Buick Enclave Review

The Buick Enclave is a relatively recent entry in the luxury crossover SUV segment that has earned Buick some accolades, ending the brand's string of so-so products. It shares a platform with GM's latest group of large crossovers and features a fully independent suspension, a powerful 3.6-liter V6 paired with a six-speed automatic transmission and optional all-wheel drive. The Enclave's interior can accommodate adults in all three rows and offers up to 116 cubic feet of cargo room — more than many traditional full-size sport-utilities.

Current Buick Enclave
A full-size crossover SUV, the Buick Enclave sports a number of family-friendly features, such as a roomy cabin with easily accessed and adult-friendly third-row seats. There are three trim levels: base CX, CXL1 and top-of-the-line CXL2, all with standard seven-passenger seating. An available second-row bench seat increases capacity to eight. The 3.6-liter V6 is rated at 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque.

The well-equipped CX comes with luxuries such as xenon headlights, a power liftgate, triple-zone automatic climate control, satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity and OnStar. The CXL1 adds rear park assist with a rearview camera, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power passenger seat and memory positioning for the driver. The CXL2 adds active headlamps, power-folding sideview mirrors, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cooled front seats and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound system with a USB audio jack. Option highlights include a navigation system (with real-time traffic), a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a dual-panel sunroof.

Inside, the Buick Enclave feels genuinely first-class, with a design reportedly inspired by private jet cabins, with a gently curving dash, rich-looking wood-grain inlays and soft, double-stitched leather. Adding interest are a Tiffany-style analog clock and aqua blue instrumentation. With such roomy accommodations, most will probably overlook a few lower-quality trim choices and some minor, overly complicated controls. Access to the third row is excellent, with second-row seats that tilt and slide out of the way, and there are a useful 19 cubic feet of space behind the upright third-row seat.

In our reviews, we've found the Buick Enclave's V6 provides more than ample power, along with a mildly sporty exhaust note. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly, while this year's revised programming provides quicker response than in years past. There's also a manual shift button on the shift lever for those who occasionally like to shift for themselves. The Enclave is quiet and smooth-riding on the highway as expected, though some buyers may find the optional 20-inch wheels stiffen the ride up noticeably. Overall handling is competent and predictable, though not necessarily the equal of its more driver-oriented rivals.

Used Buick Enclave Models
The Buick Enclave debuted for the 2008 model year. For that year, the V6 had a lower output of 275 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. The following year welcomed the direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 (that boasted 288 hp and 270 lb-ft of torque) as well as other upgrades that included Bluetooth connectivity and a traffic feature for the navigation system. Until 2010, there were just two trim levels — base CX and luxury CXL. Also, for the first two model years the transmission could be lazy to downshift due to its fuel-economy-biased programming. For 2010, the transmission was reprogrammed for quicker response.