The pressures of high gasoline prices and a social stigma attached to SUVs have forced full-size sport-utes to evolve into crossover vehicles. Crossovers have become one of the hottest car markets, as consumers have warmed to the versatility and capability of what used to be large station wagons, and GM’s done well with them because, let’s face it, GM is good at building big cars. Buick’s Enclave is a perfect example of this, blending the good qualities of large crossovers with a healthy dose of Buick luxury.
I drove the Enclave just after spending time in another large crossover with a very different focus–the new BMW X5. Comparing the two back-to-back yielded some surprising observations. In many real-world situations, in fact, I found myself just as happy with the Enclave as I was with the BMW.
Don’t go calling for the revocation of my Car Guy card just yet, though. The Enclave is without a doubt one of the finest luxury family trucksters available. Sure, it may lack the sporty edge of the X5, but that’s not what this Buick is all about. Buick has focused on making the Enclave comfortable and adapted it to life in the suburbs, rather than the autobahn. As a result, when turned loose in the Midwestern United States, the Enclave was quite happy indeed.
It was clear rather quickly that the Enclave is well-suited to Motor City life. It may not have the pedigree of a roundel badge on the hood, but the fully independent suspension maintained comfortable control on Detroit’s frost-cracked roads. MacPherson struts are used in the front, with an “H” shaped rear. The Enclave maintains a superb level of composure, thanks to good road feel that’s at odds with the quiet ride. The chassis’ length and size mean greater flexibility for passengers or cargo, and the Enclave drives surprisingly small; it doesn’t feel much larger than the X5 on the road. StabiliTrak stability control is standard. A forward collision alert and lane departure warning system are new for 2014.
Under the Enclave’s hood, there’s a 3.6 liter V6 making 288 horsepower. The powerplant features direct fuel injection and variable valve timing, so it’s smooth and powerful, with a very rewarding torque curve. It’s surprisingly efficient as well, returning up to 24mpg on the freeway. Six-speed automatic transmissions are standard, and the Enclave’s available with front- or all-wheel drive. The Enclave is adept at both towing and being towed; properly equipped it will drag up to 4500 pounds, and all models are designed to be easily flat-towed behind motorhomes.
The body follows Buick’s family style, with leaf-shaped headlamp units and a big chromy waterfall grille dressing up the big-wagon silhouette. New LED lighting elements and a choice of eighteen-, nineteen- or twenty-inch wheels are available. At curbside, the Enclave hides its size well.
Inside, this is a people hauler first and foremost. The Enclave’s long wheelbase provides ample space for three rows of passengers. Cargo capacity is 23.3 cubic feet with all seats in place, or a minivan-like 115.2 cubic feet with everything behind the front seats folded. The very handsome interior appointments, power tailgate and easy-access sliding second-row seats are added bonuses. Buick’s use of warm upholstery and material tones gives the Enclave a unique look inside compared to many luxury vehicles, with soft Nuance leather and wood trim. At night, a cool blue line illuminates the outline of the dash and doors. Heated and cooled front seats are available, as are a dual moonroof, backup camera and power tailgate. Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system is also on board, offering smartphone app integration and hands-free calling from Bluetooth phones. The 6.5-inch screen can be customized to your preferences and is available with a navigation system.
The Enclave will haul up to seven passengers in comfort, swallow a ton of cargo, and it’s easy to drive around town in spite of its size. In that respect, it easily hits the high points of the large-crossover market, even if it can’t do 150 on the freeway. And the super-handsome interior has a great deal more personality, to be honest. Buick’s got a fair bit of pedigree of its own, it turns out. The snobs may turn their noses up at the Electra 225 and Park Avenue floatmobiles that pepper Buick’s past, but the valuable lessons in comfort that were developed in those cars have led directly to the Enclave. Pricing for the Enclave starts just under $40,000 as well, setting it apart from many of the European luxury crossovers. Of course, options will quickly drive the price up. Fully loaded Enclaves start at about $43,000.
