Overview & Reviews

Buick has been on the upswing the past few years, introducing new models that are much more desirable than its mediocre past products. The Buick Enclave was one of the first vehicles to point Buick in the right direction.

The Enclave shares a platform with GM's latest group of large crossovers and features an upscale interior, a powerful 3.6-liter V6 and plenty of room for both passengers and cargo. If you're looking for a new or used large luxury crossover SUV with a number of family-friendly features -- such as a roomy cabin with easily accessed and adult-friendly third-row seats -- the Enclave is one of the better choices available.

Current Buick Enclave
The Buick Enclave is a full-size crossover SUV powered by a 3.6-liter V6 rated at 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic and front-wheel drive are standard. All-wheel drive is optional.

There are three trim levels: Convenience, Leather and Premium, all with standard seven-passenger seating. An available second-row bench seat increases capacity to eight.

The Enclave with Convenience Group comes with 18-inch wheels, xenon headlights, a power liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, a rearview camera, Bluetooth connectivity, smartphone app integration and OnStar. The Leather Group adds 19-inch wheels, a blind-spot warning system, rear cross-traffic alert, leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power passenger seat and driver memory settings. The Premium trim level features lane-departure and forward collision warning systems, active headlights, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, ventilated front seats and a 10-speaker Bose audio system. Option highlights include 20-inch wheels, a navigation system, a rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a dual-panel sunroof.

In reviews, we've praised the Enclave's spacious and pleasant interior, with its 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. Access to the third row is excellent, with second-row seats that tilt and slide out of the way, and there are a useful 23 cubic feet of space behind the upright third-row seat. Folding down both rows yields a class-leading 115 cubic feet of cargo space. If you need more space for people or cargo, you won't find it in another crossover.

The Buick Enclave's V6 provides quick acceleration, along with a mildly sporty exhaust note. The six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly. On the highway, the Enclave is quiet and smooth-riding, though some buyers may find that the optional 20-inch wheels degrade the ride noticeably. Overall handling is competent and predictable, though not necessarily the equal of its more driver-oriented (or smaller) rivals.

Used Buick Enclave Models
The Buick Enclave debuted for the 2008 model year and overall, any used Enclave will be a solid choice for an upscale, family-friendly crossover SUV.

In its first year, the V6 had a lower output of 275 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. The following year welcomed the direct-injection 3.6-liter V6 (power increased to 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. Additionally, Enclaves from 2008-'12 have slightly different exterior styling than the current model as well as some lower-quality switchgear.

The Enclave's current, more descriptive trim levels of base, Convenience, Leather and Premium arrived for 2012. Two years later saw the addition of the lane departure and forward collision warning systems.

User Reviews:

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  re-calibrate your tranny. - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By charlie - March 18 - 10:21 pm

  This is short and sweet.I love my enclave.Love the looks, ride, comfort,and all the extras.Was not crazy about tranny shifting so much. Checked around and found out that your dealer can change something on the computer and your car wont shift as much. Didnt take long to do and it sure makes a difference. I think there is a bulletin put out by Buick if your dealer wants to know about it. All you guys with tranny stories, check it out.It does make a difference. It wont shift as much. I hope this helps.

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  Great ride - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By don - March 2 - 12:52 pm

  I bought this vehicle after I read 50 reviews and some test drives. Other folks have done a great job of describing the joys of an Enclave. I have experienced mileage as high as 28 on flat road 55mph and no traffic. Typical on interstate at 70 is 23-24 if you keep your foot steady. 2 complaints- tires extremely noisy on some roads. I drive with both feet and periodically, if my foot is resting on the brake when I accelerate, the vehicle jumps. Have had a couple close calls. I now make sure my foot is off the brake. Dealer says my brake foot is confusing the throttle computer causing it to feed in more gas. One Toyota has same problem.

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  Great Vehicle - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By Marc - February 28 - 8:31 pm

  Bought a month ago, so far great vehicle. Bought Cocoa Mist FWD CXL-2, hard color to find. DVD player works great for the kids, seats move easily (my 5 year old can move them). ONstar is a great feature. Fuel economy could be better,but its exactly what the sticker says, so really cant complain. Couple of snows so far and it has performed as well as our Jeep. We are starting to see why we are seeing more and more of these on the roads and know why.

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  Sinking floor - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By bstevens - February 24 - 2:47 pm

  I love my car. I feel great driving it. It handles so well.

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  Best car Ive ever owned - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Joe - February 23 - 4:34 pm

  By far, the best car Ive ever owned (including Lexus, Acura, BMW, etc). Quieter than all of the previous cars, comfortable and great use of space. Incredible amount of space considering exterior dimensions. This is the first car Ive ever owned that I will buy another of the same type.

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  Very Nice Vehicle - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By bayerjv01 - February 20 - 9:47 pm

  Had this 7 months now and it has been very reliable. More than adequate power, very comfortable and quiet. Fuel economy is good for a vehicle of this size configured to seat 7. I wish I got the AWD version - too easy to spin the tires on the FWD. Using mapquest and sending it to your GPS via Onstar is cool. Rear entertainment system has been well utilized. The power lift gate works well and I dont know if I would want an SUV without one again.

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  The Best - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By wvg - February 15 - 3:54 pm

  Great suv, quiet, like as much as my S550 Mercedes, no problems, love the fold down seats, rear tail gate.

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  09 Enclave - CXL Great Crossover!! - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By Bob - February 12 - 2:21 pm

  This one sweet Crossover. Buick hit a homerun with this vehicle. We have made 3 trips from NJ to FL in all kinds of weather and the Enclave was secure, comforable and pleasent to drive. It is extremely quiet and rides like a limo. Highway Gas milege was 18-21 with car loaded and averaging 70-80MPH. We rode through both snow and rain storms and it performed excellent. I would highly recommend it to anyone. We had a Lexus RX350 and the Buick beats it hands down in all areas. GM has finally woke up!

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  Amazingly Quiet - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By Rich - February 8 - 2:06 am

  We purchased the Enclave because we often drive from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, and need something more comfortable for the long drive. We are amazed on how quiet and comfortable it is. The engine is very strong and never has to struggle to go up the hills. Passing is very easy as well. You only have to press the accelerator lightly to get a quick response.

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  I love my SUV! - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By Charlie - February 5 - 9:22 am

  I was indecisive in choice. Acadia, Traverse, Murano and Enclave were my top 4. Value for price paid made me select the Enclave hands down. Acadia was second, but for $550 more it was a no brainer for the luxury SUV. The quiet ride is so impressive, as well as the power. My only disappointment is the cargo room (lack of) when the 3rd row is in use. Where is my spare tire??? lol I still cant find it! My only problem is that I cannot fix why my FOB doesnt recall my drivers seat and side mirrors.