Buick's Enclave is uniquely styled compared to all other big crossovers
Crossovers and sport utility vehicles with masculine designs are commonplace. If tough is what you’re looking for, there are plenty to choose from.
That’s what makes the Buick Enclave so unique. Instead of tough and rugged or high-tech, the Enclave is curvy, elegant – and different from every other big crossover or SUV on the market. With apologies to all of the guys out there who drive one, you could even the Enclave feminine.
Take a close look at the Enclave the next time you see one on the street. Is there another crossover on the market that has curves around its wheel wells like the Enclave? Narrows in the middle? Wears its jewelry so elegantly? Well, Mazda’s CX-9 – not to mention the smaller CX-7 – have curves, but they tend toward athleticism, not elegance.
Even though the big Buick has been on the market for more than 3 years, surprisingly no other automaker has followed Buick’s lead. And despite so much time on the market, the Enclave still looks fresh.
But the Enclave’s spirit of refined elegance goes beyond exterior styling. In contrast to its sister vehicles, the GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverse, the Enclave actually seems to have a smoother ride and is quieter. Grace to go along with elegance.
General Motors has a long and unfortunate history when it comes to what many derisively call “badge-engineering.” But in the case of these triplets, GM actually has differentiated its three big crossovers. The Traverse is the value leader, the Acadia has that tough masculine design that is common to the rest of the big crossover market and the Enclave is the near-luxury option.
The Enclave is beautifully styled - accept for its awful fake wood trim that looks nothing like real wood especially next to the real mahogany on the steering wheel.
The Enclave starts at $35,865 including destination for a model with front-wheel drive. All-wheel drive Enclaves start at $41,790. Loaded with an upgraded audio system with navigation and DVD rear entertainment system ($3,185), two-panel sunroof ($1,400), Crystal Red paint ($395) and 20-inch chrome aluminum wheels, the total comes to $51,170.
Like the Chevy and GMC, the Enclave is powered by GM’s excellent 3.6-liter V-6. With double-overhead cams and direct injection this advanced engine helps the FWD Enclaves achieve 17 mpg city and 24 highway. AWD Enclaves are rated at 16/22. We saw 17 on mostly freeway and rural two lanes.
The Enclave has near-minivan-like carrying capacity with its seats folded.
With 288 horsepower, acceleration is good for a big crossover. Rated to tow 4,500 pounds, Buick’s lady is only slightly less capable than its brothers, which can both tow up to 5,200 pounds.
Power goes through GM’s excellent six-speed automatic, which is always ready with the right gear and never seems to stumble. A two-way button on gearshift lever provides manumatic shifting.
The Enclave handles well – mostly. This is a big crossover, so handling is more along the lines of a cruise ship rather than a ski boat, so it’s not surprising that it prefers not to hurry. The ride is smooth and comfortable, about as good as it gets in a people mover and even better than its platform mates. The only demerit is that in bumpy turns, the rear end wants to step sideways.
The Enclave's curves are different than any other SUV on the market.
The Enclave seats seven but a middle row bench – instead of twin captains chairs – is a no-cost option, allowing it to seat eight. The test vehicle had the captain’s chairs. The Enclave’s middle row seats slide on tracks in the floor, allowing for easier access to the third row and to improve legroom for those in the third row.
Unfortunately, the complicated system is not as easy to use as that in the new Dodge Durango, which folds and flips with a single lever. One advantage is that with the twin chairs, the little ones can get back to the third row by going between the middle-row seats.
Each row of the interior is roomy, although the tallest folks in the carpool will probably want to avoid the third row.
But those carpoolers will at least arrive at work ready for the big meeting because the Enclave is remarkably quiet, even quieter than the GMC and Chevy. Buick calls it Quiet Tuning. It combines special glass, extra body sealing and even specially treated metal, all aimed at reducing sound inside the vehicle. It works.
It’s also particularly good looking, well, all except the cheesy fake wood trim on the dashboard, which doesn’t even come close to matching the rather nice – and real – mahogany on the steering wheel. Really, do buyers like wood trim that doesn’t even resemble actual wood?
All of the seats are long-haul comfortable. Those in the front row have plenty of space. The center console has compartments aplenty. There’s even room to store the headphones for the DVD rear entertainment system.
What’s interesting about the Enclave is that no other automaker has decided to give it any real competition. Every other crossover on the market seems to want to be Brad Pitt. Only the Enclave is the only one that looks like Angelina Jolie.