2022 Mitsubishi Outlander vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander presented a bold and distinctive design, characterized by its "Dynamic Shield" grille and lighting concept. This unique styling choice gave the Outlander a striking presence, while maintaining a balanced and appealing design from front to rear. Available in various trims, the Outlander offered standard or optional 20-inch wheels, with prices ranging from $25,795 to $35,345. The SEL trim, equipped with AWD and the Touring package, featured luxurious touches like premium semi-aniline leather, a heated steering wheel, and a panoramic sunroof, enhancing the overall interior ambiance. Despite some use of lower-grade plastics, the Outlander's minimalist interior design with aluminum accents provided a sophisticated feel.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more conservative yet refined approach to styling. Over the years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to a focus on SUVs, with the Enclave sitting atop its four-SUV lineup. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh, featuring new exterior styling elements and a restyled center console with push-button gears. The Avenir trim, in particular, offered unique design elements and luxurious interior features like climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably across all three rows, with ample cargo space and power-folding third-row seats for added convenience.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander was powered by a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, producing 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT), drove the front wheels, with an optional Super All-Wheel Control (S-AWC) AWD system available. Despite offering various driving modes, the Outlander's performance was underwhelming, particularly in higher-speed scenarios where it lacked the power to inspire confidence. The steering felt vague and disconnected, and the suspension was firm, leading to a less comfortable ride on uneven surfaces. The Outlander returned 24.9 mpg during testing, slightly below the EPA's rating of 26 mpg for AWD models.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine with direct injection, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This engine, coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided a smooth and responsive driving experience. The Enclave's AWD system and premium ride suspension, part of the Avenir Technology package, ensured a comfortable and composed ride across various terrains. Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology further enhanced the cabin's serenity, making the Enclave a pleasure to drive. Despite its size, the Enclave offered surprisingly good acceleration and a pleasant engine sound, adding a touch of personality to its performance.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander excelled in form and function, with roomy and comfortable front seats, intuitive controls, and impressive digital displays. However, the center console lacked storage space, and the third-row seat was cramped, suitable only for children. With the third row in use, cargo space was limited to 11.7 cubic feet, expanding to 33.5 cubic feet with the seats folded. Maximum cargo capacity reached 79.7 cubic feet, slightly reduced with the panoramic sunroof.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating across all three rows. The spacious cabin accommodated six adults comfortably, with second-row captain's chairs for easy access to the third row. The restyled center console featured push-button transmission gears, though concerns about potential spills affecting the electronic shifter components were noted. The Enclave provided ample cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 57.7 cubic feet with the seats folded, and a maximum of 97.4 cubic feet with both rows down.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander SEL with the Touring Package stood out with its 12.3-inch digital instrumentation display, a large and detailed HUD, and a 9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay. The system included a two-year subscription to Mitsubishi Connect services and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. However, the voice-recognition technology struggled with road noise, affecting its performance while driving.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with an 8-inch version on higher trims. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The system supported pairing up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims also offered a superior 10-speaker Bose audio system, though it lacked power for back-seat passengers. The Enclave included a range of standard and available safety features, enhancing its overall technology offering.

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander featured the Mi-Pilot Assist driver-assist system, similar to Nissan's ProPilot Assist, providing a hands-on Level 2 system for smooth and accurate driving assistance. The Outlander also included standard driver-assist technologies like forward collision avoidance, lane-keeping assistance, and blind-spot warning. However, crash-test results were unavailable at the time of review.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant updates to its safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This included features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, and lane-keeping assistance. Premium trims added enhanced safety features like adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera. 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.