2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its sophistication with a longer body, revised fascias, and new LED lighting. The sporty N Line and Kona N trims added unique styling elements, such as body-color cladding and exclusive wheel designs, giving the Kona a more athletic appearance. Inside, the Kona's interior was redesigned for a more spacious look, with ambient lighting and a rear USB port for added convenience. The N Line trim featured sporty touches like red stitching and alloy sport pedals, while the Kona N boasted wide fenders and N sport bucket seats, emphasizing its performance-oriented nature.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave underwent a mid-cycle refresh, featuring a new grille, fascias, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim stood out with its unique styling elements, including body-colored lowers and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave's center console was restyled with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs, enhancing comfort. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with ample headroom and legroom. The Enclave's design focused on providing a premium, comfortable experience, aligning with Buick's transition to an SUV-focused lineup.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a diverse range of powertrains, catering to different performance preferences. The base SE and SEL trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower, paired with a CVT. For those seeking more power, the N Line and Limited trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter engine, delivering 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The performance-oriented Kona N boasted a turbocharged 2.0-liter engine, producing 276 horsepower and 289 pound-feet of torque, paired with an N eight-speed wet DCT. The Kona N included exclusive driving features like N Grin Shift and launch control, enhancing its sporty appeal. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line with AWD, provided ample power and agile handling, making it enjoyable to drive in various settings.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept it simple with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave's AWD system and premium ride suspension, part of the Avenir Technology package, contributed to a smooth and comfortable ride. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain delivered responsive acceleration, and the nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly. The Enclave's QuietTuning technology ensured a serene cabin environment, rivaling luxury vehicles. While not designed for off-road adventures, the Enclave's AWD and ground clearance provided confidence in light off-road conditions.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while compact, offered a comfortable front-seat experience with ample headroom and legroom. However, rear-seat occupants faced challenges with limited space and small door openings. The Kona's cargo space was modest, with 19.2 cubic feet behind the rear seats, expanding to 45.8 cubic feet with the seats folded. Towing was not recommended for the Kona, limiting its utility for larger loads.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in providing a spacious and comfortable cabin for all passengers. With generous headroom, legroom, and shoulder room, the Enclave accommodated six adults comfortably. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated easy access to the third row. The Enclave's cargo space was impressive, offering 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The power-folding third-row seats added convenience for accessing the ample cargo space.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona featured an upgraded infotainment system, starting with an 8-inch display on the base SE trim. The N Line and above trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and traffic information. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard with the base screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona also included Hyundai Blue Link, providing connected services like remote engine start and stolen-vehicle recovery. The infotainment system was user-friendly, and the standard tech features added value to the entry-level model.

The 2022 Buick Enclave's infotainment system included an 8-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's system supported pairing up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot for connectivity. The Enclave also featured a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Available features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display enhanced the driving experience. The Enclave's infotainment system was intuitive, though some graphics appeared dated.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assistance, and driver attention warning. Available technologies included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received five stars from the NHTSA for overall crash protection and "Good" ratings from the IIHS in crashworthiness tests. However, the Kona's child-seat anchors received a "Marginal" rating, preventing it from achieving Top Safety Pick status.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came standard with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package, including features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Premium trim added enhanced emergency braking and adaptive cruise control. The Enclave received "Good" ratings from the IIHS in most crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Enclave at the time of writing.