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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  New Buick Enclave owner-first road trip-AWESOME!! - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By DMZ - December 29 - 10:23 pm

  Had 05 Rendezvous for 11 years/134K - great service out of this car. Wife has a 10 LaCrosse that we love. With "in stock the longest" discount plus, we were able to purchase a 15 Buick Enclave Premium. What a beautiful car! And it is loaded! Just took our first family road trip in it - 700 miles RT. Wonderful experience. After 7 hours of driving, not even fatigued upon arrival! Smooth, very quiet, solid, confident ride (was that a bump we just went over?). And quite stylish especially with 20" wheels. Car sits just high enough for perfect lookout height and visibility on the road. The blind spot monitor system is a huge safety assistance tool on the interstate. Extremely comfortable front seats with heated/cooled feature. I am 6-4" tall and enjoy the spaciousness in the drivers seat area. The console sitting low contributes to open feel. Telescopic and tilt provision allows for just the right positioning of the steering wheel - and the seat positioning controls allows for just enough options in getting it right. Other brands offering a bit of overkill with seat adjustments IMHO. Beautiful sounding Bose system - natural production of sound. Not a fan of over-punchy, bass rumble systems other brands are offering. Had third row folded down and that provided a cavernous amount of space for our luggage, Christmas gifts, and still plenty of room for our mid-size dog carrier in the back. At 6-4", I appreciate that I can walk under the liftgate when it is open without banging my head. I test drove the newly designed Lincoln MKX and that was one of a number of issues I had with that car. VERY HAPPY WITH THIS CAR!! If anything, should have a push button start like our six year old LaCrosse. Looking forward to many more road trips in this car but in the meantime, I will enjoy my commute to work everyday in this premium automobile. Buick should bring back their tag line from years ago - "...because how you get there is as important as where youre going." Bravo, Buick...

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  Quiet and smooth - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By Does it matter? - November 1 - 9:12 am

  Bought a fully loaded model in September of 2015. Im fairly tall and leg room was a big concern for me, so my options were somewhat limited. We wanted a mid-sized SUV but ended up with a large SUV because we liked the comfortable seating so much. The ride is great! It is exceptionally quiet and smooth. You can spread out and make yourself comfortable. The engine is a bit undersized but I dont push it so it works fine. There arent enough cup holders up front for such a big car, my old Toyota Seqouia (sp?) had about 100. And the space for storing stuff isnt all that good. I added an aftermarket cell phone holder which really helped. We charge our phones from the back USB ports to save on clutter. The interior looks luxurious. The AC seats rock, but I wish they were stronger. My biggest complaint is the driver side seat has something that pokes me in the thigh and is uncomfortable - I plan on addressing this at my first (complimentary) servicing. The sun roof is small but doesnt blow you away when open so I ride with it open almost everyday. Mileage is terrible. I drive in So Cal traffic everyday and knew this before buying it from other reviews. The infotainment system is pretty good, but the favorites could be a little easier to work with. The navigation system is a joke. Voice control is non-existent even after taking it to the dealer to get it fixed. Not the biggest issue because I trust my cell phone navigation more anyway. Swapping from my phone to my wifes phone via Bluetooth is easy. I plan on not renewing the satellite radio because I can get everything I need from my cell phone at a fraction of the cost. The Bose stereo system is fantastic - makes me wish I listened to louder music. Needs to have a push button start it has everything else, Im cant believe they left this out. The remote start is a nice feature. Safety features like blind spot detection and front collision warning are extremely helpful. The rear backup camera is very helpful, but I have seen clearer cameras on other vehicles. Tons of space on the inside! More storage than we commonly use. Suggestion: if/when you buy this car make sure you speak with a knowledgeable salesperson who can show you the features. I would buy this car again.

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  Love my Enclave! - 2008 Buick Enclave
  By Matt - October 21 - 5:48 pm

  In June 2014, I purchased a 2008 Buick Enclave CXL at around 80,000 miles. It has been a great car. I got it in great condition. Right now it is at around 115,000, and Ive only had to replace the spark plugs(due at around 100,000 miles, but got extra out of them), brake pads, and headlamp bulbs. This car was a great buy!

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  Believe in Quite Tuning - 2014 Buick Enclave
  By Rattler - October 3 - 7:23 pm

  The Enclave is an EXCELLENT value. Very quite, very smooth, spacious, well appointed, comfortable, elegant appearance, perfect drive train package, excellent Infotainment unit with redundant manual controls, no service issues, excellent gas mileage for the size of the vehicle. Does it get any better?

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  Our 2nd Enclave - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By Gross - September 13 - 1:32 pm

  We had a 2009 Enclave for 6 years, made over 70k miles driving around town and family trips, never had any issues, travelled even long 12 hour trips comfortably, no backpain or soarness, nor excessive exhaustion. We shoped around but always came back to the Enclave. In the end were between waiting for the new generation or going for a new current version. In the end because of the many upgrades done to the current version and finding the exact vehicle we wanted, along with the attractive incentives, we decided to go for it. We absolutely love the ride, the suspension is a little better, the shifting became a little smoother, overall all the improvements, new facia and dashboard along with the color combination and better sound system are just great. We are very pleased with the vehicle and looking forward to enjoy many family trips in years to come. The only complain is GM cutting back on the warranty, which I cant understand on a matured product other than cost cut for increased profitability. If you are looking for a full size family vehicle with lots of space and a firm ride, yes I drive sporty, this SUV pulls it together. Surelly there are other more sporty driving SUVs out there but perhaps not as spacious, quite, and comfortable.

