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:

• 

  Fantastic first week! - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By EMG - November 25 - 6:30 pm

  Just got our new Enclave and couldnt be happier. Had many more "bells and whistles" than we even knew about going in! Such a quiet ride, very solid feel. Decent pick-up on the freeway, but its not a sports car. Perfect car for a family who needs a mini-van but doesnt want to get one. Very comparable to higher-end SUVs. Would highly recommend a close look at the Enclave to any family with three or more children.

• 

  Thrilled with the Enclave - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Randall - October 19 - 6:56 pm

  I took possesion of my Enclave on June 1 and took it for a drive throught the Rocky mountains. Wow, what a ride! I am totally impressed with this vehicle. Gas mileage was decent at 23.9MPG. This is a sexy looking CUV both in and out and is extremely quiet. The seats are extremely comfortable front and back. The nav system is also a great feature that I found invaluable driving in unfamiliar cities. OnStar is also great, I love the personal service that you get with this. This should be standard on all vehicles. I will be using this car to haul long items and I have more room than my old Dodge Caravan. The seats can be configured to fit almost any need. Congrats to the Buick designers

• 

  Great looks, Problems already at 3k - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Joey - October 1 - 7:26 am

  Great looking car & very fun to drive. We shopped all alternatives before we decided to own another GM car. We were worried about purchasing another GM car because of past problems and now our worries have come true. The anti-lock brake light and traction control light has come on. Hopefully it is not a repeat of our past GM problems

• 

  Proud Owner! - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Kim - September 25 - 11:26 am

  We love our Enclave. It is fun to drive and easy to handle. The back up sensors are awesome. A breeze to park in small crowded parking lots. Gets a lot of attention every where we go. The whole family enjoys riding in this car. My Dad liked it so much they bought one of their own!

• 

  Road Master - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Dave - September 2 - 10:46 pm

  I love this SUV. Had it a month now. Very quiet and comfortable. Handles well. Mileage as advertised. Many car reviews complain about the trans not downshifting quickly. These reviewers didnt understand when/how to use the manual shifter. On hilly highways select 5 instead of D. 6th gear is for mostly flat highways. On backroads D is fine. The auto-manual shifter works differently than my other cars. If you select 4 or 5 in manual mode, the trans will auto downshift and upshift to the gear selected. My other cars only downshift auomatically but require you to manually upshift through each gear.

• 

  REMARKABLE - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By douglasheaslet - August 29 - 11:10 am

  After looking and driving numerous makes and models of SUVs I decided on the Enclave. I drove three of these vechiles that ranged from 36,888 to 46,200. I ended up with a Enclave that listed for 40,625. For my purposes I preferred a FWD. The AWD lists for 2,000 more than the FWD. The ride is great the finish is supurb. I love the Sun/Moon roof. The DVD is a must when you travel with the grandchildren. Cadilac, Acadia and Lexus is in second place compared to this automobile,

• 

  A Smooth and Elegant CUV - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Jim - August 3 - 7:43 am

  Handles and rides like a dream. Considerably more power than the Pacifica that I traded in.The Bose audio system is terrific although I am still figuring out all the entertainment system controls. The Enclaves pictured in the brochure show a center console (small asterisk and print indicates rear center console available at a later date). So, from the front seat forward I rate the interior as having a very rich diamond and sapphire look but from the front seat back to the tailgate I give it a cardboard and plastic look. I hope GM offers the rear console as a dealer installed option at a reasonable price.

• 

  Best crossover out there! - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By mandy - August 2 - 6:26 am

  Ive had my Enclave a little over a month now and I love it! I spent six months testing different makes of suvs and crossovers and the Enclave is in a class of its own! It was love at first sight! Such a smooth and quiet ride and the interior is so spacious and elegant! The exterior is unique and hands down the best looking crossover on the road today! I have to say that Buick has outdone themselves!

• 

  As advertised, great car - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By f - July 27 - 7:50 pm

  Looked at a variety of SUVs and CUVs, thought the Enclave offered the best conbination of size and ride quality. The vehicle is as quiet and nicely appointed inside as advertised. In essence the quietest and smoothest car I have owned. The transmission issues, in my opinion, are overstated. Shifts are smooth and yes on occasion the transmission does search for the correct gear, but not a deal breaker. The performance is more than adequate. If you want 0-60 stats buy a Ferarri! Fit and finish are excellent. Gas milaeage in mixed driving is disappointing-15mpg. Hard to believe that GM wont permit you to querie the Nav system for gas, food or lodging while moving! Save your money, buy a $300 Garmin.

• 

  More than satisfied - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Tommyboy - July 3 - 10:10 pm

  So after much consideration between all the lambda options, we kept coming back to the Buick Enclave CXL. The Saturn was nice but we kept thinking the resale was going to be the lowest of all three. The GMC was great, but no perferated seats (we live in NC and leather and sun dont mix well!)and no cocoa interior. So, we settled on the Enclave. And are very happy we did! Everywhere we go people want to look inside and are blown away at how large it is in interior volume. When I tell them it is the same as a Tahoe or Yukon, they are amazed. This really is a minivan inside and sport utility outside.