2021 Lincoln Navigator vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator was a significant departure from its predecessors, which closely resembled the Ford Expedition. While it shared some structural elements with the Expedition, the Navigator distinguished itself with unique design features, including a distinct turn signal stalk. The Navigator Reserve, priced at $92,000, exuded luxury and sophistication, convincing even those accustomed to high-end brands like Mercedes and Range Rover of its worth. The exterior design emphasized elegance and understatement, with rectilinear shapes defining the grille, windows, and lighting elements. The Monochromatic Package added a body-color grille, and the Pristine White example tested in winter conditions showcased the vehicle's classy chrome accents and illuminated Lincoln logo.

Inside, the Navigator impressed with seven color palettes, particularly the Slate Gray of the test vehicle. The interior featured layered wood trim, a 10-inch touchscreen, a floating center console, and a minimalist digital instrument panel. The materials were of high quality, and the panel gaps were tight. The Black Label trims offered even more luxurious textures and softer leather. The Perfect Position seats, adjustable in 30 ways, provided exceptional comfort. Fully loaded, the Navigator's interior rivaled the best in its class, with only the smaller but more expensive Range Rover offering a more sumptuous experience.

The 2022 Buick Enclave marked a shift from Buick's traditionally conservative styling to a more modern and upscale design. Over the past 15 years, Buick transitioned from a sedan-heavy lineup to an all-SUV portfolio, reflecting market trends. The Enclave, introduced in 2008, replaced older models and helped revitalize the brand. The 2018 redesign moved the Enclave further upmarket, making it the largest and most expensive model in Buick's lineup.

The 2022 Enclave received a mid-cycle refresh with exterior styling enhancements, including a new grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled center console with new push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim included standard climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and unique trim and seat stitching. The test vehicle, an Avenir with the Technology package, featured Ebony perforated leather seats and a deep red Rich Garnet Metallic exterior. While not reaching the luxury levels of the Cadillac XT6, the Enclave's materials and design were a cut above, with comfortable and visually appealing seats.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a powerful twin-turbo V6 engine, borrowed from the Ford Raptor, producing 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission, provided impressive acceleration and a satisfying engine sound. The Navigator offered both rear-wheel drive (RWD) and four-wheel drive (4WD) options, with the 4WD system smoothly transitioning between modes. The towing capacity was substantial, at 8,300 pounds for 4WD models and 8,700 pounds for RWD models.

Fuel economy was a weak point, with an average in the teens, aligning with the EPA-estimated 17-mpg combined rating. The Navigator's adaptive dampers provided a decent ride, but the suspension felt less refined compared to competitors like the Cadillac Escalade. The steering and brakes lacked the precision and control found in the Escalade, but the Navigator's low-end thrust and quiet cabin made it a comfortable highway cruiser. Paddle shifters added a touch of sportiness with quick reaction times and rev-matched downshifts.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept things simple with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD), with all-wheel drive (AWD) available on all trims. The maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.

The Enclave provided a smooth and quiet ride, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. The Avenir Technology package, with its premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping, enhanced the driving experience. The Enclave handled well on various terrains, from highways to country roads and city streets. The powertrain was surprisingly responsive, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly. The engine sound was pleasant, adding a touch of personality to the driving experience. While not designed for off-roading, the Enclave's AWD and 7.5 inches of ground clearance made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator offered ample interior space, resembling a small bedroom in size. It could comfortably accommodate six adults, with a seven-passenger configuration available. The third row's middle seat was best suited for children. The second row featured manually-reclining and tilting captain's chairs, with an optional bench for a total of eight passengers. Cargo space was generous, with 19 cubic feet behind the third row, 57 cubic feet behind the second row, and 103 cubic feet in total. The long-wheelbase Navigator L provided even more storage space. The rear glass opened separately from the tailgate, adding convenience.

The Navigator Reserve included heated second-row seats and a three-zone climate control system. The second-row console mimicked the front with integrated climate and stereo controls. However, the Navigator lacked some features offered by competitors, such as side window shades and electrically reclining second-row seats. The front seats were highly adjustable and comfortable, with numerous customization options. Visibility was excellent, but parking was challenging due to the vehicle's size. The 360-degree cameras were helpful but not perfect.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and windows. The standard eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control, made getting comfortable easy. Premium and Avenir trims added four-way power lumbar with massage and heated second-row seats.

The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers in all three rows comfortably, with ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room. The third row was suitable for six-footers, and the second-row captain's chairs made access easy. The restyled center console featured new push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with cupholders. The flat row of buttons made accessing USB ports and the wireless phone charging pad easier.

Cargo space was generous, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. The test vehicle included power-folding third-row seats for added convenience.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator featured a 10-inch touchscreen, which felt small compared to newer systems. The instrument panel lacked advanced features like full-screen maps and high-resolution cameras. The infotainment system did not support wireless Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. The 20-speaker Revel Ultima stereo was good but not exceptional.

The software was intuitive, sharing its interface with Ford but with a unique Lincoln skin. Voice recognition was fast and accurate, but there were no onboard apps or wireless software updates. The Navigator included 4G WiFi, wireless device charging, a smartwatch app, and the ability to use a smartphone as the vehicle's ignition key. The rear entertainment system supported Roku media streaming and other connections. Drive mode animations added a touch of elegance to the instrument panel.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information center, with Premium and Avenir trims getting a larger 8-inch reconfigurable version. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, as well as wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation.

The infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with two smartphones active simultaneously. A built-in WiFi hotspot supported up to four devices up to 50 feet away. The system's interface was familiar and easy to use, though some graphics looked dated. The performance-enhanced 10-speaker Bose system in Premium and Avenir trims was superior to the standard six-speaker system but could use more power.

Each Enclave came with a three-month trial subscription to SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports—two in each row. The front-row ports supported charging and data, while the second and third-row ports were for charging only. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, rain-sensing wipers, hitch guidance with hitch view, a digital rear camera mirror, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Lincoln Navigator received five stars overall from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with five stars in every test except for rollover resistance (four stars for 4WD models, three stars for RWD models). The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) had not rated the Navigator in its current generation. The Navigator did not offer knee airbags, but optional inflatable rear seat belts for the second row aimed to reduce chest injuries. Standard safety features included automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist, blind-spot monitoring, and auto high beams. Adaptive cruise control was optional but did not offer advanced self-steering capabilities.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its driver-assist and safety tech. The Buick Driver Confidence Plus package became standard on all Enclaves, including automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights.

Other standard safety features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, rear-seat reminder system, and HD reversing camera. Premium trim added enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, surround-view camera, head-up display, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave received no false alarms during testing. The NHTSA had not published crash-test ratings for the 2022 Enclave, but it received four out of five stars for rollover resistance. The IIHS gave the Enclave "Good" ratings in all but one crash test, where it received an "Acceptable" score.