2023 Buick Enclave

Pros:

• Enough room for people and their things
• A pleasant and peaceful ride
• Many things are the same.
• Several ways to charge

Cons:

• The price is high compared to other cars in the same class, but the materials inside need to be noticeably better.
• More thirsty than cars with V6 engines

How do you move the Enclave? The Buick Enclave is like most three-row crossover SUVs regarding how it drives. Even though the all-wheel-drive Avenir we tested took 7.5 seconds to go from 0 to 60 mph, which was about average for the class, the 3.6-liter V6 gives it plenty of power. (A version with front-wheel drive that worked better got to 60 mph in 7 seconds.) Even though the brakes are quiet and easy to use, it took 136 feet to stop from 60 mph. The steering is light and stable when going slow, but when going fast, it gets heavy.

There are some bright spots in this. The adaptive dampers on our test car kept the Enclave level when we turned. Also, the gearbox worked perfectly. It was easy to change gears and always seemed to be in the right equipment.

How lovely is the Enclave to stay in? The first two rows of seats in most three-row SUVs are comfortable, and the Enclave is no different. Even though the leather is a little stiff on its own, the chairs are well-padded. All trims except the base one have an essential massaging feature. For everyone’s comfort, all seats and armrests in the cabin are padded with soft material. Every row has an excellent vent, and the heating and cooling systems for the centers are ideal.

With or without the optional adaptive suspension, the Enclave has a great ride, and the interior is hushed.

How does the inside look? The Enclave’s cabin is functional, but it could look more attractive. The inside is very comfortable because there is a lot of space, and the captain’s chairs can move in the second row. The Enclave’s low ride height makes it easy to get into and out of the first or second row of seats. The third row is easy to get to, but only the chair on the passenger side of the second row has a lever that makes it easy to get out. The system is missing from the driver’s seat, which is strange. Even though the Kia Telluride and Volkswagen Atlas are better for adults, there is enough space in the third row for kids.

The high window sill makes it hard to see out the back quarter window, but the view out the front window is fine. The optional camera system that gives you a bird’s-eye view helps you avoid fixed objects when parking or pulling out of space.

How good is the tech? The Enclave has been updated for 2022, so it works with all smartphones. With six USB ports, a wireless charging pad, a Wi-Fi hotspot, and wireless versions of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the standard level of equipment are much better than in most other three-row SUVs. Even though the graphics on the GPS are old, it is easy to use. The optional Bose audio system is sharp and has good bass.

Blind-spot monitoring and a helpful safety alert seat that vibrates the driver’s seat when safety assistance is turned on are two of the many safety features that come standard on every Enclave. Adaptive cruise control is becoming more common in all trims and works well. We still want to be able to choose Super Cruise. The only problem with the technology is that it uses voice commands. Before the system could handle most requests, they had to be put in more than once. We also needed help with the voice control system starting up when it wasn’t supposed to.

What about putting things away? If you need a lot of space for cargo, the Enclave is the best in its class. The numbers show that it has a large amount of space behind the back seats (23.6 cubic feet) and a considerable amount of space when all the rows are folded down (97.4 cubic feet). In our test car, the third-row seats could be folded down automatically, which was a nice feature.

The cabin has a lot of places to put small things, but the two-level bin in the center armrest is the most useful. The fully electronic shifter in the Buick makes it possible to store more stuff under the shifter. The car seats fit perfectly. Also, the car seat anchors in the captain’s chairs are easy to reach, but they are more challenging to find than in some other Buicks.

How well does it use gasoline? The EPA gives the all-wheel-drive Enclave a combined rating of 20 mpg, slightly lower than most of its competitors (17 city/25 highway). But on our test loop, it got 22.4 mpg, which was better than the Ford Explorer 2.3T, Dodge Durango, and Hyundai Palisade, all of which are said to get more miles per gallon. On our test route, the Enclave gets about two more miles per gallon than the Mazda CX-9, Toyota Highlander, and Honda Pilot.

Is it wise to buy the Enclave? The Enclave starts at about $45,000, which puts it right in the middle of the price range for base luxury and non-luxury three-row SUVs. The price difference between the Buick and the mechanically similar Chevrolet Traverse is made up for by the Buick’s sleeker design and slightly more expensive materials. The 2022 Avenir we tested ($61,140) is a great car, but the Acura MDX, which has almost the same features, is only a few thousand dollars more. The Enclave is relatively inexpensive and valuable as a whole.

The basic warranty of four years and 50,000 miles is better than average, and the powertrain warranty of six years and 70,000 miles is even better. The first visit for routine maintenance is free.

The Enclave is an underdog. It is well-rounded because it has many features and is very comfortable. Many people would not want to buy it at the price they’re asking unless they wanted something more angular to replace their Chevrolet Traverse.

We recommend the Essence trim because it comes with many features for a lower price and has a long list of standard features. The Premium trim, which is one step above the Essence trim, adds some excellent amenities such as heated seats, a head-up display, and a camera system that shows you what’s occurring around the car if you have a little bit more money to spend than you did on the Essence trim.

Buick Enclave Models

There are three trim levels for the 2023 Buick Enclave: Essence, Premium, and Avenir. As standard, all models have a nine-speed automatic transmission and a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. All grades come with front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive can be added as an option. There are two captain’s chairs in the second row and a 60/40-split, foldable bench with three seats in the third row. This gives the car room for seven people.