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:

• 

  Buick Enclave - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By gym131 - November 6 - 8:00 am

  Poor gas mileage(14/20)miss the keyless entry buttons. Other than that, nice ride with plenty of passenger and cargo room.

• 

  Best CUV on the Market, regardless of price - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Proud Buick owner - October 23 - 7:43 pm

  We have about 6,000 miles on this great, great car. It is fun to drive, has exceptional room, is really comfortable, and everyone else loves it too. The interior has absolutely no cheap look or feel. So what if there is fake wood trim. I would rather have that than have to worry about keeping the finish on real wood. The transmission has been no problem at all. It is very smooth, and the car is powerful enough to easily accelerate to highway speeds when merging with traffic. I looked at the MDX, and the Mazda whatever it is numbered. They dont even come close to the value in this vehicle.

• 

  Hangers? - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Beatys - October 22 - 10:40 pm

  Fit and finish all seem top notch. Overall, the car is better than anticipated. Havent had it long enough to know about reliability. Only complaint is how to hang clothes on the second row seating, as in picking up dry cleaning.

• 

  New Enclave Engine Problems - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By Stranded in Seattle - October 21 - 1:41 pm

  I really wish I could love my new Enclave. This is my first GM purchase and my first American car. What a frustrating and disappointing experience, so far. In less than a month since taking delivery of my new 2009 Buick Enclave CXL AWD, and with less than 800 miles logged on the vehicle, my new car has been in for service three times for the same engine vibration problem. The fuel injection system has been cleaned, fuel injector and ignition coil replaced and now the service techs are "looking more deeply into the cylinder head and valve train." (YIKES!) Vehicle downtime now stands at an abysmal 50%, since taking delivery. I was so hopeful for GM, but this car simply doesnt work.

• 

  A Great SUV - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By Joe - October 13 - 11:09 am

  The Enclave is an excellent choice if you are looking for a premium suv. We compared to the Acura, Lexus and Lincoln models and chose the Enclave because it has more room than the competition along with superior comfort and performance. To date, the quality has been excellent and the comfort and ride dynamics have exceeded our expectations.

• 

  CITY GAS MILAGE - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By JWL - October 12 - 8:15 pm

  Buick claims a city gas milage of 17 mpg on the EPA sticker. In straight city driving under the most conservative starts and stops my Enclave gets an averave of 11.7 MPG. I have provided the dealership the gas receipts and milage. The fact is that the 6 speed electrocic transmission holds the car in 2nd gear at 30 miles an hour causing the engine to Tach at a steady 1900 RPM. When the car passes 40 MPH the Tach drops to 1200 RPM. I was contacted by GMs Division Manager who told me that is how the transmission is calibrated and there is nothing they can do about it. I bought this car based on the fuel estimates and I feel that they should be able to produce what they advertise. 31% less.

• 

  So far Im poor - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By jrs - October 10 - 11:03 pm

  Although a beautiful car inside and out, dont buy off on the claim that this gets better mileage than most SUVs. The AWD version I have is averaging less than 15 MPG in the city. The car is heavy and takes a lot of gas pedal to get up to speed. I was really hoping to get a little more economy out of this car.

• 

  No Regrets At All!! - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By jamiec - October 4 - 9:49 pm

  Started looking at the Traverse, then the Acadia. Did not look at any Buicks due to the "grandmas always drive buicks. But at the very last minute took a look inside and said WOW,much more luxurious than than the other SUVs. Price for what you get is excellent, it is NOT overpriced. Handling, looks, safety - GREAT!

• 

  Dont want to get out of it! - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By Love my Clave - October 3 - 11:51 pm

  Handles quite nicely. Rides like a dream. Quiet and smooth. Found fuel economy reasonable. Sound system great. Nice looking vehicle, very classy at a reasonable price. Looking forward to at least ten years with this vehicle. Still have my Montana van, which is ten years old. Love my Clave.

• 

  So far so good - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By KWD - October 2 - 3:52 pm

  We bought our Enclave a little over two weeks ago. We are very satisfied with our purchase. The vehice interior is very luxury. The outside vehicle design is very appealling.