2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee was a testament to timeless design, maintaining its appeal over a decade after its debut. It combined rugged utility with upscale sophistication, featuring big wheels and flared fenders that gave it a balanced and artistic look. The Grand Cherokee's design contributed significantly to its success, as it straddled the line between mainstream, luxury, and performance SUV categories. The model lineup ranged from the affordable Laredo and Limited trims to the upscale Overland and Summit, with high-performance SRT and Trackhawk models and the off-road-ready Trailhawk. The Summit trim, with its Premium Plus Appearance Group, offered a more premium look with body-colour accents and a platinum chrome finish. Inside, the Summit's cabin featured premium materials like leather, wood, and aluminum, though the interior design was showing its age with outdated switchgear and component fits.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave represented a shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving from conservative styling to a more modern and upscale approach. The Enclave, a three-row crossover SUV, was part of Buick's transition from sedans to SUVs, reflecting market trends. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh with exterior enhancements, including a new grille, fascias, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim featured unique styling elements and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and a split sunroof. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated six adults comfortably, with easy access to the third row. The cargo space was generous, with power-folding third-row seats for added convenience.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee offered a standard 3.6-litre Pentastar V6 engine with 295 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It could tow up to 2,818 kilograms and was available with rear or all-wheel drive. For those seeking more power, the optional 5.7-litre Hemi V8 delivered 360 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of torque, with a best-in-class towing capacity of 3,300 kilograms. The V8 featured cylinder deactivation technology for improved efficiency, though fuel consumption remained high. The Grand Cherokee's Quadra-Trac II 4WD system and Quadra-Lift air suspension provided excellent off-road capabilities, with adjustable ground clearance and various terrain settings. On-road, the Grand Cherokee was speedy and responsive, though the V8's fuel consumption and bouncy ride were drawbacks.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a single powertrain option: a 3.6-litre V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive was standard in Canada, with a towing capacity of 2,268 kilograms. The Enclave's ride was smooth and quiet, thanks to its premium ride suspension and QuietTuning technology. The Avenir Technology package enhanced the driving experience with real-time chassis damping. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was responsive, and the nine-speed transmission performed well. The Enclave was not designed for off-roading, but its AWD system and ground clearance made it capable of handling light trails and winter conditions.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit featured a luxurious interior with quilted leather seats and a leather-wrapped interior. The front seats offered eight-way power adjustment, heating, and ventilation, though the controls were embedded in the infotainment system, causing some distraction. The rear seat was comfortable but had limited legroom, and the optional rear-seat entertainment system added to the sense of claustrophobia. Cargo space behind the rear seat measured 1,028 litres, with a maximum of 1,934 litres when the second-row seats were folded. Interior storage was adequate, but the rear-seat entertainment system took up valuable space.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating for all passengers. The driver and front passenger seats featured power adjustments and lumbar support, with heated seats standard. The Enclave's cabin was spacious, accommodating six adults comfortably, with easy access to the third row. The restyled centre console housed push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with cupholders. Cargo space was generous, with 668 litres behind the third row, 1,634 litres with the third row folded, and 2,758 litres with both rows down. Power-folding third-row seats added convenience.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee featured the Uconnect 4C with Nav infotainment system, offering a user-friendly experience with fast response times and pleasing graphics. It included navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The system's voice recognition technology worked well, and the Summit trim came with a 19-speaker Harman Kardon audio system. The Grand Cherokee's tech offerings were considered "tech lite," with essential features and advanced driving assistance systems.

The 2022 Buick Enclave's infotainment system featured an 8-inch touchscreen with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. The Premium and Avenir trims featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though some passengers desired more power. The Enclave also included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA for 4WD models, but its performance in IIHS tests was less impressive, with "Marginal" and "Poor" ratings in certain crash tests. The Summit trim included the ProTech II Package, offering adaptive cruise control, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring, and more. The Grand Cherokee also featured parking assistance systems.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant improvements in safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. It included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, and more. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests. Premium trim added enhanced safety features, including adaptive cruise control and a surround-view camera.