suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies as standard, with new and updated systems for 2023. The collision mitigation, road-departure mitigation, and lane-keeping assist systems were improved for smoother use, as was adaptive cruise control. New safety features included traffic jam assist, traffic sign recognition, and low-speed braking control for the top two trims. A blind-spot information system and cross-traffic monitor were newly standard, and the top trims got a parking sensor system. The new rear-seat reminder and rear seatbelt reminder were also standard. The CR-V Hybrid had already earned a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and five stars from the NHTSA. New airbags, dashboard patches, and a 15% stiffer structure provided additional protection, and increased visibility helped avoid collisions.