2022 Kia Telluride vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave historically embodied Buick's conservative styling approach, reflecting its older customer base that prioritized comfort and tradition. Over the past 15 years, General Motors (GM) revamped Buick's lineup, transitioning from sedans to SUVs, acknowledging the market trend toward SUVs. This significant shift was evident in the Enclave, which replaced older models like the Rendezvous and Rainier and became a hit with critics and consumers upon its debut for the 2008 model year. A 2018 redesign further elevated the Enclave, positioning it as Buick's flagship SUV alongside the Envision and Encore GX.

For 2022, the Enclave received a mid-cycle refresh with several exterior enhancements. These included a redesigned grille, front and rear fascias, updated headlamps and taillamps, and new wheel designs. The top-tier Avenir trim boasted unique styling elements such as a distinct grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave featured a restyled center console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The luxurious Avenir trim came standard with climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and exclusive trim and seat stitching.

Our test vehicle, an Enclave Avenir, showcased the optional Technology package in a stunning Rich Garnet Metallic color and received praise for its Ebony perforated leather seats with contrasting accents. While it didn't attain Cadillac XT6's luxury level, the Avenir trim's materials and design were impressive, providing a premium feel and exceptional comfort with its heated, cooled, and massaging seats.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, in contrast, captivated consumers with its muscular design and balanced proportions. Available trendy blacked-out wheels and trim added to its appeal. Kia made minimal changes for 2022, only modifying the grille pattern and introducing new badges.

The Telluride continued with LX, S, EX, and SX trims, with prices ranging from $32,790 to $44,590, and an additional $2,000 for AWD ($1,900 for SX trim). The SX test vehicle, equipped with the Prestige Package, totaled $48,325. Despite a glossy lower cabin that appeared cheap, the SX Prestige's Nappa leather upholstery and simulated suede headliner contrasted beautifully with the rest of the interior. Kia's focus on enhancing standard features included a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, automatic climate control, and advanced driving aids like Highway Driving Assist and navigation-based Smart Cruise Control-Curve.

The 2022 Buick Enclave opted for simplicity with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave came standard with front-wheel drive (FWD) and offered all-wheel drive (AWD) across all trims. With a maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds, the Enclave could handle substantial loads.

Known for its smooth and quiet ride, Buick enhanced the Enclave's performance with the Avenir Technology package, which included a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping. This combination provided an exceptional driving experience, whether on highways, country roads, or city streets. Despite its size, the Enclave demonstrated impressive responsiveness and acceleration, thanks to its 310 hp engine and efficient transmission. Buick's QuietTuning technology with active noise cancellation further ensured a serene cabin environment.

The 2022 Kia Telluride, though not as powerful, offered a satisfying driving experience with its 3.8-liter V6 engine producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. The sole engine choice, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, handled various driving conditions well. The AWD option included a Lock mode for even power distribution between the front and rear axles. With eight inches of ground clearance, the Telluride managed light off-road trails and wintry conditions effectively.

Thanks to features like brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control and selectable driving modes (Eco, Comfort, Smart, and Sport), the Telluride balanced ride quality and handling. It excelled on highways, providing a comfortable long-distance driving experience, especially with the Highway Driving Assist technology. During testing, the Telluride matched its EPA fuel economy estimate, achieving 21.1 mpg in combined driving. Like the Enclave, its towing capacity maxed out at 5,000 pounds.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy access to its spacious cabin, thanks to its large windshield and windows. Both the driver and front passenger seats featured power adjustments, with the Premium and Avenir trims adding four-way power lumbar with massage and heated second-row seats.

The Enclave's ample interior space accommodated passengers comfortably across three rows. Its third row provided sufficient room even for six-footers, making long journeys easy for six adults. The standard second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the rear, further enhancing versatility.

The Enclave excelled in cargo capacity, boasting 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 57.7 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.4 cubic feet with both rows down. The power-folding third-row seats simplified expanding the cargo space.

The 2022 Kia Telluride masterfully balanced form and function, with an upscale and organized interior design. Features like overhead air vents, manual rear side window shades, and multiple USB ports added to its practicality. Available leather and Nappa leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front and second-row seats, and a Smart Power Liftgate enhanced the luxurious feel.

Comfort in the Telluride extended across all three rows, with easy access to the third row through a one-touch sliding and folding second-row seat mechanism. Kia ensured ample storage for passengers and cargo, offering 21 cubic feet behind the third row, 46 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 87 cubic feet with all seats down.

The 2022 Buick Enclave came equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system featuring wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto on the Essence trim, with navigation added on the Premium and Avenir trims. The system allowed pairing up to 10 devices and included a WiFi hotspot capable of handling up to four devices. While functional, the infotainment system's graphics seemed dated.

Premium and Avenir trims also featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though it lacked the power some passengers desired. The Enclave offered various USB ports, with charging-only ports for the second and third rows.

Safety tech in the Enclave included a following-distance indicator, Teen Driver technology, and various optional features like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display. Notably, the Avenir trim offered standard advanced driver-assist features.

The 2022 Kia Telluride upped its technology game with a standard 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, including navigation. However, it required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Kia Connect offered a suite of connected services with functions like remote engine start and cabin climate pre-conditioning, and integration with smart home devices.

The Telluride featured USB charging ports in all rows, a wireless smartphone charging pad, and family-friendly features like Quiet Mode and Driver Talk. The SX test vehicle also had a Harman Kardon sound system, a comprehensive head-up display, and a surround-view monitoring system.

Buick's most significant 2022 updates for the Enclave focused on safety. The Buick Driver Confidence Plus package became standard across all trims, offering features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and more. Additional features included a Safety Alert driver's seat and rear-seat reminder system. Premium trims added enhancements like a surround-view camera and adaptive cruise control.

The Enclave received high marks in safety tests but fell short in the updated side-impact test, scoring "Acceptable."

The 2022 Kia Telluride prioritized safety with its Kia Drive Wise suite, including features like forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and adaptive cruise control. Highway Driving Assist made highway driving easier and safer, though it needed improvement in situations where the driver became incapacitated. The Smart Cruise Control-Curve system, though well-intentioned, needed refinement.

The Telluride received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, though its frontal-impact protection rated four stars. IIHS awarded it the "Top Safety Pick" designation, with subpar headlight ratings preventing a higher accolade.