2022 Buick Enclave vs 2023 Lexus GX

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift in Buick's design philosophy. Historically known for its conservative styling, Buick had transitioned to a more modern and upscale look over the past 15 years. The Enclave, with its refreshed exterior featuring a new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs, was a testament to this change. The Avenir trim level, in particular, stood out with its unique grille and body-colored lowers. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials, enhancing the overall comfort and luxury feel. The Avenir trim further elevated the experience with standard climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching.

In contrast, the 2023 Lexus GX maintained a bold and imposing presence with its massive spindle grille and 8.1 inches of ground clearance. The GX's design was both rugged and sleek, with big, flared fenders and a hood that fell away from sight, making it easier to navigate technical driving. The interior, however, was a mix of luxury and disappointment. While it featured heated and cooled front seats, a power-retracting steering wheel, and impressive leather upholstery, the abundance of plastic materials detracted from its luxury badge. The GX's design had not seen a generational update in 14 years, and it showed in some areas, but it still managed to offer a comfortable and functional interior.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, providing smooth and responsive performance. 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's ride quality was exceptional, thanks to the optional Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The Enclave handled various terrains with ease, offering a quiet and comfortable ride, enhanced by Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology.

The 2023 Lexus GX, on the other hand, was defined by its 4.6-liter V8 engine, delivering 301 horsepower and 329 pound-feet of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. While the V8 provided a satisfying and linear power delivery, it lagged behind more modern engines in terms of performance and fuel efficiency. The GX had a towing capacity of 6,500 pounds, making it more capable than most three-row crossovers. However, its fuel economy was a drawback, with EPA estimates of 15 mpg city, 19 highway, and 16 combined. The GX's weight and older design also affected its handling, but it remained predictable and controllable, especially with its Torsen torque-sensing limited-slip differential and standard four-wheel drive system.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered excellent ingress and egress, with large windshield and window openings providing great visibility. The interior was spacious, with comfortable seating for up to six adults. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the restyled center console with push-button transmission gears added to the convenience. The Enclave also provided ample cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a generous 97.4 cubic feet with both rows down. The power-folding third-row seats further enhanced the practicality of the Enclave.

The 2023 Lexus GX featured a deep and spacious center console bin, a handy space for a phone, and conveniently placed cupholders. The decision to stick with hard buttons for controls was a practical choice, though the abundance of buttons required some getting used to. The second row was comfortable, with captain's chairs and good legroom and headroom. However, the third row was tight and best suited for occasional use. The GX's cargo space was limited, with only 11.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 46.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 64.7 cubic feet with both rows down, which was less than some compact SUVs.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with an 8-inch reconfigurable version available on higher trims. 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 Premium and Avenir trims also featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Other notable features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, and HD surround vision.

The 2023 Lexus GX had a 10.3-inch touchscreen that was a significant improvement over the previous system, offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa integration. The Lexus Remote Touch Interface was still present but rendered unnecessary by the improved touchscreen. The GX also included three years of Lexus Enform Remote and a 17-speaker Mark Levinson premium stereo. However, the infotainment system felt dated compared to other Lexus models, with lagging performance and less crisp graphics. The GX excelled in off-road capability, with a real 4WD system, downhill assist, hill-start assist, traction control, and stability control. The Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System and Off-Road Package further enhanced its off-road prowess.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates in its driver-assist and 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. 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 high ratings from the IIHS, except for an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Lexus GX had not been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS, but it included several advanced driver assistance systems. These included automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert, adaptive cruise control, parking assist, and automatic high beams. Despite its older design, the GX's safety features were up-to-date, providing a good level of protection and assistance.