2022 Kia Seltos vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Kia Seltos was positioned between the smaller Soul and the larger Sportage, offering five trim levels: LX, S, EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX. All trims except the Seltos S included standard all-wheel drive (AWD), with prices ranging from $22,590 to $28,080, excluding a $1,255 destination charge. The Nightfall Edition, our test vehicle, featured matte-black 18-inch alloy wheels, a turbocharged engine, a dual-clutch transmission (DCT), a black grille, added body cladding, and robust roof rails, with an MSRP of $28,045, including the destination charge.

Inside, the Seltos displayed a stylish interior with a contrast-color dashboard panel, exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents. However, the abundance of shiny hard plastic made the interior look cheap, despite excellent build quality. The controls were logically arranged, with knobs for commonly adjusted features and matte-black buttons with clear markings. The purple accent color for the infotainment system was a minor drawback. Overall, the Seltos was larger, more useful, refined, and powerful than many of its direct rivals.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, historically known for its conservative styling, had undergone a significant transformation over the past 15 years, shifting from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio. The Enclave, a three-row crossover SUV, debuted in 2008 and received a redesign in 2018, moving further upmarket. 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 2022 Enclave boasted a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials. The available heated, cooled, and massaging front seats, along with heated second-row captain's chairs and unique trim and seat stitching in the Avenir trim, elevated the comfort level. Our test vehicle, an Enclave Avenir with the optional Technology package, featured Ebony perforated leather seats with Ebony accents, presenting an attractive color combination. While not quite reaching luxury levels, the Avenir trim offered a cut above in terms of materials and comfort.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options. The LX, S, and EX trims featured a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine producing 146 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The LX and EX included standard AWD, while the S trim offered both front-wheel drive (FWD) and AWD. The Nightfall Edition and SX trims came with a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine delivering 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).

The turbocharged engine provided a more engaging driving experience, with torque available between 1,500 and 4,500 rpm. The DCT exhibited some quirks but was preferable to the CVT. The Seltos offered Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. The AWD system included a Lock function for even power distribution at lower speeds, and the Seltos had a ground clearance of 7.3 inches. The multi-link rear suspension improved ride and handling, but the suspension tuning was less appealing, with noticeable impacts from speed bumps and potholes.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave came standard with FWD, with AWD available on all trims. The SUV's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Enclave provided a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to 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, with Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology enhancing cabin serenity. The powertrain was responsive, with good off-the-line acceleration and a nine-speed automatic transmission that performed seamlessly. The Enclave's 7.5 inches of ground clearance and AWD made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in form and function, offering a roomy interior with easy ingress and egress. The Nightfall Edition featured a six-way manually adjustable driver's seat and a tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, providing a comfortable driving position. The front passenger seat was mounted high enough for proper leg support. The Nightfall Edition included cloth upholstery with Sofino simulated leather bolsters, single-zone automatic climate control, and heated front seats. However, the upper door panel trim was composed of hard plastic.

The rear seat was spacious, with generous legroom and footroom, rear air conditioning vents, a USB charging port, and a center armrest with cupholders. The seatback angle was slightly reclined. The Seltos offered decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf and 26.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, expanding to 62.8 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due to its large windshield and window openings. The Enclave featured 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 accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room.

The restyled center console incorporated new push-button transmission gears, with a covered compartment housing two cupholders. The Enclave offered ample storage space, with 23.6 cubic feet of cargo room behind the third row, expanding to 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. Our test vehicle featured power-folding third-row seats for added convenience.

The 2022 Kia Seltos expanded the availability of its 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system to the S trim level, with the system standard on the EX, Nightfall Edition, and SX trims. The system included Bluetooth, navigation, connected services, satellite radio, and a six-speaker stereo, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto requiring a cable connection. The standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system in the LX and S trims offered wireless smartphone connectivity.

The infotainment system was intuitive to use, with volume and tuning knobs and physical buttons for quick access to primary functions. However, the system lacked a native conversational voice recognition system, making it frustrating to use without a smartphone's digital assistant. The connected services platform offered safety-related functions, including 911 Connect and programmable alerts for teen drivers.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting a larger 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim included 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 system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously, and included a built-in WiFi hotspot.

The Enclave's infotainment system had a familiar, easy-to-use interface, though some graphics appeared dated. The standard six-speaker audio system in the Essence trim was adequate, while the 10-speaker Bose system in Premium and Avenir trims was superior. The Enclave also included a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports, with charging and data ports in the front row and charging-only ports in the second and third rows.

The 2022 Kia Seltos came equipped with numerous driving assistance systems, including forward-collision avoidance, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keeping assist, lane-centering assist, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Seltos also featured a Rear Occupant Alert system. The EX trim added a blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alert, while the SX trim included adaptive cruise control, Highway Driving Assist, and Safe Exit Assist.

The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for the SX trim, with top marks for crashworthiness and crash-avoidance tech. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded the Seltos an overall rating of four stars, with a four-star performance in the front-passenger, frontal-impact crash test.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package becoming standard on all trims. The 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.

Other standard safety features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, rear-seat reminder system, and HD reversing camera. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave received a four-star rating for rollover resistance from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in all but one crash test from the IIHS, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.