2022 Buick Enclave vs 2021 Nissan Kicks

The 2021 Nissan Kicks underwent significant exterior changes, aligning its design more closely with other models in the Nissan lineup, such as the Armada and Rogue. The front of the Kicks featured a bold, double V-motion grille design, complemented by thinner, longer headlights that extended down the face of the vehicle. The top-tier SR and SR Premium trims were equipped with LED multi-reflector headlights and standard LED fog lights. At the rear, the Kicks showcased a new bumper, back door finisher, and LED taillight combination, which gave it a proportional look reminiscent of the Nissan Leaf. The model offered a variety of new paint options and maintained its two-tone paint job option, enhancing its upmarket appearance.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, on the other hand, embraced a more conservative yet refined design approach. As part of a mid-cycle refresh, the Enclave received updates to its grille, front and rear fascias, headlamps, taillamps, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim level featured unique styling elements, including a distinctive grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials throughout. The Avenir trim offered climate-controlled front seats, heated second-row captain's chairs, and a split sunroof, enhancing the overall comfort and luxury feel of the vehicle.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks was powered by a 1.6-litre four-cylinder engine, delivering 122 horsepower and 114 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive, as all-wheel drive was not available. The Kicks featured electric power-assisted steering with vehicle-speed variable assist, making it nimble in various driving conditions. Its handling was supported by a front independent strut stabilizer bar suspension with twist beam and twin-tube shock absorbers. Despite being low-powered, the Kicks offered a good power-to-weight ratio, making it suitable for its size. The Kicks SR Premium trim came with 17-inch black alloy wheels and all-season tires, while the base model had 16-inch steel wheels. The Kicks was also equipped with a traction control system, stability control system, and hill start assist. Its fuel efficiency was rated at 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 6.6 on the highway, and 7.2 combined.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission and came standard with all-wheel drive in Canada. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms. The vehicle offered a premium ride suspension and continuously variable real-time chassis damping, providing a smooth and quiet ride. The Enclave's powertrain was responsive, and the nine-speed automatic transmission performed seamlessly. The SUV's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology contributed to a serene cabin environment. The Enclave's ground clearance of 19 centimetres made it capable of handling light off-road trails and wintry conditions.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks offered a compact cabin with easy-to-reach buttons and knobs. It featured good small-item storage, easy-access USB ports, and multiple smartphone storage options. The climate controls were user-friendly, and the seat warmers provided quick warmth. The Kicks had a D-shaped steering wheel, six-way adjustable driver’s seat, four-way adjustable front passenger seat, and 60/40 split-folding rear seat as standard. The SUV provided best-in-class front seat legroom, although the hip room was somewhat limited for larger drivers. The rear seats comfortably accommodated adults, and the available tonneau cover offered hidden storage.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility due to its large windshield and window openings. The SUV featured an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. The Enclave's cabin was spacious, offering ample headroom, legroom, hip room, and shoulder room for passengers in all three rows. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated easy access to the third row. The restyled centre console included push-button transmission gears and a covered compartment with cupholders. The Enclave offered generous cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row, 1,634 litres with the third row folded, and 2,758 litres with both rows folded.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks came equipped with a 7-inch infotainment touch screen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Bluetooth, three USB ports, keyless entry, push-button start, and Easy Fill Tire Alert as standard. The Kicks SV added features like Nissan Intelligent Key, automatic climate control, satellite radio, remote engine start, and a USB-C port. The Kicks SR Premium boasted a class-exclusive Bose Personal Plus sound system with eight speakers, including two in the headrests, and a surround-view monitor for parking assistance.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with Premium and Avenir trims offering a larger 8-inch version. The Essence trim included an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Bluetooth, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation. The Enclave's infotainment system could pair up to 10 devices, with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot supporting up to four devices. The Premium and Avenir trims offered a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave also included a following-distance indicator, HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 Nissan Kicks was equipped with Nissan Safety Shield 360, which included automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, high beam assist, and rear automatic braking. The Kicks had 10 airbags, adaptive cruise control, a driver alertness monitor, and rear door alert on the SV and SR trims. The 2021 Kicks received a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA, and the 2020 model scored well in IIHS crashworthiness tests.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package as standard, which included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning with pedestrian detection, lane-change alert with blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. The Enclave also had a Safety Alert driver's seat, rear-seat reminder system, and HD reversing camera. The NHTSA awarded the Enclave a five-star overall safety rating, and the IIHS gave it "Good" ratings in most crash tests.