Buick Enclave

The 2010 Buick Enclave ranks 1 out of 26 Affordable Midsize SUVs. This ranking is based on our analysis of 48 published reviews and test drives of the Buick Enclave, and our analysis of reliability and safety data.

The Buick Enclave”s upscale appointments, smooth ride and stylish exterior put it almost on par with some luxury SUVs.

Though it shares GM”s Lambda platform with the Chevy Traverse and GMC Acadia, the Enclave holds a price premium over both. In fact, starting at just over $35,000, it’s priced at the very top of the affordable midsize SUV class — with the only more expensive option being the Lincoln MKX. So what are you getting for the extra money? The Enclave boasts one of the most luxurious and quiet interiors in its class. Standard seating for seven makes it a good family SUV.

“Enclave is a crossover that builds on the strengths of its more mainstream cousins by offering tangible upgrades in luxury and style,” says Consumer Guide. “Its car-like driving dynamics and ample passenger and cargo versatility make it a must see for shoppers considering a premium SUV.”

The Enclave is so well-liked by reviewers that its only major downside is its high sticker price. But luxury-minded buyers will probably find that it’s worth it. Another minor con is the Enclave’s 17/24 mpg city/highway base fuel economy rating, which is about average for its class, but nothing to write home about.

The new 2010 Buick Enclave will come with no major changes when compared with the current generation models, though there will be several minor add-ons. The vehicle falls under the category of the family class SUVs. It comes with the seating capacity of up to 8 members. The vehicle shares its design features with the models like GMC Acadia, Saturn Outlook and the Chevrolet Traverse.

The 2010 Enclave will come in two separate trim levels – the CXL and the CX trims. The model uses the 3.6 liter V6 engine that produces 288 Horse Power and is offered in 6-speed automatic transmission. The maximum towing capacity of the next generation Buick Enclave is expected to be around 4500 lbs. The model comes in all wheel drive as well as the front wheel drive. The standard features provided in the vehicle include the 7-passenger seating with the second row bucket seats and the third row foldable bucket seats. The second row third person bench comes as an optional feature. The seats are designed to allow the easy access to the third row.

The safety features in the vehicle include the front side air bags, ABS, curtain side air bags that cover all the rows, anti-skid and the traction control system. Bi-Xenon headlamps remain standard throughout all the trim levels. The vehicle also includes with the DVD entertainment system, the navigation system with the 110 volt inverter, wireless cell phone link and real time traffic updates. The vehicle without navigation system comes with the rear view camera with driver confidence package.

General Motors has been taking a beating for over a year now due to sales dips, make/model image problems, and labor and legacy issues. Truly, if there was a better time to jumpstart the company, I don”t know what it would be. Fortunately, someone in GM”s walnut-trimmed boardroom is getting the message: build what we want and we will buy it. The Buick Enclave, a luxury SUV making the rounds of the U.S. auto shows, appears to be one such winner.

I realize that I am in the minority of car critics, but I think that Buick is on the right track. The Lucerne, a full sized car based on the Cadillac DTS, is a beauty and Buick”s next newest model, the mid sized Lacrosse, is another attractive looking car. Still, Buick”s remaining fleet has been scaled back with only two SUVs and one crossover vehicle, the Terraza, left. At times it isn”t clear what plans GM has for its “near luxury” division, but if the Enclave is one example, then Buick has a promising future.

Without having pictures available to show you, it can be difficult to describe the Enclave. When I viewed pictures on various web sites, I couldn”t help but think that the Enclave was similar to the Subaru B9 Tribeca. Before you get your knickers twisted in a wad, the Enclave is a swan in comparison to the ugly Subaru.

Sporting a front end akin to the Lucerne, the back end looks a lot like the Tribeca. Overall lines are somewhat car like but the Enclave certainly does sport an SUV look with calmer lines.

What we know about the Enclave at this point is fairly limited. The vehicle sits on a 119 inch wheelbase and is powered by a 3.6L V6. So, it appears that Buick will replace the smaller Rendezvous with the Enclave and keep the larger Rainier. Or, perhaps, the Rainier will be retired altogether.

The Enclave has all the amenities a Buick owner is accustomed to including: leather appointments, power everything, OnStar, a variety of entertainment options, responsive handling, and a quiet cabin. Pictures reveal 21″ tires with seven spoke wheels. Seating is for six, spread out over three rows. No couch seating either; individual bucket seats are planned for all six passengers.

There is no official word yet whether the Enclave will see the light of day at least in its present interpretation. Still, the vehicle is a fresh look for a refreshed division, something that Buick certainly needs in order to keep the momentum going.

With a myriad of new crossover vehicles being released lately, you may be wondering if the 2008 Buick Enclave is any different, or if it is just another cookie cutter copy of the other vehicles made from GM, the GMC Acadia and the Saturn Outlook. Well, taking a closer look at this vehicle shows that yes, this car is really different than the other crossover vehicles made by GM.

First of all, you”ll find that the three vehicles don”t even look alike. First of all, the Saturn has a bit of an Asian flare to it with smooth fender flares and a grill that is oversized. The GMC looks more like a truck and has more rugged lines. However, the new Enclave has a totally different look that is smooth, rolling, and sculpted. There is a waterfall grille done in black chrome, portholes on the hood, and even flourishes of chrome that appear all over the car.

All it takes is one look at the 2008 Buick Enclave, and you”ll notice that this Buick is one of the best looking ones to be on the road in many years. There are special 19 inch chrome rims that look great, and it has a young look to it that catches the eye. Of course looks are great, but you probably want to know what happens in the vehicle when you really get behind the wheel of the vehicle.

Once you start driving the Enclave, you”ll find that you get a smooth ride with great steering, excellent control, and very little body roll. There is a special all wheel drive system on the car that helps when driving in rough terrain or on bad roads. Under the hood you”ll find a 3.6 liter V6 engine, which has 275 hp; however, with the weight of the vehicle, the pickup is a bit slow, even though the fuel economy does pretty great for a vehicle this large.

One great thing you”ll find about this crossover vehicle is that it can actually comfortable seat 8 people, which is more than most other crossovers can hold. Even if you have all eight people in the vehicle, you”ll still have plenty of luggage space as well, so this is a great vehicle for larger families. If you don”t have the back of the vehicle filled with the passengers, you can actually fold down the seats for even more storage space. This vehicle comes out on top with the most storage space in vehicles in the same class. So, you can haul plenty of people, plenty of luggage, or a combination of both.

When you are in the inside of the 2008 Buick Enclave, you”ll definitely notice that the interior noise level is excellent. Buick had a goal of meeting the Lexus RX”s standard for noise level, and they did a great job. You”ll barely hear what is going on outside, and crank up the radio, and you really block out all the road noise. The vehicle comes with a great Bose system that will let you experience music at its” best while you are driving. The seats in the vehicle are great, with cloth seats found in the CX and leather seats that come standard in the CXL. You can also get the rear seat entertainment system added to the vehicle, complete with wireless headphones. Also, if you want to upgrade the navigation system, you can also get a rear view camera that makes backing up easy.

So, as you take a look at the crossover vehicles that are offered by General Motors, more than likely you are really going to pick out the Enclave. It definitely offers the best looks and it has been highly praised in the reviews as well. Not only are you going to choose this about the GMC Acadia and the Saturn Outlook, but you”ll probably even want to pick out the 2008 Buick Enclave above any other crossover out there, even the Lexus. You”ll find that the Enclave has much to offer, and at a significantly lower price, starting out at about $33,000. For those who are looking for an exceptional crossover vehicle for an exceptional price, then the new 2008 Buick Enclave definitely makes a great choice.