2022 Kia Seltos vs 2021 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Buick Enclave harkened back to the brand's glory days with its large, 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 SUV lineup, offering a luxurious and spacious option for those seeking a premium feel. Its Avenir trim added a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, enhancing its premium appearance. Inside, the Enclave Avenir featured a minimalist design with organic forms, polished accents, and soft leather, although the wood trim was not genuine. The electronic transmission shifter was initially fussy but became intuitive with use.

In contrast, the 2022 Kia Seltos offered a more compact and practical design, positioned between the smaller Kia Soul and the larger Kia Sportage. It was available in four trim levels in Canada, with the SX trim offering a turbocharged engine and dual-clutch transmission. The Seltos had a stylish interior with exposed stitching, gloss-black trim, and metallic accents, although the abundance of hard plastic detracted from its premium feel. The controls were logically arranged, and the infotainment system, despite its odd purple theme, was intuitive to use. The Seltos provided a lively driving experience, with excellent outward visibility and easy parking, making it a practical choice for urban environments.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This engine, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, provided strong acceleration and a towing capacity of up to 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave's ride was smooth and comfortable, thanks to its premium-tuned suspension with continuously variable damping. It handled various driving environments with ease, from urban streets to highways. Fuel efficiency was rated at 11.2 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving, with a range of over 900 kilometres on a single tank.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered two engine options: a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 146 horsepower and a turbocharged 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine with 175 horsepower. The turbo engine, paired with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, provided a more engaging driving experience. The Seltos featured Normal, Sport, and Smart driving modes, with Smart mode balancing fuel efficiency and responsiveness. However, the suspension tuning was less refined, resulting in a bouncy ride on uneven roads. Fuel consumption for the Seltos SX was rated at 8.7 litres per 100 kilometres in combined driving.

The 2021 Buick Enclave was one of the largest SUVs in its class, offering spacious seating for six or seven passengers. Its cabin was designed for comfort and quietness, with features like Active Noise Cancellation and laminated windshield glass. The Avenir trim included power-adjustable front seats with massage functions, heated and ventilated leather seats, and a heated steering wheel. The Enclave provided ample cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row and up to 2,764 litres with the second-row seats folded down.

The 2022 Kia Seltos excelled in interior space, offering more room than many competitors in its segment. It was easy to enter and exit, with comfortable seating and generous rear legroom. The Seltos provided decent storage space, including a smartphone shelf and cargo space of 752 litres behind the back seat, expanding to 1,778 litres with the rear seat folded down. However, the use of hard plastic in the interior detracted from its overall comfort.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations, with features like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. However, its 8-inch touchscreen and 10-speaker Bose sound system fell short compared to competitors. The Avenir trim offered a rear camera mirror, providing a live video view of what's behind the vehicle.

The 2022 Kia Seltos offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system starting at the EX Premium grade, paired with a Bose premium sound system in the SX trim. It included Bluetooth, navigation, satellite radio, and smartphone connectivity, although the latter required a cable connection. The system was intuitive to use, with physical knobs and buttons for easy access to primary functions. However, the voice recognition system was less effective without an active subscription to connected services.

The 2021 Buick Enclave offered a range of safety features, but many were restricted to higher trim levels. Standard features in Canada included blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, available on Premium and Avenir trims, added forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, and lane-keeping assist. The Enclave received a five-star overall rating from the NHTSA, although its frontal-impact protection was rated four stars.

The 2022 Kia Seltos came equipped with numerous safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, forward-collision avoidance, and lane-keeping assist. The SX trim added adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go capability and Highway Driving Assist. The Seltos received a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.