2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to Buick's glory days with its big, shiny, and impressive design. After a period of decline, Buick found its footing by offering globally-sourced and rebadged GM vehicles. The Enclave stood out as the largest of Buick's four SUVs, with a design that could compete with higher-priced three-row SUVs. The Avenir trim added a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, enhancing its premium look. Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured organic forms, a minimalist approach to controls, and tasteful polished accents, though the wood trim was not genuine.

In contrast, the 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer adopted a design theme similar to the smaller Grand Cherokee, with a high-mounted grille, LED headlights, and a boxy profile. It lacked retro styling cues like wood paneling, instead resembling an enlarged Grand Cherokee. The Wagoneer rode on a new body-on-frame architecture with independent front and rear suspension, saving weight with an aluminum hood and doors. Inside, the Wagoneer featured a central touchscreen framed by wing-like structures, a knurled engine start button, and a two-spoke flat-bottom steering wheel. However, the material quality fell short of expectations for a premium vehicle, with glossy plastic and heavily-lacquered wood trim.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. It offered a choice between front-wheel drive (FWD) and all-wheel drive (AWD). The Enclave's V6 engine provided strong acceleration, and the nine-speed automatic transmission delivered smooth shifts. The Enclave's suspension, especially with the Avenir Technology Package, offered a premium-tuned ride with continuously variable damping, making it suitable for various driving environments. The Enclave achieved an EPA-rated 21 mpg in combined driving, with a range of up to 460 miles on a full tank.

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer came with a 5.7-liter V8 mild-hybrid powertrain, producing 392 horsepower and 404 pound-feet of torque. The eTorque mild-hybrid system improved fuel economy but did not allow for electric-only driving. The Wagoneer featured an eight-speed automatic transmission and standard rear-wheel drive (RWD), with optional four-wheel drive (4WD) systems. The Quadra-Trac II and Quadra-Drive II systems enhanced off-road capability, while the Quadra-Lift air suspension provided up to 10 inches of ground clearance. The Wagoneer impressed with its quiet cabin and responsive V8 engine, though it exhibited body roll in corners and a shuddering sensation over bumps.

The 2021 Buick Enclave offered spacious and comfortable seating for six or seven passengers, with a focus on quietness and comfort. The Avenir trim featured 12-way power-adjustable front seats with massaging functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel. The Enclave's third-row seat was genuinely useful, with easy access through large rear doors. It provided 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.6 cubic feet with the second row folded.

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer could seat up to eight people with the standard second-row bench or seven with optional captain's chairs. It prioritized second- and third-row space, offering more legroom than other full-size SUVs. The Wagoneer provided 27.4 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row, 70.8 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 116.7 cubic feet with both rows folded. It boasted a maximum towing capacity of 10,000 pounds, surpassing its competitors. The Wagoneer also featured large storage bins and a covered storage cubby below the touchscreen, though forward visibility was hindered by the tall hood.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but fell short in screen size and high-end audio components. It featured an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB charging ports in all three rows. Upgrades included a premium sound system, navigation, wireless smartphone charging, and a surround-view camera system. The Avenir trim offered a rear camera mirror, providing a live video view of what was behind the Enclave.

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer was packed with tech, including a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.1-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. It could be equipped with up to 11 USB ports, a separate 10.25-inch touchscreen for the front passenger, Amazon Alexa connectivity, and Fire TV for Auto. The Wagoneer featured the latest Uconnect 5 system with an Android-based operating system and over-the-air updates. While the touchscreen's layout was user-friendly, it was slow, and the digital gauge cluster graphics were plain.

The 2021 Buick Enclave offered a range of safety features, but many were restricted to higher trim levels. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert were available from the Essence trim, while the Driver Confidence Plus Package, including forward-collision warning, low-speed automatic emergency braking, and lane-departure warning, was standard on Premium and Avenir trims. Adaptive cruise control with enhanced automatic emergency braking was available only with the Avenir Technology Package. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, though its frontal-impact protection rated four stars.

The 2022 Wagoneer Wagoneer came with standard driver-assist tech, including automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. Optional features included a surround-view camera system, digital rearview mirror, traffic-sign recognition, driver attention monitor, and night vision. Crash-test ratings from the IIHS and NHTSA were not available at the time of writing.