2022 Buick Enclave vs 2021 BMW X5

The 2021 BMW X5 was a testament to BMW's renowned craftsmanship, fitting seamlessly into the brand's SUV lineup. Its design was unmistakably BMW, from the iconic kidney grille to its body shape, ensuring it stood out as a luxury SUV. However, this familiarity also meant it could blend in with other BMW models in a crowded parking lot. The X5 featured full adaptive LED headlights and a choice of matte aluminum or high-gloss black finishes, depending on the trim. The M Sport models added a sporty flair with body-color matched trims and unique interior styling, including an M sports steering wheel and exclusive trim strips. Inside, the X5 maintained a consistent BMW aesthetic, with a mix of leather and soft-touch materials, though it was criticized for an overuse of black plastic.

In contrast, the 2022 Buick Enclave represented a shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving away from conservative styling to embrace a more modern SUV-focused lineup. The Enclave's 2022 refresh brought new exterior enhancements, including a redesigned grille and updated fascias, giving it a more upscale appearance. The Avenir trim stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Enclave offered a restyled center console with push-button gears and upgraded materials, enhancing comfort with available heated, cooled, and massaging front seats. The Avenir trim further elevated the interior with standard climate-controlled seats and unique stitching. The Enclave's spacious cabin comfortably accommodated six adults, with easy access to the third row, making it a practical choice for families.

The 2021 BMW X5 offered a range of powertrain options, all paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The base model featured a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine, delivering 335 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque, with rear-wheel drive as standard and all-wheel drive available. The X5 M50i boasted a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, producing 523 hp and 553 lb-ft of torque, while the X5 M reached 600 hp, or 617 hp with the Competition Package. The plug-in hybrid X5 xDrive45e combined a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with a 24-kilowatt-hour battery, achieving 389 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque, and offering up to 30 miles of all-electric range. Despite its power, the X5's steering and handling were criticized for lacking the connected drive experience typical of BMWs. Fuel efficiency varied, with the X5 M achieving 15 mpg combined, while the xDrive45e reached 50 MPGe when using both electricity and gas.

The 2022 Buick Enclave kept things simple with a single powertrain option: a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission, producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive was standard, with all-wheel drive available across all trims. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. Known for its quiet and smooth ride, the Enclave excelled in providing a premium driving experience, enhanced by the Avenir Technology package's premium ride suspension and real-time chassis damping. The Enclave's powertrain was surprisingly responsive, offering good acceleration despite its size, and the nine-speed transmission performed seamlessly. While not designed for off-road adventures, the Enclave's AWD and ground clearance made it capable of handling light trails and wintry conditions.

The 2021 BMW X5 made efficient use of space, with front cupholders conveniently placed and a wireless phone charging pad out of the driver's line of sight. The seating was comfortable for short trips, though longer journeys revealed a hardness in the front seats. The rear seats offered ample space for children and two adults, with an optional third row available. The X5's climate controls were easy to manage, and the split liftgate with power functionality facilitated loading cargo. Without the third row, the cargo area was spacious, though the xDrive45e offered slightly less space. However, the rear doors did not open very wide, making it challenging to move children and cargo in and out.

The 2022 Buick Enclave provided easy ingress and egress, with excellent visibility thanks to its large windshield and windows. Standard power-adjustable heated seats ensured comfort, with Premium and Avenir trims adding massage and heated second-row seats. The Enclave's spacious cabin accommodated passengers comfortably in all three rows, with the third row suitable even for taller adults. The second-row captain's chairs facilitated access to the third row and offered versatility with flip-and-fold functionality. The restyled center console featured push-button transmission gears, with a covered compartment for cupholders. The Enclave's cargo space was generous, offering 23.6 cubic feet with all seats up, expanding to 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded. Power-folding third-row seats further enhanced accessibility.

The 2021 BMW X5 came equipped with a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. However, Apple CarPlay had connectivity issues, often taking over musical operations unexpectedly. The standard features included a digital gauge cluster, a 10-speaker sound system, voice recognition, Bluetooth, five USB ports, navigation, HD Radio, satellite radio, automatic climate control, and a panoramic moonroof. Optional upgrades included remote start, a head-up display, quad-zone climate control, a wireless charger, massaging seats, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and premium audio systems. The iDrive system required some acclimation but was user-friendly once familiar.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, along with wireless phone charging. Premium and Avenir trims added navigation and an 8-inch reconfigurable driver information center. The system supported pairing up to 10 devices, with two active simultaneously, and a built-in WiFi hotspot for up to four devices. The interface was user-friendly, though some graphics appeared dated. The Premium and Avenir trims boasted a 10-speaker Bose audio system, though it lacked power for back-seat passengers. Standard features included SiriusXM 360L, six USB ports, a following-distance indicator, an HD rear vision camera, and Teen Driver technology. Notable available features included adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2021 BMW X5 was equipped with a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including blind-spot monitoring, forward collision warning, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, adaptive cruise control, parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, fatigue alert, lane departure warning, and automatic high-beam headlights. However, the Driving Assistance Professional Package had issues with adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping systems, particularly in bright sunlight or light rain. The X5 received nearly all Good ratings from the IIHS and a four-star overall safety rating from the NHTSA, despite being subject to seven recalls.

The 2022 Buick Enclave saw significant updates to its safety tech, with the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package now standard across all trims. This included automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic warning, lane-keeping assistance, rear park assist, following-distance indicator, and automatic high-beam headlights. Additional standard features included a Safety Alert driver's seat, rear-seat reminder, and an HD reversing camera. Premium trims added enhanced emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, a surround-view camera, and rear pedestrian alert. The Enclave received a four-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA and Good ratings in most IIHS crash tests, except for an Acceptable score in the updated side-impact test.