2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 marked a significant departure from its predecessor, the original Ioniq, by establishing itself as a standalone brand focused solely on electric vehicles. This new model showcased a futuristic design with its Parametric Pixel theme, reminiscent of retro gaming aesthetics. The exterior was a blend of minimalistic lines and intricate lighting details, creating a concept car-like appearance. Despite its bold design, the Ioniq 5 maintained a sense of practicality with aerodynamic wheels and a spacious interior. Inside, the cabin offered a serene "Living Space" environment with sustainable materials and a Relaxation mode for the driver's seat, emphasizing comfort and eco-friendliness.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more traditional approach with its conservative yet elegant design. Over the years, Buick had shifted its focus from sedans to SUVs, and the Enclave stood as a testament to this transformation. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh, featuring updated exterior elements like a new grille and wheel designs. Inside, the Enclave boasted a refined interior with upgraded materials and a restyled center console. The Avenir trim level added a touch of luxury with exclusive features, making the Enclave a comfortable and spacious choice for families seeking a premium ride.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 offered a range of powertrains and configurations, catering to different driving preferences. It came in SE, SEL, and Limited trims, with rear-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive available. The base SE Standard Range featured a 128-kW rear motor producing 168 horsepower and a range of 220 miles. The extended-range variants, with a 168-kW motor, delivered 225 hp and 303 miles of range. The AWD version, with dual motors, offered 320 hp and 446 lb-ft of torque, though the range dropped to 256 miles. The Ioniq 5 excelled in providing a quiet and composed ride, with features like Sport mode and adjustable regenerative braking enhancing the driving experience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, kept things straightforward with a single powertrain option. It featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. The Enclave offered front-wheel drive as standard, with all-wheel drive available. Its towing capacity reached 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave impressed with its smooth and quiet ride, thanks to features like the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain provided responsive acceleration, making it a capable and comfortable choice for long journeys.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 utilized the Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), optimizing interior space and utility. With a longer wheelbase than the Hyundai Palisade, the Ioniq 5 offered a roomy cabin with 133.7 cubic feet of interior volume. It prioritized passenger comfort with features like a moveable center console and leatherette seats. The Ioniq 5's design allowed for easy entry and exit, and its spacious interior made it a practical choice for families.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, as a midsize crossover, provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. It featured an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers in all three rows, with ample headroom and legroom. The second-row captain's chairs added versatility, and the Enclave offered generous cargo space, with up to 97.4 cubic feet available when both rear rows were folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 impressed with its advanced technology, featuring a high-voltage energy-dense system with vehicle-to-load capabilities. It supported ultra-fast charging, reaching 80% battery capacity in just 18 minutes. The Ioniq 5 also offered a redesigned Blue Link app, digital key, and AI-powered voice recognition. Its 12.3-inch screens for the instrument cluster and infotainment were elegantly designed and user-friendly, enhancing the overall driving experience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided a user-friendly infotainment system with an 8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system allowed for easy pairing of multiple devices, and its built-in WiFi hotspot supported up to four devices. The Enclave also featured a range of driver-assist technologies, including adaptive cruise control and a head-up display, enhancing safety and convenience.

The 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5 came equipped with Hyundai SmartSense, a suite of advanced driving assistance systems. Standard features included blind-spot monitoring, lane-departure warning, and collision avoidance. The Ioniq 5 also featured Hyundai Highway Drive Assist I, a Level 2 semi-autonomous driving system with machine-learning adaptive cruise control. While crash-safety ratings were not yet available, Hyundai's track record with IIHS Top Safety awards suggested high safety standards for the Ioniq 5.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package now standard on all trims. This package included features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Premium trims added enhanced safety features, such as adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera. The Enclave earned "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.