2023 Kia Sportage vs 2022 Buick Enclave

The 2022 Buick Enclave represented a significant shift in Buick's design philosophy, moving away from its traditionally conservative styling to embrace a more modern and upscale aesthetic. This transformation was evident in the Enclave's exterior, which featured a refreshed grille, updated front and rear fascias, and new headlamp and taillamp designs. The Avenir trim, in particular, stood out with its unique grille and 20-inch wheel design. Inside, the Enclave offered a luxurious experience with upgraded materials, a restyled center console, and available heated, cooled, and massaging front seats. The Avenir trim further enhanced comfort with standard climate-controlled front seats and heated second-row captain's chairs.

In contrast, the 2023 Kia Sportage arrived with a bold and exciting new design that drew comparisons to French automakers. Its striking appearance was highlighted by boomerang-shaped daytime running lights and textured metal trim on the D Pillar. The Sportage offered seven trim levels, including the rugged X-Line and X-Pro trims. Inside, Kia opted for synthetic leather upholstery, providing durability and an animal-friendly alternative. The Sportage's interior featured a spacious cabin with a large front windshield and a low beltline for excellent visibility. However, some design choices, like touch-sensitive HVAC controls, proved to be less user-friendly.

The 2022 Buick Enclave was powered by a 3.6-liter V6 engine producing 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. This powertrain provided a smooth and responsive driving experience, with the Enclave's AWD system and premium ride suspension enhancing its handling capabilities. The Enclave's maximum towing capacity was 5,000 pounds, making it a versatile choice for those needing to tow. Buick's QuietTuning technology and active noise cancellation ensured a serene cabin environment, rivaling luxury vehicles in terms of ride quality and comfort.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, on the other hand, featured a 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine delivering 187 horsepower and 178 pound-feet of torque, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. While the Sportage's engine offered more power than its predecessor, it lacked the punch of the previous turbocharged option. The Sportage's fuel efficiency was commendable, with FWD models achieving 25 mpg city and 32 mpg highway. The X-Pro trims added off-road capabilities with all-terrain tires and specific drive modes, but the naturally aspirated engine struggled to match the performance of turbocharged competitors.

The 2022 Buick Enclave excelled in providing a spacious and comfortable interior. With its large windshield and window openings, visibility was excellent, and ingress and egress were effortless. The Enclave's cabin offered ample headroom, legroom, and shoulder room for passengers in all three rows. The second-row captain's chairs made accessing the third row easy, and the power-folding third-row seats added convenience. Cargo space was generous, with 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 97.4 cubic feet with both rows folded.

The 2023 Kia Sportage, as a compact crossover, offered impressive interior space for its class. The new model was 7.1 inches longer than its predecessor, providing more rear-seat legroom at 41.3 inches. The trunk offered 39.6 cubic feet of cargo space, expanding to 74.1 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. The Sportage's front seats featured practical storage solutions, but the touch-sensitive HVAC controls proved frustrating. Despite these quirks, the Sportage's interior was well-designed and functional.

The 2022 Buick Enclave featured a standard 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 allowed pairing of up to 10 devices, with a built-in WiFi hotspot supporting up to four devices. The Enclave also offered advanced safety features like adaptive cruise control, head-up display, and HD surround vision.

The 2023 Kia Sportage impressed with its 12.3-inch touchscreen interface on EX and higher trims, paired with a panoramic driver information display on SX trims and above. However, the top-of-the-line interface required wired connections for Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, while the base LX trim offered wireless connectivity. The Sportage included wireless charging, rear USB-C ports, and a Harman Kardon stereo on higher trims. Despite some icon design issues, the Sportage's technology package was advanced and user-friendly.

The 2022 Buick Enclave made significant strides in safety by making the Buick Driver Confidence Plus package standard on all trims. This package included features like automatic emergency braking, forward-collision warning, lane-change alert, and rear cross-traffic warning. The Enclave received "Good" ratings in most IIHS crash tests, with an "Acceptable" score in the updated side-impact test.

The 2023 Kia Sportage offered a comprehensive suite of standard safety features, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, and rear backup sensors. Higher trims added blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and adaptive cruise control. The SX Prestige and X-Pro Prestige trims included advanced features like blind-view monitor and Highway driving assist. However, crash-test ratings from NHTSA and IIHS were not yet available for the 2023 Sportage.