2013 Buick Enclave: Refreshed and Re-priced

The vehicle that nearly singlehandedly brought Buick back to relevance welcomes some fairly big changes for the new model year, including a fairly big boost to its bottom line: The 2013 Buick Enclave will open at $38,895 (before an $825 destination charge), which represents an increase of more than $2,300 over the MSRP of the 2012 model. On the other hand, the vehicle’s value play remains essentially the same, since Buick has packed on a wealth of added lux features, complemented by a dramatic new face and an upgraded interior.

The party line from Tony DiSalle, vice president of Buick Marketing: “The original Enclave was a catalyst for the Buick, defining the brand’s high standards of design and refinement. The new 2013 model takes another step forward with a bolder look and advanced technologies.”

2013 Buick Enclave: The Style

Designers clearly put their focus on the front of the 2013 Buick Enclave, giving the premium three-row crossover a significantly more aggressive look that’s enhanced by a thick-barred, black-chrome grille; an intricate new headlight shape with LED accents, further set off by LED running lights; and a more athletic-looking lower front fascia that now includes a small lip spoiler. However, the rear of the vehicle also got its share of attention, as exemplified by a new rear fascia that integrates the Enclave’s exhaust outlets for a cleaner finish. And yes, LED taillights have been added as well.

In the cabin, owners will see a restyled instrument panel that is more sculpted and dimensional than in past years—echoing the exterior changes to the front of the 2013 Buick Enclave. Premium door trim with real accent stitching, calming ice-blue ambient lighting, and improved, more intuitive climate controls are in the mix as well, as are fresh 19- and 20-inch wheel designs.

2013 Buick Enclave: The Substance

The big, beautiful Buick will be offered at three increasingly well-appointed trim levels:

2013 Buick Enclave—With an MSRP of $38,895, the Enclave opens with standard features that include the first front-center airbag in the auto industry, a Color Touch audio system with seven-inch screen, Buick’s IntelliLink connectivity technology, Rear Parking Assist, a rear-vision camera system, a power liftgate, six months of OnStar’s Directions & Connections service, seven- or eight-passenger seating, the Smart Slide system for easy access to the Enclave’s third row, and—thanks to Buick-exclusive QuietTuning—a cabin that’s quieter than that of the Lexus RX.

2013 Buick Enclave with Leather Group—Unsurprisingly, this package adds a leather interior to the Enclave, with additional premium seating features like a heated front row and eight-way power-adjustable passenger seat with memory function; a similarly sumptuous driver's seat is standard. In addition, the leather-appointed Enclave is fitted with standard Side Blind Zone Alert with Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The price of admission? $42,460.

2013 Buick Enclave with Premium Group—At the top of the Enclave range, priced at $45,625, owners also will welcome chrome-clad wheels, cooled front seats, adjustable headlamps, power-folding exterior mirrors, a power tilting and telescoping steering column, and a 10-speaker premium Bose audio setup that has been specifically tuned to deliver superior sound in the Enclave’s cabin.

(Remember: All prices are before an $825 destination charge.)

2013 Buick Enclave: The Driving Experience

The Enclave’s sole motivator remains its advanced 3.6-liter V6 engine with both direct injection and continuously variable valve timing, which all works together to produce 288 hp, 270 lb.-ft. of torque, a max tow rating of 4,500 lbs. (when properly equipped) and EPA marks of up to 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway/19 mpg combined. (That’s for the Enclave in its two-wheel-drive configuration; its EPA grades with all-wheel drive are 16/22/18.)

However, Buick engineers also put much effort into improving the overall driving experience in the 2013 Enclave. Controls were upgraded for the vehicle’s six-speed automatic transmission to deliver smoother, more satisfying shifts, while the suspension benefits from a number of tweaks at both ends. In the front, for example, new dual-flow dampers and rebound springs are on board, and the rear suspension setup has been upgraded with low-velocity control shocks; the result is noticeably more comfortable ride and handling.