2025 Buick Enclave vs 2024 Land Rover Defender

The 2024 Land Rover Defender presented a unique blend of classic and modern design elements. Its boxy profile and angular headlights paid homage to its rugged heritage while aligning with contemporary Land Rover aesthetics. Inside, the Defender felt robust and adventure-ready, with a cabin that emphasized durability over luxury, reminiscent of a Jeep Wrangler or Ford Bronco but with more refined materials. The Defender was available in three body styles: the two-door 90, the four-door 110, and the extended-wheelbase four-door 130, each offering various trims like the S, X-Dynamic SE, X, Carpathian Edition, and Outbound. Our test drive of the Defender 110 S, equipped with the County visual package, highlighted its retro appeal with white wheels and vintage graphics, though it also catered to those preferring a modern look with aggressive styling options.

In contrast, the 2025 Buick Enclave showcased a more upscale and modern appearance, drawing inspiration from the compact Envista crossover. Its front end featured slim DRLs, a large angular grille, and a high beltline, giving it a bold presence. The Enclave's side profile was more generic, but overall, it appeared sharper and more refined than its predecessor. Standard 20-inch wheels adorned the base Preferred trim and Sport Touring, while the top-tier Avenir boasted 22-inch wheels with a special finish. Inside, the Enclave exuded a premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display, echoing the futuristic vibe of electric vehicles. The Sport Touring trim we tested had perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, enhancing its luxurious ambiance. However, the limited sunroof availability was a drawback, with the panoramic power sunroof only standard on the top trim.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender offered a range of powertrains, starting with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the P300, delivering 296 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. Our P400 test model featured a mild-hybrid turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six, producing 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. For those seeking more power, two supercharged 5.0-liter V8 options were available: the P500 with 493 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, and the P525 with 518 hp and 461 lb-ft of torque. All engines were paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission and full-time active four-wheel drive. The Defender's towing capacity varied, with the six-cylinder and eight-cylinder models capable of towing up to 7,716 pounds, while the four-cylinder could tow up to 5,500 pounds. The Defender excelled in off-road capabilities, particularly the Defender X, which featured an adaptive air suspension system and Terrain Response 2 system. Our P400 test model provided ample power for highway driving, though it exhibited a slight lurch at low speeds, likely due to its off-road gearing.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came with a single powertrain: a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, with front-wheel-drive standard and all-wheel-drive available for an additional $2,000. The Enclave's fuel economy was slightly affected by the AWD option, dropping from 23 to 21 mpg combined. The Enclave could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Buick offered two versions of Active Noise Cancellation, with the road noise-targeting iteration standard across all trims. However, the engine noise cancellation was only standard on the top trim, leaving our test model without it. The turbo engine was somewhat loud and revved more than expected, making the optional noise cancellation a worthwhile consideration. The Enclave drove like a full-size vehicle, with loose steering at slower speeds, but this was not a significant issue for its target audience.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender struck a balance between luxury and practicality, featuring soft-touch materials alongside functional elements like grip handles and rubberized floors. It offered seating for five to eight passengers, depending on the configuration and body style. The Defender 110 had an optional third row best suited for children, while the Defender 130 increased seating capacity to eight but remained limited in space. Cargo capacity varied, with the Defender 130 offering up to 76.1 cubic feet with all rear seats folded. The Defender 110 provided 78.8 cubic feet in its two-row version, while the two-door Defender 90 offered up to 58.3 cubic feet. Our test model's cargo area featured hard plastic surfaces, making it easy to clean.

The 2025 Buick Enclave provided eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. It accommodated up to seven passengers with standard captain's chairs in the second row. The Enclave Avenir added heated second-row seats and front-row ventilation, along with a two-position memory feature. Tri-zone climate control was standard, with middle-row passengers able to adjust their temperature. The top trim offered one-touch power-folding for the second and third rows, while lower trims required manual folding. The AutoSense liftgate opened to reveal 22.9 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 97.5 cubic feet with all rear seats folded.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender featured a 12.3-inch digital instrument panel and an 11.4-inch touchscreen, which, while smaller than some competitors, complemented its utilitarian design. The system included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, satellite radio, HD radio, and a 10-speaker Meridian stereo. The straightforward setup and home buttons made it user-friendly, appealing to those who preferred simplicity over large touchscreens.

The 2025 Buick Enclave's technology offerings highlighted its premium positioning. A 30-inch ultrawide touchscreen integrated the infotainment display and digital gauge cluster, though Apple CarPlay interrupted its seamless appearance. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with the Avenir trim upgrading to a 16-speaker Bose Performance system. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. The Enclave provided wired charging with two USB ports in each row.

The 2024 Land Rover Defender came equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard driver assistance features, including forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control, pedestrian detection, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Additional safety tech included traffic sign recognition, automatic high beams, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and a 360-degree parking camera system. However, the lane-departure and lane-keeping assist were overly sensitive, potentially causing interference during normal driving. As of this writing, the Defender had not been crash-tested by the IIHS or NHTSA.

The 2025 Buick Enclave prioritized safety with an array of advanced driver-assistance features. Newly standard for 2025 were blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with seven selectable camera views was standard, with an option to increase to nine. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, while a head-up display was optional. The Enclave included GM's Teen Driver technology and offered Super Cruise, GM's hands-free highway driving technology, as an option. The 2025 Enclave had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2024 model received favorable ratings, with some areas for improvement.