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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  One Month Of Ownership - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Peter Manchester - June 20 - 5:46 pm

  A thorough delight and living up to my highest expectations. I had considered the Lexus and Acura, but believe the Ecncave blows them away. It also puts the Mercedes to shame, and at a lesser cost! My only complaint is the lack of smoothness in the transmission, but based on all of its attributes I can forgive this slight flaw. This automobile is on a par with my Cadillac DTS!

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  Loving it, now - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By hawkeye - May 31 - 1:26 pm

  I love the way this vehicle drives! I would have given performance and fun to drive a "7" before I had the May 8th transmission update. This eliminated all hesitation and lugging. It holds the lower gears for instant throttle response. It came with a warning that it may decrease mpg by 0-2 mpg. I saw the 0. I get 22 on the interstate doing 76 mph. My wife got 23.5 mpg on a rural drive with small towns to go through. I get 14 mpg in around town/short trip driving. Its very reliable, too.

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  Great Ride for a high cost! - 2014 Buick Enclave
  By MyEnclaveReview - April 29 - 7:22 am

  When you can purchase the same engine and nearly identical body for a lesser price, it makes the Buick a poor value! I love the way it drives. Too many little technology glitches. Hard to find a good deal or great sale! There are other cars in the same family that are nearly identical for much less.

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  Enclave - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Madeline - April 23 - 6:10 am

  Its extremely quiet. The ride & handling are superior. It tows our 3500 lb. boat with the greatest of ease. Its truly a beautiful vehicle inside and out, and has all the bells & whistles. Just want to drive it all the time.

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  16k And Still Going Strong - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Red Jewel Tint - April 5 - 9:06 am

  Traded in my 04 Sequoia and have never looked back. Everything about this car is better than the Toy. I can repeatedly get 25 mpg on the highway if I pay attention and keep my speed within 5 mph of the limit. Quit whining about gas mileage in a 5000 lb vehicle! The tranny is designed to max your mpg, not your quarter-mile times. Weve had two long road trips, and this is way more comfy than my "class leading" 01 Grand Caravan ever was. This car is drop-dead gorgeous inside and out. Ten months and 16k later I am still in love with my car. I have every option, and all the bells and whistles work perfectly. OnStar seems to have upgraded their nav system as it seems more accurate than last year.

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  I would love to love it. - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By steveo - March 25 - 5:36 am

  Loved this car. Great interior, good build, quiet. God interior material, good controls. However, there is a problem with the transmission. Had to be reprogramed after a month because shift points were way off. Had to drop the trans ro replace control module at 10k miles, leaked out all trans fluid after the replacement and is now back in the shop for a week to replace same part and they can not get all of the seals necessary to finish. Wife is furious and wants do dump it now. Why can GM not get it all together. Finally got a winner and screwed it up.

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  Best Buick Ever - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Bob - February 16 - 1:26 am

  Beyond a doubt this is the nicest vehicle I have ever owned.I drove it from Rochester NY to Florida and enjoyed it very much. It has met all my expectations

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  Beautiful Buick - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Mario - February 15 - 9:13 am

  We look at almost every crossover model available on the market, but when we saw the Enclave, we fell in love. My wife still cant believe its a Buick. Talking about a private jet, the inside is more like a first class section of a jumbo jet. Way to go Buick, keep it up because you already beat every foreign crossover in your class. My Enclave moved me so much that I personalized the license plate on it with my own name.

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  One of GMs best in many years - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Bert - February 15 - 12:53 am

  This Enclave is the 27th vehicle I have owned, the great majority being GM brands. I had about given up on GM for my next vehicle until I saw the Enclave at the Phoenix Auto Show. I purchased one two weeks later and love it. The quality is exceptional and the styling and performance leave nothing to be desired.

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  From BMW to Buick and happy. - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Mario - February 12 - 3:03 pm

  As a BMW owner for the last 10 years this is my first purchase of a Buick ever. To be honest there hasnt been a Buick model that ever looked worthy of owning, untill now. I have only had it for 3 weeks and so far this looks like it will be a winner for GM. The ride and interior are both very comfortable and the value received for the money spent is incredible. Every option that you could want at about $300 a month less in a lease versus BMW. Of course this large vehicle does not accelerate nor corner like an X5 but it wasnt built for that. Nevertheless, it does what it was built to do and very well I may add. A great vehicle for mid to long road trips. I highly recommend it.