There is only one engine available on the Enclave, but it's a powerful 3.6L V6 producing 288 horsepower. The engine is mated to a 6-speed automatic, a combination yielding enough grunt to tow up to 4,500 pounds. Despite its size and powerful engine, the Enclave still manages to return decent fuel economy and is rated at 17 mpg city and 24 mpg highway in front-wheel drive trim.
The Enclave is offered in four different trims: Preferred, Essence, Premium and Avenir. Convenience is only offered on the front-wheel drive Enclave, while leather and Premium features are on both front and all-wheel drive configurations, with all-wheel drive costing about $2,000 more.
Even the most basic trim level comes packed with interesting features. All Enclaves get Buick's excellent IntelliLink infotainment system featuring Bluetooth, a 6-inch color screen, steering wheel controls, satellite radio, voice recognition and plenty of connectivity to various electronic devices. Other standard features include OnStar, tri-zone automatic climate control, a powered rear liftgate, 18-inch wheels, an 8-way power adjustable driver's seat, a leather and wood trimmed steering wheel and a rearview camera system.
The Premium package offers chrome 19-inch wheels, swiveling headlights to help see around corners, power folding exterior mirrors, cooling and heating for the front seats, a power tilting and telescoping steering column, a Bose 10-speaker stereo system, a forward collision alert and lane departure system.
The top-of-the-line Avenir trim includes an exclusive and more attractive three-dimensional mesh grille that includes some additional chrome work, along with 20-inch wheels. Inside, the Avenir gets contrasting stitching in the seats, special floor mats and wood accents in the steering wheel.
Other optional items include a navigation system, a rear seat entertainment system and seating for eight, rather than seven people.
Buick takes safety seriously and in addition to anti-lock brakes, traction control and stability control, all Enclaves come equipped with panic break assist, seven airbags and a rearview camera.
Available All-wheel Drive
Spacious, Luxurious Interior
3-row Seating
Quiet Ride
Standard Safety Features
The Buick Enclave returns in 2019 with some new features and options for buyers to choose from. The Preferred model now has front-wheel drive available, while a heated steering wheel is standard on the Avenir and Premium models. A new Ebony interior is also being offered on the Avenir model for 2019.
The Buick Enclave luxury crossover is packaged so well that even as a mid-sized vehicle, it will seat up to eight passengers, which puts it up against larger SUVs. The Enclave borrows a lot from many of the luxury cars available from Buick and it provides stiff competition for models from Lexus, Acura and Lincoln. With a state-of-the-art infotainment system capable of connecting to most modern devices and plenty of soft touch, high-quality interior materials, the Buick Enclave feels every bit the luxury vehicle. Moreover, with available all-wheel drive and better ground clearance than most minivans, the Enclave is surprisingly practical.
