2023 Toyota RAV4 vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift for Buick, which had traditionally favored conservative styling and functional interiors. 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. Inside, the Enclave featured a restyled center console, upgraded materials, and available heated, cooled, and massaging front seats, especially in the top-tier Avenir trim.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 continued to offer a range of six trim levels, from the budget-friendly LE to the feature-rich Limited. The Adventure and TRD Off-Road trims stood out with their aggressive styling and off-road capabilities. Our Adventure trim tester featured a bold grille, blacked-out wheels, and orange interior accents. The RAV4's interior, while practical, leaned towards a rugged aesthetic with ample storage options and a lever-style gear shifter. The RAV4 provided competitive headroom and legroom, though it fell short in rear-seat width compared to rivals like the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester. Cargo space was generous, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept things straightforward with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available across all trims. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds. The Enclave excelled in providing a smooth, quiet ride, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Our Avenir test vehicle, equipped with the Technology package, featured a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping, ensuring a comfortable drive on various terrains. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain delivered responsive acceleration, and the nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 offered a single engine choice for its gas-powered models: a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine generating 203 horsepower and 184 lb-ft of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available on all trims except the Adventure and TRD Off-Road, which came with AWD by default. The RAV4's performance was adequate, though not particularly exciting, and the engine noise was noticeable. The Adventure trim, while visually rugged, lacked the off-road capabilities of the TRD Off-Road trim, which featured all-terrain tires and a TRD-tuned suspension.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, excellent visibility, and comfortable seating for up to six adults. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat and a six-way power front passenger seat, both heated. Premium and Avenir trims added four-way power lumbar with massage and heated second-row seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin provided ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room across all three rows. 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 push-button transmission gears and convenient access to USB ports and a wireless phone charging pad.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 seated five and offered competitive headroom and legroom, though it lagged behind the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester in rear-seat width. The RAV4 provided practical storage options, including a shelf running the length of the glove compartment and large door pockets. Cargo space was ample, with 37.5 cubic feet behind the second row and 69.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. The interior featured a rugged aesthetic, with side-by-side center cupholders and a lever-style gear shifter.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with an 8-inch reconfigurable version on Premium and Avenir 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 a built-in WiFi hotspot supporting up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims also featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Other notable features included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 introduced a new infotainment system with an 8.0-inch touchscreen as standard, and a 10.5-inch touchscreen on Limited and TRD Off-Road trims. The system supported over-the-air updates and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Our Adventure trim tester featured the upgraded multimedia system with a 10.5-inch screen and an 11-speaker JBL Premium audio system. A 7-inch driver-information display was standard, with a 12.3-inch version available on the Limited trim and as an option on the TRD Off-Road.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant strides in safety, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package now standard across all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional features on the Premium trim included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave received a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Toyota RAV4 came standard with Toyota Safety Sense 2.5, which included lane-departure warning with steering assist, automatic emergency braking, automatic high-beam LED headlights, and a pre-collision system with pedestrian detection. Adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert were also standard on higher trims. The RAV4 earned a 2023 Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS, thanks to its strong performance in crash tests and advanced safety features.