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  This is a GREAT car! - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By C. Ferguson - September 7 - 9:51 pm

  I was shopping around, currently was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Traverse. I liked what I was seeing on the highway in the Enclave so decided to give it a trial. Boy was I pleased! I was offered $7500 off and got exactly what I wanted. This SUV drives like a dream, great acceleration and it is very sporty on the highway. I dont have to let off the gas much going into curves. And what a nice surprise on gas mileage. Averaging 23 mpg on the highway and 21 in town. Electronics work well. A few bugs but not enough to get into a twit about. Great sound. I got a towing package and plan on getting a small travel trailer to do some weekend trips. I am completely satisfied with this car. The only thing I could say negative is the rear seats could be more comfortable for what I paid for the car. Love it!

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  Early First Impressions - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By Paul Horvick - August 21 - 9:46 am

  We spent some time looking to replace our 2011 Toyota Sienna. Looked at the Toyota Highlander, new Honda Pilot and the Enclave. Because of a bad back, getting in and out of a car that has a high floor lip, or low ceiling is hurtful. The Enclave is a perfect size for ingress and egress with no back strain. In fact, the seats are marginally higher than those on the Sienna (and we loved the Sienna). The car was delivered with radio issues it would not accept the signal from Sirius/XM to put it into subscription mode. A neighbor also just got a new Enclave and had the same issue. I am sure it will be resolved, but it does speak to the necessity of having a good warranty that covers the electronics (and, at 48 month warranty, it is excellent.) Steering is heavier than I would have thought not really an issue, just an observation. The interior is quite plush and upscale quiet. Kind of the old school luxury feel. Many consumer reviews comment on how comfortable it is on the go. I would say that is a matter of opinion. Our Sienna rode much better and was much less truck-like. Even in town, you notice every bump. Granted it is a soft bump, but somewhat disappointing compared to the Sienna. Controls, although there are many due to the sophisticated technology, are pretty intuitive. Sight lines forward are great rear mirror vision is less than the Sienna due to rear headrests etc. Passenger side sight line is poor. The "blind spot" warning system is nearly a must have option. One odd thing, and it is a negative in my view, is that there is nothing stopping anyone from opening the gas cap. I would have assumed that at least some basic security would be in place, but nope...just push the cover and it pops open. Easy for sure, one less thing to go wrong I suppose, but I like the security of an in-cabin release. Resale value of the unit is (based upon a cursory review) rather typical of American vehicles. However, if you buy at the end of the model year, there are big discounts to be had. Ours had an MSRP of over $48000, and the cash price was $37000, and that puts the later resale in a much more competitive mode. It is a good looking SUV, and comes in a nice range of rich looking colors and interiors. We have the dark brown, and it is very rich looking. Time will tell if we made a good choice with the Enclave. As much as I want to love it, I am disappointed by the harshness of the ride. I wont downgrade the review for that, because it is so subjective. But, if you are expecting a cloud like ride....it is not there.

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  Amazing... - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By M. King - July 27 - 9:18 pm

  This car exceeded my expectations. It is so comfortable and quiet and did I mention comfortable. Excellent safety features with great care and consideration on the part of Buick to successfully produce a true luxury SUV.

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  Former Honda guy - 2015 Buick Enclave
  By joego1 - January 9 - 1:19 pm

  Recently purchased the Buick Enclave after a test drive and must say I was impressed with the quality of the vehicle both inside and out. We were shopping for a new SUV and being a big Honda/Acura owner we found these dealers had priced themselves out of our market range. I saw the commercials for the special sale of the Enclave and test drove one, liked it and the dealer gave us almost 20% off the list price. Wow! Suv has almost everything heated seats, heated steering wheel, Nav, leather, two sunroofs, remote start, lane and distance control etc. What a great car, we drove it on a 120 mile trip right after purchase in the snow and ice and are extremely happy with our purchase. A lot of ver

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  Luxury at Value - 2014 Buick Enclave
  By ugnaut - August 23 - 10:32 am

  We went looking for crossovers we first looked at mid-small size ones. The big issue for my wife was comfortable seats and a little luxury if you drive a lot of miles. Its hard to find in the 20-30 range. We actually like the Encore but that was about 30 with the leather package with no deals. We looked at higher price/luxury cars from Acura, Audi, BMW, etc.. We ended up with Leather package Enclave at around 40k after discounts, rebates. We didnt want to pay 50K+ for name only, the Buick was a nice middle ground between luxury and value. We ignored features such as Nav and more electronics which everybody always complains about on most brands, besides the Iphone works as well. See favs.