2022 BMW X3 vs 2021 Buick Enclave

In 2021, the Buick Enclave reclaimed a semblance of its past grandeur. Buick had struggled during the Malaise Era, but the Enclave marked a turning point, aligning it with consumer preferences for large SUVs. As the largest of Buick's SUV offerings, the Enclave was indeed impressive. It outshone its smaller siblings, the Encore, Encore GX, and Envision, and appealed to those who missed the era of big Buicks.

Available in Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir trims, the Enclave's pricing ranged from just over $41,000 to just under $55,000. Its appearance, especially in the Avenir trim, featured a unique grille pattern, extra brightwork, and polished 20-inch wheels, competing head-to-head with higher-priced three-row SUVs. Inside, the Enclave showcased organic forms, minimalist controls, and polished accents. It featured soft, perforated, piped, and embroidered leather for a luxurious feel, although the wood trim was not authentic. Simplicity ruled, except for the slightly fussy electronic transmission shifter, which became intuitive over time.

In contrast, the 2022 BMW X3 presented a more aggressive exterior with revised design elements. Offered in four variants—sDrive30i, xDrive30i, M40i, and M—only the sDrive30i boasted rear-wheel drive while the others had all-wheel drive. The 2022 model featured a slightly enlarged kidney grille, 0.4-inch slimmer headlights, new vertical air intakes, and a redesigned front bumper. The rear showcased new taillights with a black surround and pincer claw-shaped brake light LEDs, larger exhaust tips, and a revamped bumper. Notable paint options included Brooklyn Grey and Tanzanite Blue II, while 19-inch aerodynamically-optimized wheels and various blacked-out trims complemented the sporty look.

Inside, the X3 offered a clean, efficient design with a tailored suit aesthetic. It included features like dark oak wood trim, an anthracite headliner, power-adjustable front Sport seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and SensaTec synthetic leather upholstery. The cabin also featured ambient lighting with 11 color combinations and a panoramic moonroof standard on higher trims.

Under the hood, the 2021 Buick Enclave featured a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine produced 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a low 2,800 rpm, typically a feature of turbocharged engines. The Enclave’s maximum tow rating stood at 5,000 pounds. It offered commendable acceleration, handling like a smaller SUV despite its size. The nine-speed automatic transmission ensured smooth shifting. Fuel economy for the FWD model was rated at 21 mpg combined, translating to a 460-mile range on a full tank.

For the 2022 BMW X3, the standard powertrain included a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine delivering 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, with a 0-to-60 mph time of 6 seconds. Fuel economy for the RWD model was 23 mpg city and 29 mpg highway, while the AWD version offered slightly lower figures. The M40i variant, with its 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine and mild-hybrid system, produced 382 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque, achieving 0-to-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Despite the mild-hybrid system, the M40i's fuel economy ratings were 21 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

The Buick Enclave excelled in interior space, providing room for six or seven passengers. The Avenir trim included a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat and 10-way power-adjustable front passenger seat, both with basic massaging functions. The seats were heated, ventilated, and wrapped in soft leather. The second-row captain’s chairs and a three-person third-row bench seat offered ample space and comfort. The Enclave’s cargo capacity was notable, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, 58 cubic feet with the third row folded, and a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet.

In comparison, the BMW X3 accommodated five adults comfortably, although the rear middle seat was better suited for shorter passengers. The rear seats featured a standard 40/20/40-split, providing flexibility for cargo. With the rear seats up, the cargo space was generous enough to fit multiple bags and equipment, and the power tailgate added convenience. Interior features included comfortable SensaTec seats with the option to upgrade to Vernasca leather, a redesigned center console with improved ergonomics, and larger infotainment screens for easier access.

The 2021 Buick Enclave's infotainment system met basic expectations but lagged in certain areas. It included an 8-inch touchscreen, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, SiriusXM 360L satellite radio, connected services with a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot, and USB ports in all three rows. The system was responsive, with good voice recognition and a user-friendly interface. However, it lacked in screen size, smart home assistant integration, and high-end audio components. The rear camera mirror providing a live video view was a notable feature, but connected services required subcriptions after short trial periods.

The 2022 BMW X3, with the BMW Live Cockpit Plus and iDrive 7, featured a 10.25-inch infotainment screen, navigation, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, Amazon Alexa integration, two USB ports, and a 4G LTE WiFi hotspot. The optional Live Cockpit Professional upgraded the screens to 12.3 inches with a fully-digital experience. Redundant controls via steering wheel, voice activation, or the iDrive controller enhanced usability. Standard was a 12-speaker 205-watt HiFi sound system, with an optional 600-watt Harman Kardon surround system for M40i models. Additional tech options included keyless entry, a panoramic sunroof, heated seats, a head-up display, and gesture control.

Safety-wise, the Buick Enclave needed improvement. Features like blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert required upgrading to Essence trim. The Driver Confidence Plus Package, standard on Premium and Avenir trims, included forward-collision warning, pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and parking sensors. Advanced features like adaptive cruise control and enhanced emergency braking were limited to the Avenir trim. Despite these limitations, the Enclave earned a five-star overall rating from NHTSA, although it received a Marginal rating for headlight performance from IIHS.

The BMW X3 received a five-star crash safety rating from NHTSA, and previous models were named Top Safety Pick+ by IIHS. The 2022 model added adaptive LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, park distance control, forward-collision warning, and active pre-collision systems. The optional Driving Assistant Professional Package included active lane-keep assist, side collision avoidance, and a 3D assisted view display.