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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Best Car I Ever Had. - 2014 Buick Enclave
By Carol Wilkerson - November 10 - 6:09 am -
2008 Buick Enclave CXL - 2008 Buick Enclave
By sharronh - October 31 - 7:40 pmI love love love the Enclave. Mine is the CXL fully loaded. Black with cashmere interior. Other people sure do a lot of staring. It is just beyond classy. My first experience from November to February was frustrating because the engine light kept coming on. As of yesterday Feb.22nd problem has been resolved. Im a first time buyer with GM and consider it a great move.
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Just OK for me - 2008 Buick Enclave
By Lynne D. - October 23 - 6:56 amMy 2008 Enclave is one year old with 23,000 miles. I waited a year to write this review so it would be more accurate. Bad things: I get 16 mpg consistantly, much less than I expected. Transmission is a constant issue. Pulling on to a highway from an on ramp into traffic is tricky as this car just doesnt have the acceleration or power needed to pull this off effortlessly. When heat/AC is on with the fan it is very loud. Moulding of the front bumper comes to a point and is very low to the ground. Watch curbs when parking! Good things: Roomy inside and we love the "minivan" seating arrangement where you can walk through to the third row. It looks nice and turns many heads.
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Sweet but tight - 2008 Buick Enclave
By kookies - October 16 - 12:10 pmThis car is a little squishy for teens, but has great gas mileage. It is great for traveling long distances, but regret getting the one with out the built-in DVD player for the kids in the back. I recommend the captain seats so the middle bench doesnt get trashed with people climbing over it.
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The Best In Its Class - 2008 Buick Enclave
By Dell - October 8 - 1:33 pmI have owned several vehicles over the years that were regular sedans. However, I needed an SUV so I tried the GMC Envoy and GMC Yukon. Both were okay, but I wanted the luxury I was use to. I test drove a Lincoln Navigator and Lexus RX. Then I drove the Buick Enclave and I was sold. I never considered a Buick. I suppose because it they were, as the old saying goes, your fathers car. However, Buick has distanced itself from that saying with the Enclave. The cars that I have owned were simply transportation to me. I did not consider them fun to drive. There have only been two cars that I really enjoyed driving. They were a Lexus LS and Lincoln Town Car. However, now I can add the Buick Enclave
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Awesome & Safe - 2008 Buick Enclave
By Awesome & Safe - August 29 - 3:00 amI bought this vehicle in March of 2008. June 4th a storm came through our area and a tree fell on top of my Enclave. I can honestly tell you the car had no (zero) damage. The Enclave is a safe vehicle. This only disappointment I have is the acceleration and gas mileage. Otherwise, everything is great. I feel 100% safe in this vehicle.
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The Best One Yet! - 2018 Buick Enclave
By Jay - August 25 - 6:38 amWeve owned 2008 and 2012 Enclaves so we are familiar with the car. Coming from a series of minivans we loved the look of the 2008 Enclave, and the 2018 is a great improvement on the original. The Avenir is quieter, more luxurious, thriftier and more comfortable than the earlier versions. I particularly like the switchable AWD which lets us run in FWD most of the time. The technology is amazing: we especially like the birds-eye-view and the camera rear view mirror, though both took a bit of getting used to em. A feature not available on any non-GM suv is the OnStar app which lets us remotely start the engine. Arriving at the airport and being able to warm the car while waiting for our luggage is a real plus. We looked at most of the 3-row suvs available and, for price, features, cosmetics, and overall quality, nothing bests the Avenir, IMHO!
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The Best One Yet! - 2018 Buick Enclave
By Jay - August 24 - 3:56 pmWeve owned 2008 and 2012 Enclaves so we are familiar with the car. Coming from a series of minivans we loved the look of the 2008 Enclave, and the 2018 is a great improvement on the original. The Avenir is quieter, more luxurious, thriftier and more comfortable than the earlier versions. I particularly like the switchable AWD which lets us run in FWD most of the time. The technology is amazing: we especially like the birds-eye-view and the camera rear view mirror, though both took a bit of getting used to em. A feature not available on any non-GM suv is the OnStar app which lets us remotely start the engine. Arriving at the airport and being able to warm the car while waiting for our luggage is a real plus. We looked at most of the 3-row suvs available and, for price, features, cosmetics, and overall quality, nothing bests the Avenir, IMHO!
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Great car - 2008 Buick Enclave
By Rob - August 23 - 7:33 pmThis is the first American made car that I have ever purchased. No American cars ever interested me. I traded a 2004 Volvo XC90 for the Enclave. The Enclave is a big jump in quality especially for the price. The XC90 equipped similarly would cost $10K more. The ride is very smooth and quiet. We bought it loaded. My daughter loves the DVD. I like OnStar, navigation system, back-up camera and power liftgate. Adults can actually sit in the 3rd row comfortably. Behind the 3rd row there is room for luggage or coolers for tailgating. The gas mileage so far (800 miles) is not as good as the Volvo. The Enclave gets 15 MPG in the city. Overall, a great value. I highly recommend it.
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First Buick Ever - 2008 Buick Enclave
By abittel - August 16 - 6:33 pmWe started looking early 2007, but really wanted to see the Enclave. Test drove Edge, Pacifica, and Veracruz. We finally got to see the Enclave and it was truly spectactular. We just had a hard time finding one to buy. People come up to us all of the time and want to see the car and want to know about it! I have only had Lincoln Continentals for the past 20 years, so this was a big step to buy a Buick. We have not been dissapointed. It is actully shorter and narrower than my Lincoln (more room in the garage!)
