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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  We Are Really Enjoying This Vehicle! - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By GoPhillies - September 15 - 3:23 pm

  Waited until we had owned for a year before writing a review. Our Enclave is the nicest vehicle Ive ever owned. My first American car (75 Chevy Monte Carlo) was also my last because it was junk. Bought my first import new (87 Honda Accord), have disparaged American cars since. Then I had the Enclave Experience. What a great American car! I was actually proud to be able to buy and recommend an American car. We use it primarily for long trips, and have spent 10 hours on the road in absolute comfort. We have small kids and the entertainment system (Bose, w/satellite and DVD) keeps everyone happy. Six adults fit easily. Its beautiful, and even strangers complement it. Get one.

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  Loving it so far - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By LI Driver - September 10 - 12:39 pm

  After 4 minivans, I had to have a vehicle that offered more comfort and style, but still offered a roomy third row for my teen/tween-aged kids. But I did not want anything as big (and costly) as a Sequoia. The Enclave fits the bill perfectly. It is roomy and comfortable to ride in. So far, performance has been great. I read the criticism about the transmission being slow to downshift, but I havent noticed anything significant. MPG was another concern, but on a recent trip, I got over 21 mpg (obviously highway). For a vehicle this size, I cant complain. If you are looking for a crossover that combines lots of room with style and comfort, check out the Enclave.

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  Great car for the whole family - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By GC - September 9 - 11:38 pm

  We really love our new Buick Enclave. It is a really comfortable and quiet ride. The DVD player with Wireless headphones is great. We can listen to music while the kids are watching a movie. The inside of this SUV is almost as roomy as a minivan. The Kids can actually stand up in the back. There is still room for storage in the trunk with the third row seats up.

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  Buy American...Toy/Honda are vanilla. - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By snoop - September 9 - 10:40 am

  Toyota and Honda are not the best in this market. I looked at the Lexus and the Accura and they did not provide the same number of benefits to justify their added costs. I really like the styling of the Buick much better than its competitors. As far as the power is concerned. It is more than enough. It is a crossover vehicle not a sprint car. If you hate minivans, but want enough room for your family with all the modern creature comforts like xenon lights, nav, 2 dvds, xm leather, 2 sunroofs, in a really solid vehicle. I feel the Buick is the best choice. I am only 40 something, I didnt think I would ever own a Buick. Friends, neighbors cant believe how nice this car is!

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  Best Reason To Drive American-Made - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Mark - September 8 - 7:32 pm

  I have 25000 miles on my enclave and havent had any major issues with my vehicle. On the highway at 50-55 mph I have easily gotten 30 mpg or better with the cruise on. At 60-65 mph with the cruise on I get about 29 mph. The on-star service eliminates my need for a navigation unit. I fill my tank every 9 days. The sunroof problem was easily fixed in one visit and I have had no more leaks. It turned heads the same day I purchased it and folk continue to drive up beside me and ask about it along with expressing how much they want one. Stick with the routine maintenance and chances are your buick will be on the road for a long time.

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  Ticners review - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By ticner58 - September 8 - 6:36 am

  Has been nothing but a pleasure to drive. Fuel economy is a plus. Pretty well thought out interior/exterior, but as always, there is room for improvement. We have experienced none of the transmission shifting issue that some of the earlier models had. If you want a performance vehicle, then maybe you better look elsewhere. The motor may be a little underpowered, but is adequate. The ride/quiet interior are just like advertised. We added sunroof, machined aluminum wheels, asst. steps, rear backup sensor, heated washer solvent and remote start to the basic CX model that already had a great standard equipment package. We would buy this vehicle again! Nothing else out there like the Enclave!

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  I lUV MY VEHICLE - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By sweet1976 - September 4 - 7:29 pm

  I absolutely love my new Enclave. The rear backup camera on the rear view mirror is an absolute delight. It is so much easier to look in the mirror than down at a navigation screen. There are so many things that makes this a great vehicle to have. Granted, Ive only had it a few days now, but I cant say anything negative about it. Its very classy and I see peoples head turn when I drive by. The only negative thing I can say is about how expensive it was to purchase...but nevertheless, Im pleased!

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  Great vehicle all around - 2010 Buick Enclave
  By Jim Ernst - September 1 - 5:24 pm

  Have just purchased 2 weeks ago but have found the vehicle to be very comfortable and fun to drive. Ride is very smooth and it handles with ease. Has all the conveniences needed as well as safety built in which is a plus as my wife in the normal driver.

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  What Kind of Car Is It? - 2009 Buick Enclave
  By Amazed!!! - August 25 - 10:48 pm

  I dont think I have ever owned a car people were so inquisitive about. We drove the Enclave on a whim (actually to kill time while we waited on the salesman to find a Yukon on the lot). Wow! What a suprize! Our past 3 vehicles have been a Yukon and 2 Tahoes. We actually had decided on another Yukon but we were not happy with the ride or the boxy look of the new body style. We drove the Lexus, Infiniti, Tahoe, Yukon and kept coming back to the Buick. I researched and read over 70 reviews. They basically said the same thing. Its a great car! We have 12K wonderful, enjoyable miles and it has been a pleasure every time I have opened the door. I still cant believe I am driving a Buick.

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  Cant get enough of these Enclaves - 2017 Buick Enclave
  By Ed Wizeman - August 25 - 5:05 pm

  This is my 3rd Enclave & these are not your grandfathers Car. Great road handling, comfortable to drive & ride in, for trips to Florida there is plenty of room for hauling all your stuff or enough seating & room for all of our grandchildren (7 places). Greta car design, too.