2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs 2025 Buick Enclave

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern aesthetic, reminiscent of a larger version of the Envista. Its front design featured slim DRLs, a large angular grille, and a high beltline, giving it a sharp appearance. While the side profile was somewhat generic, the overall look was more assertive than its predecessor. The Enclave's design included fewer creases, a flatter roof, and slightly sharpened wheel arches. Standard 20-inch wheels adorned the base and Sport Touring trims, with the Avenir trim boasting 22-inch wheels in a special finish. Inside, the Enclave offered a modern and premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display. The Sport Touring trim featured perforated leatherette seats with contrast piping, enhancing the interior's appeal. However, the limited availability of a panoramic sunroof was a drawback, especially for a near-luxury SUV.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 maintained its distinctive retro-inspired design, drawing comparisons to the Lancia Delta. The mid-cycle refresh brought minor revisions to the front fascia while retaining the iconic "Parametric Pixel" lights and high rear spoiler. The new XRT trim stood out with red tow hooks and digital camouflage-patterned cladding, along with exclusive colors. The Ioniq 5's wheel designs were updated, with the XRT featuring rally-style 18-inch wheels. Inside, the Ioniq 5's cabin remained open and modern, with minor changes to the center console for improved functionality. The XRT trim added rugged elements like all-weather floor mats and debossed logos. The Ioniq 5's interior dimensions remained unchanged, offering ample head and legroom, and the cargo space was competitive. The transition to the North American Charging System (NACS) was a significant functional upgrade, allowing access to Tesla's Supercharger network.

The 2025 Buick Enclave was powered by a turbocharged 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 328 horsepower and 326 pound-feet of torque. This engine was paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, available in both front-wheel-drive (FWD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) configurations, with AWD costing an additional $2,000. The Enclave's fuel economy was slightly reduced with AWD, achieving 21 mpg combined compared to 23 mpg for FWD. It had a towing capacity of up to 5,000 pounds. Buick offered two versions of Active Noise Cancellation, with the engine noise cancellation standard only on the top trim. The Enclave's driving dynamics were more akin to a full-size vehicle, with noticeable bulk and loose steering at slower speeds.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 XRT featured a Terrain Mode button on the steering wheel, offering Snow, Mud, and Sand modes for off-road adventures. The XRT trim was AWD-only, while other trims offered RWD with optional AWD. The Ioniq 5's battery capacity increased for 2025, providing a range of up to 318 miles in RWD configuration. AWD reduced the range slightly, with the XRT achieving 259 miles. Power output varied by powertrain, with RWD models producing up to 225 horsepower and AWD models delivering 320 horsepower and 446 pound-feet of torque. The Ioniq 5's instant torque made for an enjoyable driving experience, even with its substantial curb weight.

The 2025 Buick Enclave offered eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. It featured captain's chairs in the second row, accommodating up to seven passengers. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with the Avenir trim adding heated second-row seats and front seat ventilation. Tri-zone climate control allowed middle-row passengers to manage their own temperature. The Enclave's cargo space measured 22.9 cubic feet with all seats in place, expanding to 57.1 cubic feet with the third row folded and 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows down. The AutoSense liftgate was a convenient feature for hands-free access.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 addressed previous complaints by adding a rear windshield wiper. The interior featured a movable center console with fore-and-aft cupholders and a wireless charging pad. Heated front seats were standard, with the Limited trim offering front seat ventilation and driver's seat memory. Interior dimensions remained unchanged, with generous head and legroom. Cargo space measured 26.3 cubic feet with the rear seats up and 58.5 cubic feet with them folded down, plus an additional .85 cubic feet in the frunk. The Ioniq 5's transition to the NACS charging system was a significant functional improvement.

The 2025 Buick Enclave featured a large 30-inch curved display integrating the infotainment system and digital gauge cluster. While the display was generally seamless, smartphone projection interrupted the landscape background. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with the Avenir trim offering a 16-speaker Bose Performance system. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In for native apps. The Enclave also offered a Wi-Fi hotspot and multiple USB ports for charging.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 retained its dual 12.3-inch screens for infotainment and digital instruments, with improved functionality and faster processing speeds. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto were new and standard. The Bose Premium Audio system was available on the XRT and Limited trims, while SE and SEL trims had a six-speaker system. Standard features included navigation, dynamic voice recognition, and five USB-C ports. The Ioniq 5's head-up display was exclusive to the Limited trim, and the wireless charging pad was available from the SEL trim level.

The 2025 Buick Enclave came equipped with advanced safety and driver-assistance features, including blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with selectable camera views was standard, and adaptive cruise control was included. Super Cruise, GM's hands-free driving technology, was available on all trims for an additional cost. The 2025 Enclave had not yet been rated by the IIHS or NHTSA, but the 2024 model received favorable ratings.

The 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 continued to earn high safety ratings, including a Top Safety Pick+ award from the IIHS and a five-star rating from the NHTSA. New safety features included an enhanced driver attention system, reverse and forward parking-distance warning, and surround-view and blind-spot view monitors on higher trims. Highway Driving Assist 1 and 2 were available, with HDA 2 offering lane-changing capability and machine learning.