2022 Hyundai Palisade vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave was a testament to Buick's evolution from its traditionally conservative styling to a more modern and upscale design. Historically, Buick's designs were characterized by softer lines and functional interiors, catering to an older demographic that valued comfort over cutting-edge aesthetics. However, the Enclave marked a significant shift, reflecting Buick's strategic pivot towards SUVs in response to market trends. The 2022 model, as part of a mid-cycle refresh, featured several exterior enhancements, including a new grille and updated fascias, headlamps, and taillamps. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheel design. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console with push-button gears and upgraded materials, offering a comfortable and visually appealing cabin, especially in the Avenir trim with its exclusive seat patterns and climate-controlled seating options.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade, on the other hand, presented a striking and elegant design that set it apart from its predecessors. As Hyundai's SUV flagship, the Palisade featured distinctive lines and shapes, from its prominent grille to its sculpted wheel arches, creating a visually appealing profile. The continuous strip of glass surfaces around the tailgate gave the impression of a floating rear roof, adding to its sophisticated look. Inside, the Palisade offered a polished and elegant cabin with a horizontally arrayed 12.3-inch touchscreen and high-quality materials throughout. The spacious interior accommodated passengers comfortably, with options for second-row captain's chairs or a bench seat. The Ultimate Calligraphy model, in particular, exuded luxury with its premium finishes and features, making the Palisade a worthy flagship in Hyundai's lineup.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V6 engine with direct injection, delivering 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, the Enclave offered a smooth and responsive driving experience. In Canada, all trims came standard with all-wheel drive, providing confidence in various driving conditions. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 2,268 kilograms (5,000 pounds) when properly equipped. The Avenir Technology package enhanced the ride with a premium suspension and real-time chassis damping, ensuring a comfortable and quiet ride, thanks to Buick's QuietTuning and active noise cancellation technology. Despite its size, the Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, offering good acceleration and a pleasant engine note.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade featured a naturally aspirated 3.8-litre V6 engine, producing 291 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque. This engine, with gasoline direct injection and dual variable valve timing, provided a smooth and lag-free driving experience. The Palisade's fuel consumption was estimated at 12.3 litres per 100 kilometres in the city, 9.6 on the highway, and 11.1 combined. The Palisade's curb weight ranged from 1,991 to 2,004 kilograms, contributing to its nimble handling. With a four-wheel independent suspension and stabilizer bars, the Palisade offered a comfortable and composed ride. It could tow up to 2,267 kilograms (5,000 pounds) with trailer brakes, making it a versatile choice for families.

The 2022 Buick Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with easy ingress and egress and excellent visibility. Standard features included an eight-way power driver seat and six-way power front passenger seat, both heated and with power lumbar control. The Enclave's cabin provided ample room for passengers in all three rows, with the third row accommodating six-footers comfortably. The second-row captain's chairs added versatility, and the restyled centre console featured push-button transmission gears. 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. Power-folding third-row seats made accessing the cargo space easy.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade excelled in interior space and functionality, offering comfortable seating and easy access throughout the cabin. The third row provided ample space and cupholders, while the second-row captain's chairs were exceptionally comfortable. The front row featured abundant storage options, including two compartments in the centre console. Luggage space measured 509 litres behind the third row, expanding to 1,297 litres with the third row folded and 2,447 litres with both rows folded. An underfloor storage compartment added extra space. The Palisade's shift-by-wire gear selector and logically arranged controls enhanced the cabin's functionality. A dual-panel sunroof on the Ultimate Calligraphy trim improved the ambiance, and heated and ventilated seats added to the comfort.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 4.2-inch driver information centre, with an 8-inch version available on Premium and Avenir trims. The Essence trim came with an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, offering 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 featured a 10-speaker Bose audio system, while the Essence trim had a six-speaker system. The Enclave also included a three-month trial of SiriusXM 360L and six USB ports. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade showcased Hyundai's technological prowess, with a standard 1920 x 720 colour touchscreen display audio system. All trims except the base received a 630-watt Harman Kardon premium audio system with 12 speakers and Clari-Fi music restoration technology. The infotainment system included wired Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, Bluetooth, HD Radio, and satellite radio. The Palisade featured multiple USB ports and a Qi wireless charging pad on Ultimate Calligraphy models. A rear-view monitor with parking guidance was standard, with surround view on Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy trims. Hyundai's Blue Link connected car system was standard on Urban and Ultimate Calligraphy, offering remote engine start and vehicle monitoring. The Ultimate Calligraphy trim also included a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a head-up display.

The 2022 Buick Enclave received significant safety updates, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This package included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keep assist, and more. Additional features on Premium trim included enhanced automatic emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera. The Enclave earned a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2022 Hyundai Palisade boasted a comprehensive list of passive and active safety features. Passive features included seven airbags, three-point seat belts, LATCH anchors, and more. Standard active safety features included anti-lock braking, electronic stability control, blind-spot collision avoidance, rear cross-traffic collision-avoidance, forward collision-avoidance assist, and more. The Palisade was a Top Safety Pick+ from the IIHS and earned a five-star rating from the NHTSA.