2025 Buick Enclave vs 2025 Jeep Wrangler

The 2025 Buick Enclave presented a bold and modern aesthetic, reminiscent of the automaker's compact crossover, the Envista. Its front design featured slim DRLs, a large angular grille, and a high beltline, drawing comparisons to luxury models like Lamborghini. While its side profile appeared somewhat generic, the Enclave's overall look was sharper and more refined than its predecessor. The vehicle's exterior was complemented by standard 20-inch wheels on the base and Sport Touring trims, with the Avenir trim boasting 22-inch wheels in a special finish. Inside, the Enclave exuded a premium feel with a floating center console and a large curved display, echoing the futuristic design trends seen in electric vehicles. The Sport Touring model's seats, trimmed in perforated leatherette with contrast piping, added a touch of elegance, though the limited availability of a panoramic sunroof was a noted drawback.

In contrast, the 2025 Jeep Wrangler Sport S, encountered during a rental experience in Hawaii, was less about aesthetics and more about functionality. The black-on-black color scheme was less than ideal for the tropical climate, but the Wrangler's design was rooted in its rugged, go-anywhere capability. The vehicle's appeal lay in its nostalgic design, reminiscent of a World War II military vehicle, and its ability to traverse diverse terrains. Despite its nearly $50,000 price tag, the Wrangler's interior was basic, with a focus on durability and practicality. The cloth upholstery and metallic accents provided a touch of class, but the emphasis was clearly on function over form. The Wrangler's iconic seven-slot grille and Made in the U.S.A. label added to its allure, making it a popular choice despite its lack of sophistication compared to more modern vehicles.

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 the latter costing an additional $2,000. The Enclave's fuel economy was rated at 23 mpg combined for FWD and 21 mpg for AWD. It could tow up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped. The vehicle featured 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 loose steering at slower speeds, but this was not a significant concern for its target market.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler offered a choice between a 3.6-liter V6 engine with a six-speed manual transmission and a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The latter produced 270 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, offering slightly better fuel efficiency at 21 mpg combined compared to the V6's 19-20 mpg. The Wrangler's standard four-wheel drive, high ground clearance, and generous approach and departure angles made it well-suited for off-road adventures. However, its three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA was a concern. The Wrangler's ride was rough, with a disconnected steering feel, but its off-road capabilities were unmatched, especially in the Rubicon trim with advanced off-road features.

The 2025 Buick Enclave offered a spacious and comfortable interior, with eight-way power adjustability for the driver's seat and six-way for the front passenger. The vehicle could accommodate up to seven passengers with captain's chairs in the second row. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel were standard, with the Avenir trim adding heated second-row seats and ventilation for the front row. The Enclave featured tri-zone climate control and a one-touch power feature for folding and sliding the second-row seats. Cargo space was generous, with 22.9 cubic feet behind the third row, expanding to 57.1 cubic feet with the third row folded, and 97.5 cubic feet with both rear rows folded.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's high ground clearance and narrow door openings made entry and exit challenging. The Sport S trim's cloth upholstery was comfortable, and the Convenience Group option added heated front seats and a heated steering wheel. The Wrangler could seat five, but four passengers were more comfortable. Rear-seat legroom was adequate, but taller passengers needed to be cautious of the plastic hooks on the front seatbacks. Cargo space was reasonable, with a 31.7 cubic-foot cargo hold that expanded to 72.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded. However, accessing the cargo area was cumbersome due to the tailgate and rear window design.

The 2025 Buick Enclave's technology offerings highlighted its premium positioning. A 30-inch ultrawide touchscreen integrated the infotainment display and digital gauge cluster, though smartphone projection interrupted its seamless appearance. A 12-speaker Bose Premium audio system was standard, with a 16-speaker Bose Performance system exclusive to the Avenir trim. Wireless charging, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto were standard, along with Google Built-In and Wi-Fi hotspot capability. The Enclave also featured wired charging with USB ports in each row.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler's Uconnect 5 infotainment system was a standout feature, with a 12.3-inch touchscreen, Bluetooth connectivity, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio preparation. An eight-speaker stereo was standard, with a nine-speaker Alpine premium sound system optional. Jeep Connect offered navigation, a Wi-Fi hotspot, Adventure Guides, and GPS Trail Logs. The Convenience Group pack added a 7-inch digital display between the analog gauges, passive entry, remote engine starting, and rear parking sensors.

The 2025 Buick Enclave prioritized safety with a suite of advanced driver-assistance technologies. Newly standard features included blind-zone steering assist, intersection automatic emergency braking, traffic-sign recognition, lane-keep assist, and lane-departure warning. HD Surround Vision with seven selectable camera views was standard, with an option to increase to nine views. Adaptive cruise control was also standard, while a head-up display was optional. The Enclave was the first Buick to offer Super Cruise, GM's highway hands-free driving technology, available on all trims for an additional cost. The 2024 Enclave had scored well in most IIHS tests, though it received an "Acceptable" rating for the updated side crash-test and a four-star overall rating from the NHTSA.

The 2025 Jeep Wrangler added side curtain airbags as standard equipment for the front and rear seats. Advanced driver assistance systems were mostly optional, with blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert available on all but the base Sport trim. Forward collision warning with automatic braking was exclusive to the Sahara trim. Adaptive cruise control and automatic high-beam headlights were available, but our rental lacked these features. The Wrangler received a four-star frontal-impact rating and a three-star rollover resistance rating from the NHTSA. The IIHS rated the Wrangler "Good" for side-impact protection and moderate overlap frontal-impact tests, but "Marginal" for the small overlap frontal-impact test.