2022 Volvo XC60 vs 2022 Buick Enclave

Volvo made subtle styling changes to the 2022 XC60, including a new front fascia with "air blades" for a sportier look, a rear bumper that hides the tailpipes, and new wheel designs. The front grille was reworked to move sensors behind the heated Volvo logo, ensuring functionality in cold weather. The XC60 shared its Scalable Product Architecture (SPA) platform with other Volvo models like the XC90 and S90. Inside, the XC60 retained its clean design with a new digital instrument cluster, a portrait-oriented touchscreen, and minimal clutter. The B6 R-Design model featured aluminum mesh speaker grilles and textured seats, while the Inscription trim offered Nappa leather upholstery and a leather-wrapped steering wheel.

Buick's 2022 Enclave received several exterior updates, including a new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave got a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim included standard climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching. The Enclave's interior was spacious and comfortable, with Ebony perforated leather seats in our test vehicle. While not quite reaching luxury levels, the Avenir trim's materials were a cut above, and the seats were extremely comfortable with heating, cooling, and massage functions.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 introduced new B5 and B6 mild-hybrid powertrains, replacing the previous T5 and T6 engines. Both powertrains combined a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a 48-volt electrical system and integrated starter generator, adding 13 horsepower in short bursts. The B6 also featured an electric supercharger. The B5 produced 258 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque, while the B6 offered 295 hp and 310 lb-ft. Both used an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the B5 available in FWD or AWD and the B6 in AWD only. The B5 accelerated from 0 to 60 mph in 6.5 seconds (6.6 seconds with FWD), and the B6 in 5.9 seconds. The XC60 Recharge plug-in hybrid delivered 400 hp and 472 lb-ft, with a 0 to 60 mph time of 5 seconds. The Polestar Engineered version increased output to 415 hp and 494 lb-ft, achieving 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain: a 3.6-liter V6 with direct injection, producing 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave came standard with FWD, with AWD available on all trims. It had a maximum towing capacity of 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 well on various terrains, offering a serene cabin experience thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The powertrain was responsive, with good off-the-line acceleration and a pleasant engine sound at wide-open throttle.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 maintained its competitive passenger space, with above-average front-seat headroom but limited rear-seat headroom. Legroom was average in both rows. Mild-hybrid models offered 21.6 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats up and 49.8 cubic feet with them down. Plug-in hybrid models had slightly less cargo capacity. The XC60 provided a commanding driving position with good visibility, despite the somewhat pinched roofline.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating. All 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 accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy. The restyled center console featured new push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with cupholders. The Enclave provided ample cargo space, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows down.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 received a tech overhaul, featuring a 9-inch touchscreen running the Android Automotive operating system, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, Bluetooth, and a built-in WiFi hotspot. The system included Google Assistant for voice control, Google Maps for navigation, and access to third-party apps via the Google Play Store. The new system enabled over-the-air software updates and promised full iPhone compatibility. The digital instrument cluster could display a map or a "Calm" setting to minimize distraction.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting an 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim had an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and 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 Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, while the Essence trim had a six-speaker system. The Enclave also came with a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports.

The 2022 Volvo XC60 had not been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA at the time of writing, but the 2021 model received top ratings from both organizations. Standard safety features included forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, automatic post-collision braking, a driver-attention monitor, traffic-sign recognition, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. New features for 2022 included Ready to Drive Notification and Emergency Stop Assist. The optional Pilot Assist system combined adaptive cruise control and automated lane centering.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims, including 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 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 rollover resistance rating from NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.