Buick Enclave vs Toyota Grand Highlander

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was a standout in Toyota's lineup of crossovers and SUVs, offering a range of options from all-gas to hybrid-powered models. Built on the TNGA-K platform, it shared its underpinnings with the regular Highlander, RAV4, Sienna, and Camry, distinguishing itself from the body-on-frame Sequoia. With a length of 201.4 inches and a 116.1-inch wheelbase, it was larger than competitors like the Kia Telluride, providing a spacious interior. Its design, inspired by rugged vehicles, featured a blockier style with a trapezoidal grille and narrow headlights, reminiscent of the 4Runner. The Grand Highlander was available in three trims: XLE, Limited, and Platinum, with interior options ranging from Softex synthetic leather to real leather in higher trims. It boasted features like a 10-way power-adjustable driver seat, heated front seats, and a large center console, making it a comfortable and well-built road-trip vehicle.

The 2025 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, presented a bold and modern appearance, resembling a scaled-up version of the Envista. Its design featured slim DRLs, a large angular grille, and a high beltline, giving it a sharp look. The Enclave's interior exuded a premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display, reminiscent of electric vehicles. The seats in the Sport Touring trim were trimmed in perforated leatherette with contrast piping, adding a touch of luxury. However, the limited sunroof availability was a drawback, with the panoramic power sunroof only available on higher trims. The Enclave's design was more upright with fewer creases, and it came with 20-inch wheels on the base trim and 22-inch wheels on the Avenir trim, enhancing its overall aesthetic.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander offered three engine options, starting with a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. For those prioritizing fuel efficiency, a 2.5-liter four-cylinder hybrid option delivered 245 combined net horsepower and 177 lb-ft of torque. The top-tier Hybrid Max powertrain, a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder hybrid, generated 362 combined net horsepower and 400 combined net lb-ft of torque. Both gas and hybrid engines were available with front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD), while the Hybrid Max was AWD-only. The Hybrid Max offered impressive acceleration with a zero-to-60 time of 6.3 seconds. The Grand Highlander was known for its solid brakes and adequate acceleration, though its steering feel was somewhat numb. It featured three drive modes: Sport, Eco, and Normal, with additional modes for AWD-equipped models.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came with a single powerplant: a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. Power was routed through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either the front or all four wheels, with AWD available for an extra $2,000. The Enclave's fuel economy was slightly affected by AWD, dropping from 23 to 21 mpg combined. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The Enclave featured two versions of Active Noise Cancellation, with the engine noise cancellation standard only on the top trim. The turbo engine was noted for being loud and revving more than expected. The Enclave drove like a full-size vehicle, with loose steering at slower speeds, but this was not a major concern for its target audience.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander was larger than its primary rivals, measuring 201.4 inches in length with a 116.1-inch wheelbase. This extra length translated to increased storage space, with a total cargo capacity of 97.5 cubic feet. Behind the second-row seats, it offered 57.9 cubic feet, and with all three rows up, there were still 20.6 cubic feet available. The Grand Highlander provided ample head, leg, and shoulder room in every row, making it comfortable for passengers, even in the third row.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger's seat. It had captain's chairs in the second row, accommodating up to seven passengers. The steering wheel and front seats were heated by default, with heated second-row seats and ventilation for the front row available on the Avenir trim. The Enclave offered tri-zone climate control, allowing passengers in the middle row to manage their own temperature. The power-folding third-row seats formed a bench with a 60/40 split configuration. 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 folded.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander came equipped with a 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a significant improvement over previous models. An intelligent assistant, activated by saying "Hey Toyota," was available via a connected-services subscription, handling tasks like adjusting the temperature and changing radio stations. The system included cloud-based navigation software and 24/7 live agent assistance. Standard features included dual-device Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. The Limited and Platinum trims featured an 11-speaker JBL stereo, providing a balanced audio experience. Streaming audio integration and Sirius XM satellite radio were available, with a three-month trial included.

The 2025 Buick Enclave showcased its premium positioning with a large curved display, standard across all trims. This 30-inch ultrawide touchscreen integrated the infotainment display and digital gauge cluster. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with a 16-speaker Bose Performance system available on the Avenir trim. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In, which included Google Maps and Google Assistant. The Enclave also offered Wi-Fi hotspot capability and wired charging with two USB ports in each row.

The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander had not yet been crash-tested by the NHTSA or IIHS. However, it came with Toyota Safety Sense 3.0 (TSS 3.0) as standard, featuring automatic emergency braking, lane-departure alert with steering assist, lane-tracing assist, road-sign recognition, and blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, offering four following-distance settings.

The 2025 Buick Enclave was equipped with a comprehensive suite of safety and advanced driver-assistance technologies. Newly standard features included 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. The Enclave also featured GM's Teen Driver technology and was the first Buick to offer Super Cruise, GM's highway hands-free driving technology. The 2024 Enclave had received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA and performed well in most IIHS tests.