2022 Buick Enclave vs 2022 Hyundai Kona

The 2022 Hyundai Kona received a significant makeover, enhancing its sophistication with a longer body, revised grille, and sporty character lines. The updated LED lighting and new alloy wheel designs contributed to its modern look. Inside, the Kona's interior was redesigned for a more spacious feel, with ambient lighting adding a touch of elegance. The introduction of the N Line and Kona N trims brought unique styling elements, such as body-colour cladding and exclusive interior features, elevating the Kona's sporty appeal. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line, impressed with its streamlined proportions and sporty accents, including red stitching and "N" logos.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave embraced a more conservative design, reflecting its traditional customer base. However, over the years, Buick transitioned to an SUV-focused lineup, with the Enclave leading the charge. The 2022 model received a mid-cycle refresh, featuring a new grille, fascias, and wheel designs. The Avenir trim stood out with its unique styling elements. Inside, the Enclave boasted a restyled centre console, upgraded materials, and climate-controlled seats, enhancing comfort. Our test vehicle, an Enclave Avenir, showcased a luxurious interior with Ebony leather seats and exclusive trim, offering a premium experience.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered a diverse range of powertrains, catering to different performance preferences. The base trims featured a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 147 horsepower, while the N Line boasted a turbocharged 1.6-litre engine delivering 195 horsepower. The Kona N took performance to the next level with a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine producing 276 horsepower. Our test vehicle, a Kona N Line, impressed with its spirited performance and agile handling, thanks to its turbocharged engine and all-wheel drive. The Kona's low ride height and solid build contributed to its composed handling and quiet cabin.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave kept it simple with a single powertrain option—a 3.6-litre V6 engine producing 310 horsepower. The Enclave's all-wheel drive and nine-speed automatic transmission provided a smooth and responsive ride. Despite its size, the Enclave offered impressive acceleration and handled various terrains with ease, thanks to its premium ride suspension and chassis damping. The Enclave's QuietTuning technology ensured a serene cabin, rivaling luxury vehicles. While not designed for off-roading, the Enclave's ground clearance and AWD made it capable of handling light trails and wintry conditions.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona, while compact, offered a comfortable front-seat experience with ample headroom and legroom. However, rear-seat occupants faced challenges with limited space and small door openings. Cargo space was tight, with 544 litres available with all seats up, expanding to 1,296 litres with the rear seats folded. Towing was not recommended for the Kona.

The 2022 Buick Enclave, as a midsize crossover, provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility and comfortable seating for all passengers. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated six adults comfortably, with ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room. The second-row captain's chairs added versatility, while the restyled centre console featured convenient push-button transmission gears. The Enclave offered generous cargo space, with 668 litres behind the third row, expanding to 2,758 litres with all seats folded.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona introduced more tech features, including an 8-inch display with Bluetooth connectivity on the base trim. Higher trims offered a 10.25-inch touchscreen with navigation and a premium audio system. Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay were standard on the base screen, while the larger screen required wired connections. The Kona's infotainment system was user-friendly, with Hyundai BlueLink providing connected services.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. The Enclave's infotainment system supported multiple device pairings and included a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. Standard safety features included a following-distance indicator and Teen Driver technology, with advanced options like adaptive cruise control and a head-up display available on higher trims.

The 2022 Hyundai Kona offered standard safety features like automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. Optional technologies included adaptive cruise control and blind-spot warning. The Kona received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with some areas for improvement in child-seat anchor accessibility.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant strides in safety, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This included features like automatic emergency braking, lane-change alert, and rear cross-traffic alert. The Enclave received a five-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA and "Good" ratings from the IIHS, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.