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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  Thats not a Buick - 2011 Buick Enclave
  By Tzer - June 21 - 6:08 am

  when Im driving this Buick Enclave, its like Im setting in my living room so comfortable and quite.

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  Buick Did It Right - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By RICHARD W. - May 30 - 6:50 am

  I was waiting for this unit for two years.now I have it.Thanks Buick... love my Enclave CXL FWD..

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  Positive 1st Impression - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Lee - May 21 - 7:36 pm

  My wife had her heart set on the new X5 but ultimately selected the Enclave due to the 50 extra cubic feet of cargo capacity and 3rd row seats suited for real people. It didnt hurt that the Enclave is quieter than the X5 and offers comparable features for $18K less. I drive a 5 series BMW so I was kind of rooting for the X5 but I find myself enjoying the Enclave more than I imagined. It does everything in a smooth and refined way. The brakes are very linear and the steering is quite responsive for a vehicle of such substantial proportion.

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  An awesome, upscale joy to own! - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Dan - May 19 - 9:33 am

  Lots of research went into our choice of the Enclave. We have not been disappointed! It is a joy to drive, offering super quiet interior and ride, plush CXL leather seating, Bose speaker system, handles fantastic on the road. We towed our boat this weekend, and it handled it better than my previous SUV, hands down. A lot of thought went into this vehicle. Were getting better than stated gas mileage, which is a nice surprise!

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  Deathtrap and GMC does not care - 2011 Buick Enclave
  By T - April 25 - 12:27 am

  As a former loyal GMC owner for 47 years it is shocking to find out GMC are horrible crooks who do not care this is a dangerous vehicle. Without warning the engine broke on the freeway. Car has perfect maintenance. The dealer mechanic said this is common; he sees it all the time; in fact he didnt even have to take it apart because he had seen the same thing six times in 2 months. All GMC could do was read their script and say they understood--does that mean all six customer service reps and two Detroit located supervisors all have Enclaves that have done this!?! Why arent they recalling this paperweight? An expensive luxury car with 50,000 miles with engine failure--complete--ludicrous. Wrote the President of GMC, VP of North American operations, and Vice President for Customer Experience and received absolutely no reply to my email--still waiting for the form letter that says they feel my pain although it is doubtful they have or give one iota about a customer once they have been suckered into this car. Do not expect this car or company to be anything but a bad experience. Check the web reviews carefully; I wish I had.

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  Excellent American car - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Tom - April 18 - 7:33 am

  Ive had this vehicle for about a month and have driven 2300 miles. Everything about it is a joy. This replaces my Acura TL. The Buicks quality is superior to Acura. No rattles, no issues. Its the most comfortable car Ive ever had. If GM pays attention to design and quality like it did with the Enclave, it will begin to compete again.

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  Wow ! What a car.. - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By natalulu - April 12 - 5:40 am

  Goodbye Honda Pilot - work horse. Hello Enclave - luxmobile ! Everyday enjoy it more and more. Spacious, very quiet, smooth ride, handles very nicely, and has lots of admirers - strangers just stopping to take a look or ask about it. Loving it.

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  Never buy a minivan again! - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Steve S. - March 19 - 1:33 pm

  This vehicle is really impressive. I think GM has finally got it right. The vehicle is so comfortable, with so many nice features. You have to drive a Lambda based GM before you buy another SUV, crossover, or minivan.

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  Style, comfort, performance from USA - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By McD - March 13 - 10:46 am

  I was always looking at imports but held off buying once I saw the concept for the Enclave. Glad I waited. Love the comfort, ride, many features. Even my 54" wife is liking it despite its size. The backup camera makes it easy to back up without fear of hitting anything. We have put 7,000 miles on it in 3 months.

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  Quiet, attractive, attention getter - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By OK Enclave lover - February 3 - 10:06 am

  This car is very quiet. Its like stepping into a bank vault. Several people have stopped us and asked what the vehicle is. They like the chrome. I particularly like the remote start feature and the power lift gate. Mileage has disappointed so far, but isnt a major drawback. The shifting is not noticeable at all. This is an incredible car. Its nice to see it being driven by young adults. It certainly is an affordable alternative to higher priced suburbans or other traditional suvs.