Compare the2022 Toyota SiennaVS 2022 Buick Enclave

For enhanced safety, the front and middle seat shoulder belts of the Toyota Sienna are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The Toyota Sienna has a standard driver’s side knee airbag mounted low on the dashboard. The knee airbag helps prevent the driver from sliding under the seatbelts or the main frontal airbag; this keeps the driver better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. A knee airbag also helps keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer knee airbags.

The Sienna has a standard Secondary Collision Brake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Enclave doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Sienna XLE/XSE/Woodland/Limited/Platinum has a standard Parking Support Brake that use rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Enclave doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Sienna offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Enclave doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

The Sienna’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Enclave doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sienna and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning and available around view monitors.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its standard headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Sienna its highest rating: “Top Pick Plus” for 2021, a rating granted to only 68 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Enclave last would have qualified as only a standard “Top Pick” in 2017.

The Sienna’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

Toyota pays for scheduled maintenance on the Sienna for 2 years and 25000 miles. Toyota will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Enclave.

The battery on the Sienna is in the trunk, which protects it from hot underhood temperatures that can degrade battery life. By keeping the Sienna’s battery 20 to 30 degrees cooler, its life is increased by years. The Enclave’s battery is in the hot engine compartment.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sienna third among minivans in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Enclave isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Toyota fourth in reliability, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked fifth.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Toyota vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Toyota second in reliability. Buick is ranked fourth.

On the EPA test cycle the Sienna gets better mileage than the Enclave:

Regenerative brakes improve the Sienna’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Enclave doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Toyota Sienna higher (7 out of 10) than the Buick Enclave (6). This means the Sienna produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the Enclave every 15,000 miles.

The Sienna has a standard continuously variable transmission (CVT). With no “steps” between gears, it can keep the engine at the most efficient speed for fuel economy, or keep it at its peak horsepower indefinitely for maximum acceleration. The Enclave doesn’t offer a CVT.

For better stopping power the Sienna’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Enclave:

The Sienna stops shorter than the Enclave:

The Sienna FWD XSE/FWD Platinum’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Sienna is .4 inches wider in the front and 1.5 inches wider in the rear than on the Enclave.

The Sienna’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (53% to 47%) than the Enclave’s (57% to 43%). This gives the Sienna more stable handling and braking.

For better maneuverability, the Sienna’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the Enclave’s (38.3 feet vs. 39 feet).

The Sienna has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Sienna has 5.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Enclave (162.5 vs. 157.3).

The Sienna has .6 inches more front hip room, .2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, 8.5 inches more rear hip room, 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room, 5.2 inches more third row legroom, .3 inches more third row hip room and 1.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Sienna’s middle and third row seats recline. The Enclave’s third row seats don’t recline.

The Sienna’s cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

The Sienna has a standard Split & Stow third row seat, which folds flat into the floor. This completely clears a very large cargo area quickly. The Enclave doesn’t offer seats that fold into the floor.

A standard locking glovebox (which can’t be accessed with the valet key) keeps your small valuables safer in the Sienna. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Sienna’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (3500 vs. 1500 pounds).

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Sienna uses the Enhanced Vehicle Stability Control sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

The Sienna’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s passenger windows don’t close automatically.

The Sienna has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Enclave doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Sienna’s headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Enclave’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

Manual rear side window sunshades are available in the Sienna to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The Enclave doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Toyota Sienna and the Buick Enclave, based on reliability, safety and performance.