2025 Buick Enclave vs 2025 Land Rover Defender

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern aesthetic, drawing inspiration from the compact Envista crossover. Its front end featured sharp design elements, including slim daytime running lights and a large, angular grille, giving it a striking presence. The side profile was more subdued, with fewer creases and a flatter roofline compared to its predecessor. The Enclave's wheel arches were slightly sharpened, adding a hint of sophistication. Standard 20-inch wheels adorned the base and Sport Touring trims, while the Avenir trim boasted 22-inch wheels with a unique finish. Inside, the Enclave exuded a premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display, reminiscent of futuristic electric vehicles. The Sport Touring trim featured perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, enhancing the interior's upscale ambiance. However, the limited availability of a panoramic sunroof was a drawback, especially for a near-luxury SUV.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender offered a rugged and customizable design, with the Defender 110 four-door model striking a balance between the stubby Defender 90 and the visually heavy Defender 130. The Defender's base prices ranged from $58,525 to $120,525, with the new Defender OCTA priced at $153,625. Our test vehicle, a Defender 130 in X trim, featured the Extended Black Exterior Pack and upgraded interior materials. It swapped standard 22-inch wheels for 20-inch ones with Pirelli Scorpion Zero tires. The Defender's interior boasted premium Windsor hides and Kvadrat fabric, with a focus on an industrial theme rather than traditional luxury. The cabin's purposeful design was complemented by features like illuminated door-sill treadplates and metal pedal covers. Despite its rugged appearance, the Defender's interior offered a sense of openness and practicality, making it a versatile choice for adventurous drivers.

The 2025 Buick Enclave was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, offering both front-wheel-drive (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations. The AWD option added $2,000 to the price and slightly reduced fuel economy 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 engine noise cancellation standard only on the top trim. The Enclave's driving dynamics were more akin to a full-size vehicle, with loose steering at slower speeds, making it less sporty but suitable for its class.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender, on the other hand, featured a turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a mild-hybrid system, producing 395 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. This engine was mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission with Sport and manual shift modes, connected to a standard AWD system with a low-range setting for off-roading. The Defender 130 X could accelerate to 60 mph in 6.3 seconds and had a maximum tow rating of 8,200 pounds. The adaptive air suspension, hill descent control, and Terrain Response 2 driving modes enhanced its off-road capabilities. Despite its off-road prowess, the Defender 130 was primarily driven on pavement, where it excelled in comfort and ride quality. However, its 20-inch wheels and Pirelli tires limited its enthusiasm for twisty roads. The Defender's fuel economy was rated at 19 mpg combined, but our observed figure was 16.2 mpg.

The 2025 Buick Enclave offered a spacious interior with eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. Captain's chairs in the second row allowed for a seven-person maximum capacity. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with the Avenir trim adding heated second-row seats and front-row ventilation. Tri-zone climate control was standard, and the power-folding third-row seats provided flexibility for cargo and passengers. The Enclave's cargo space measured 22.9 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 57.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows down.

In contrast, the 2025 Land Rover Defender 130 offered three rows of spacious seating, with 12-way power-adjustable front seats featuring heating and ventilation. The Defender's tall seating position provided excellent visibility, though the square side mirrors seemed undersized. A panoramic sunroof and fixed glass panel over the third row added to the open feel. The Defender's cargo space was less accommodating, with 15.3 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 43.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 89 cubic feet with all rear seats down. The side-hinged cargo door was heavy and awkward, but a button in the cargo area allowed for lowering the air suspension to ease loading.

The 2025 Buick Enclave showcased its premium positioning with a large 30-inch curved display, integrating the infotainment and digital gauge cluster. While the display was mostly seamless, smartphone projection interrupted its cohesiveness. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with the Avenir trim featuring 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 offered wired charging with two USB ports in each row.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender featured the Pivi Pro infotainment system with an 11.4-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. The system's response to voice commands was slower than preferred, but its accuracy was impressive. The user experience was more intuitive, and the Meridian premium sound system delivered excellent audio quality. The Defender also included a head-up display, ClearSight digital rearview mirror, and a surround-view camera system, enhancing visibility and ease of parking. The optional Towing Pack added a hands-free trailer reverse-steering system.

The 2025 Buick Enclave prioritized safety with a suite of advanced driver-assistance features, including 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 views. Adaptive cruise control was standard, while a head-up display was optional. The Enclave also featured GM's Teen Driver technology and Super Cruise, GM's highway hands-free driving technology, available on all trims for an additional cost. The 2025 Enclave had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2024 model received favorable ratings.

The 2025 Land Rover Defender came equipped with driver aids such as automatic high-beam headlights, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-departure warning, lane-keep assist, and adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go functionality. A lane-centering assist feature was available with adaptive cruise control. The Defender's driver assistance systems operated smoothly, though the lane-keep assist occasionally attempted to steer the vehicle into a turnout area. Crash-test ratings for the Defender were unavailable at the time of writing.