2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Hyundai Tucson

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson rode on a new platform and was offered in the U.S. as a long-wheelbase model with two rows of seating and an expanded cargo area. Its front featured a parametric grille that hid standard LED daytime running lights, Bi-LED headlights, and LED front turn signals. When illuminated, these lights formed a unique shape resembling the wings of the Aztec Spirit Bird. The side profile borrowed design elements from the Hyundai Elantra, including a silver D-pillar that created a floating roof effect. The rear showcased toothy taillights illuminated by LEDs in all but the base model, helping the Tucson stand out among compact SUVs.

The Tucson rode on either 17- or 19-inch wheels, depending on the trim level, with four different wheel designs available. High-end trims featured premium fascias, front and rear skid plates, gloss black pillars, and a panoramic sunroof. Standard features included roof rails (except on the SE trim), body-color side-mirror housing, solar glass, and acoustic laminated glass. Upgrading beyond the base model added heated outside mirrors with blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic avoidance assist indicators, turn signals, front aero wipers, and an optional sunroof. The cabin was well-appointed with standard stain- and odor-resistant cloth seats, with sport combination and leather-trimmed seats available on higher trims. Horizontal lines across the dashboard and an uncluttered aesthetic gave the interior a sense of spaciousness.

Historically, Buick took a conservative approach to styling, with softer character lines and simple, functional interiors. However, over the last 15 years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio, reflecting market trends. The Buick Enclave, introduced in 2008, replaced aging models and helped make Buick relevant again. A 2018 redesign moved the Enclave further upmarket, positioning it as the largest and most expensive model in Buick's lineup.

For 2022, the Enclave received a mid-cycle refresh with exterior styling enhancements, including a new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The top-of-the-line Avenir trim featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave got a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials. Available heated, cooled, and massaging front seats, along with heated second-row captain's chairs, added to the comfort. The Avenir trim also included unique trim and seat stitching, enhancing the overall luxury feel.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came in two powertrain variants: a 2.5-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine and a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder hybrid engine. A plug-in hybrid version was also planned. The ICE engine delivered 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid powertrain offered 226 combined horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. The hybrid was more powerful and fun to drive, especially in challenging conditions like a 7,000-foot elevation change.

The Tucson's hybrid powertrain outperformed competitors like the Ford Escape Hybrid, Honda CR-V Hybrid, and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid. All-wheel drive was standard on the hybrid and optional on ICE models. Front-wheel drive Tucsons were the most fuel-efficient, with the ICE engine achieving an EPA-estimated 26 mpg city, 33 mpg highway, and 29 mpg combined. The hybrid models were even more efficient, with the most efficient version getting 38 mpg city/highway/combined. The forthcoming Tucson PHEV was expected to offer 261 horsepower and 224 pound-feet of torque, making it the most powerful in the lineup.

Buick kept it simple with the Enclave, offering a single powertrain: a 3.6-liter V6 with direct injection, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This setup delivered 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. The Enclave came standard with front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available on all trims. The SUV's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Enclave provided a smooth, quiet ride, enhanced by the optional Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. The AWD-equipped test vehicle handled various terrains admirably, from highways to inner-city roads. The powertrain was responsive, with good off-the-line acceleration despite the vehicle's weight. The nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly, and the engine produced pleasant sounds at wide-open throttle. While not designed for off-roading, the Enclave's AWD and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions.

The Hyundai Tucson was a budget-friendly compact SUV with an interior that rivaled its competitors like the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, Nissan Rogue, and Ford Escape. It featured a six-way power-adjustable driver’s seat as standard, with an eight-way version available on higher trims. Drivers also got lumbar support, three-stage heated front seats, ventilated front seats, memory for the driver’s seat, and an eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat. The tilt and telescoping steering wheel was standard, with leather-wrapped and heated options on higher trims.

The new Tucson platform made the SUV more spacious, offering more room for passengers and cargo. The rear seats provided two inches more legroom than the RAV4, and the cabin had ample space for a family of four. The Tucson's 74.8 cubic-foot cargo area was comparable to the Forester, RAV4, and CR-V, and significantly larger than the Escape. The rear featured a 60-40 split-folding bench seat and a dual-level cargo floor on ICE models. A hands-free liftgate was available on mid-grade models and up.

The Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and windows. All 2022 Enclaves 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 heated second-row seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin provided ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room for passengers in all three rows.

The Enclave's third row was comfortable for six-footers, and the standard 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 ample storage, with 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space 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 made accessing the cargo space even easier.

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson came with a strong set of standard tech features, including an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, a six-speaker audio system, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, HD Radio, and two USB ports. A 4.2-inch multi-information display was in front of the driver. Moving up to the SEL/Blue trim added satellite radio, Blue Link mobile app compatibility, two additional USB outlets, rear air conditioning vents, and dual-zone automatic climate control with ionizer functionality. Higher trims offered a fully digital instrument cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen, though this required plugging in devices for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The larger screen was embedded within a black plastic head unit that included climate control and radio/media functionality. The touchpoints were responsive, but finding the right button while driving was challenging, making steering wheel controls and voice commands more critical. The narrow steering wheel controls, though stylish, were not as user-friendly as bulkier buttons.

From the Enclave's driver's seat, a standard 4.2-inch driver information center was available, with Premium and Avenir trims getting a larger, 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim featured 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 could handle up to four devices up to 50 feet away.

The standard six-speaker audio system in the Enclave Essence was adequate, but the 10-speaker Bose system in Premium and Avenir trims was far superior. The Enclave also came with a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports—two in each row. Other standard features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. 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 2022 Hyundai Tucson had not been tested and rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) or the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). The Hyundai SmartSense Safety Feature suite included standard features like forward collision-avoidance assist with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane-keep assist, automatic high beams, a driver attention monitor, rear occupant alert, speed limit assist, and leading vehicle departure alert. Additional features included blind-spot warning with collision avoidance assist, rear cross-traffic alert with collision avoidance assist, safe exit warning, adaptive cruise control with stop and go, a surround-view camera system, forward and reverse park distance warning, parking collision avoidance assist (rear), ultrasonic rear occupant alert, and remote parking assist. Hyundai backed the Tucson with a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, and 7-year anti-perforation warranty, along with 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary normal oil changes and tire rotations.

For 2022, Buick made the Driver Confidence Plus package 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, a rear-seat reminder system, and an 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 Buick Enclave, but it gave the Enclave four out of five stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Enclave the highest-possible "Good" ratings in all but one crash test: the updated side-impact test, for which the Enclave received an "Acceptable" score.