2021 Cadillac Escalade vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade epitomized luxury and grandiosity, standing as a symbol of modern opulence designed to leave a lasting impression. Cadillac drew inspiration from its impressive concept vehicles, particularly the Escala, to craft the redesigned 2021 Escalade. From its distinguished face to its robust standard 22-inch wheels, the Escalade maintained its iconic, boxy silhouette while accentuating it with crisp creases along the flanks and vertical OLED taillights that stretched upward, melding seamlessly into the roof.

Its price started at $76,195 for a basic black-on-black model with leatherette upholstery and rear-wheel drive (RWD), decent in terms of equipment but limited in terms of premium options. Many buyers leaned towards the Premium Luxury trim at $82,995 or the Sport trim at $85,995, both offering more upscale features. For those craving the pinnacle of luxury, a Platinum trim was available for $99,995, with an additional $3,000 for the extended-length ESV version.

In terms of interior luxury, the 2021 Escalade surpassed its siblings, the Chevrolet Tahoe High Country and GMC Yukon Denali, by a significant margin. The cabin reflected its hefty price tag, with higher trims offering semi-aniline premium leather, leather-wrapped interior panels, and a simulated suede headliner. Seven different wood trims provided ample personalization options. However, a few aspects, such as the plastic lower dashboard and door panels, somewhat diminished the feeling of luxury, even with subtle gloss-eliminating treatments.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave took a more conservative yet upscale approach. Historically, Buick's designs had been synonymous with comfort and tradition, which resonated well with its older customer base. However, as part of its evolution over the past 15 years, Buick moved away from a sedan-heavy lineup to focus solely on SUVs, a trend reflecting broader market preferences in the United States.

The Enclave underwent a mid-cycle refresh for 2022, featuring updated grilles, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. Its top-tier Avenir trim presented unique styling cues, including a distinctive grille and body-colored lowers. The interior saw refinements such as a redesigned center console with new push-button gears and materials upgrades—especially evident in the Avenir trim with climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and elegant stitching and trim details.

The test unit was an Avenir trim finished in Rich Garnet Metallic, paired with Ebony perforated leather seats and Ebony accents, offering an appealing color combination. While not quite reaching the luxe levels akin to Cadillac models, the Avenir trim's exclusive seat patterns, piping, and comfort features elevated the interior experience significantly.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade provided a potent blend of old-school displacement and modern turbo-diesel efficiency. The standard 6.2-liter V8 engine delivered 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, channeled through a 10-speed automatic transmission. This enabled the hefty SUV to accelerate briskly. The V8 featured direct fuel injection, automatic stop/start, and Dynamic Fuel Management, improving fuel efficiency by operating on as few as two cylinders when needed. During a test loop, the 4WD version achieved an average fuel efficiency of 15.9 mpg.

Alternatively, Cadillac offered a 3.0-liter turbo-diesel inline six-cylinder engine as a no-cost option, producing 277 horsepower and matching the V8’s torque output but delivering greater fuel efficiency. This engine is particularly notable for its immediate torque delivery, making acceleration smooth and responsive. The Escalade also featured an independent rear suspension and advanced systems like Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and 4-Corner Air Ride, significantly enhancing ride quality and maneuverability, making it surprisingly agile for its size.

In comparison, the 2022 Buick Enclave kept it straightforward with a single powertrain: a 3.6-liter V6 paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Offered in both FWD and AWD configurations, the Enclave boasted a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade showcased significant improvements in cabin space and layout, courtesy of the new independent rear suspension and extended wheelbase. This design allowed a lower floor, translating to more headroom and legroom in all rows. The front seats featured extensive adjustability options along with heating and ventilation, and the Platinum trim added massaging functions for an extra touch of comfort.

Second-row captain’s chairs were standard, along with an optional three-person bench seat. These seats offered forward and backward sliding capability for additional comfort and easier access to the third row. In a substantial leap from previous models, the third-row seat in the Escalade now accommodated adult passengers comfortably, thanks to the lowered floor and extra legroom.

Cargo capacity was generous. Behind the third-row seats, there was 25.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 63 cubic feet with the third row folded down and a maximum of 109.1 cubic feet with the second row also folded flat. For those requiring more space, the extended-length Escalade ESV offered 42.9 cubic feet, expanding to 81.5 and 126.6 cubic feet behind the third, second, and first rows, respectively.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, as a midsize crossover, facilitated easy ingress and egress, with ample visibility thanks to large windows and windshields. The front seats came standard with multiple power adjustments and heating, increasing comfort. Higher trims featured four-way power lumbar support with massage and second-row heated seats.

The Enclave’s cabin was spacious, offering comfortable accommodations across all three rows, even for six-footers in the third row. The second-row captain’s chairs enhanced versatility, with easy access to the third row through flip-and-fold mechanisms, albeit a bit complicated for newcomers.

Cargo capacity in the Enclave was competitive, providing 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row—sufficient for several rolling suitcases. Folding down the third and second rows expanded this capacity to 57.7 and 97.4 cubic feet, respectively, with the test vehicle’s power-folding third-row seats adding convenience.

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade was a technological marvel, headlined by a groundbreaking OLED display setup spanning 38 inches. This curved-glass display boasted pixel density surpassing 4K TVs and was designed to resist glare effectively. Despite the abundance of high-tech features, the Escalade’s interface was user-friendly for anyone familiar with modern smartphones.

A notable element was the 14.2-inch instrumentation screen, offering Gauge, Augmented Reality (AR) Camera, and Map displays. However, switching between these required accessing the center 16.9-inch infotainment screen, which was cumbersome while driving. Standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were complemented by a 19-speaker AKG premium sound system, upgradeable to a 36-speaker AKG Reference system, delivering impeccable audio quality.

Voice commands had some limitations, misinterpreting standard queries. However, the AR navigation system was intuitive, overlaying turn arrows on live camera feeds and incorporating Google Street View images. The AKG sound system provided volume control zones for passengers and amplified spoken conversations, enhancing the luxury experience further.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered robust tech features, including an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless phone charging as standard on the Essence trim. Higher trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though it could have benefited from more power. The driver information center ranged from a 4.2-inch screen to a more capable 8-inch display in higher trims.

Noteworthy were the Enclave’s connectivity options. Up to 10 devices could pair with the infotainment system, with a WiFi hotspot supporting up to four devices. The practical inclusion of six USB ports throughout the cabin ensured all passengers could stay charged and connected. Additional standard features like a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology underscored Buick’s focus on safety and convenience.

Premium Luxury and Sport trims added advanced features like blind-spot alerts, lane-keeping assistance, and a rear camera mirror. The optional Driver Assist Tech Package included high-speed emergency braking, rear emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and automatic seatbelt tightening. Though mostly reliable, there were instances where the system issued false warnings and engaged the brakes unnecessarily.

Cadillac's upcoming Super Cruise technology promised hands-free driving on selected highways, enhancing long-distance travel with smoother operation and automated lane changes, though drivers still needed to remain attentive.

Premium trims added enhanced emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. These features worked flawlessly during testing, with no false alarms observed.

The NHTSA had not yet rated the 2022 Enclave for crashes, but it received a four-star rating for rollover resistance. The IIHS granted it “Good” ratings in most crash tests, except for an “Acceptable” score in the updated side-impact test.