10 Things You Need To Know About The 2015 Buick Enclave

The 2015 Buick Enclave continues to present luxury crossover shoppers with a full-size option that handles far more like a large sedan than its utility-focused design would at first suggest. Comfortable, powerful, and featuring an exceptionally quiet cabin, the Buick Enclave caters to those buyers who need three rows of seating on a daily basis, but who also crave the kind of premium features you won't find in a more pedestrian people mover. It also has the kind of classic luxury styling that doesn't so much scream for attention as attract admiring eyes.

Let's take a look at 10 things you need to know about the 2015 Buick Enclave.

The 2015 Buick Enclave does a respectable job of concealing its sizable dimensions by way of its smooth-sided styling. A large greenhouse and a prominent chrome grille are standout features for the Buick Enclave, and while its hatch area might be more anonymous than the rest of its handsome proportions, the crossover does a good job of standing apart from siblings like the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, each of which share its full-size platform. 18-inch wheels are standard with the Buick, although it's possible to step up to 19-inch rollers on higher trim levels or even go for 20-inch rims as an option.

All versions of the 2015 Buick Enclave are initially outfitted with a 2-2-3 seating configuration, with a set of captain's chairs occupying the middle row to bring total passenger capacity to seven. If you're looking for the utmost in people moving capability, it's possible to swap in a second row bench to increase that total to eight on all but the base model of the Buick Enclave. There's a respectable amount of passenger room to be had inside the big Buick, although adults riding all the way at the back of the crossover might discover knees are a little closer to their chins than they might prefer. It's best to save the third row of accommodations for children on longer trips.

Hand-in-hand with the 2015 Buick Enclave's generous passenger capacity comes a heaping helping of cargo space. Load up the Buick Enclave with a full complement of passengers and there's still 23.3 cubic feet left between the rear seatback and the hatch, which is more room than you would find in the trunk of most full-size sedans. Fold down the third row and that figure more than triples to 68.9 cubic feet, which is about as big as it gets inside the largest of compact crossovers, and with both the second and third sets of seating out of the picture the Enclave can haul up to 115.2 cubic feet of gear, a number that tops even full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Suburban.

We've already established that the 2015 Buick Enclave is big, particularly on the inside, but you might be surprised to find out that it actually drives fairly 'small.' Well, let's qualify that statement: the Buick Enclave's ride is more akin to a full-size sedan than a large SUV, thanks in large part to its car-based platform and a focus on comfort-oriented suspension tuning. Handling for the Enclave also draws heavily from the 'car' column, as the vehicle never feels particularly ponderous even when plying packed parking lots in search of a spot.

Under the hood of each and every 2015 Buick Enclave model is a 3.6-liter V-6 engine. Thanks in part to the presence of a standard dual exhaust system, the Buick Enclave's output is rated at 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox available with the full-size crossover, and fuel mileage for the Buick comes in at 17-mpg in stop and go driving and 24-mpg on the highway - numbers that rank ahead of truck-based rivals, but place the Enclave mid-pack when examined against other large crossovers.

The 2015 Buick Enclave features a front-wheel drive layout as standard equipment, but if you're looking for additional traction it's also available with an all-wheel drive system. A note to would-be off-roaders, however: the Buick Enclave doesn’t have the kind of ground clearance or suspension setup to handle anything other than a muddy back road. The all-wheel drive system installed in the Enclave is intended to make short work of snow-covered roads, icy driveways, or wet highways, and it does a commendable job in each of those scenarios, adding an extra layer of security to your commute.

While the 2015 Buick Enclave might not be an all-terrain warrior, it can certainly help you haul your ATVs, jet skis, snowmobiles, or other power sports toys wherever you plan to play on the weekend. The Buick Enclave is an often-overlooked towing platform, but its 4,500 lbs of total trailer capacity is 1,000 lbs above the average American tow load, which indicates just how versatile the crossover can be when it comes to practicality. With that much towing ability you can most likely even use the Buick to haul a 17-foot boat to the lake or even a small track car to your local road course.

The 2015 Buick Enclave starts out in Convenience trim, which features HID headlights, tri-zone automatic climate control, power adjustments for the front seats, 18-inch rims, a power liftgate, parking assistance, cruise control, a remote starter, the IntelliLink infotainment interface, Bluetooth connectivity, a rearview camera, satellite radio, and tinted windows. Moving up to the Leather trim introduces the eponymous leather upholstery, 19-inch wheels, heated front seats, a blind spot warning system, and power adjustments for the steering wheel, while the top-tier Premium trim provides adaptive headlights, a forward collision warning system, ventilated front seats, an upgraded stereo system, power folding exterior mirrors, and a lane departure warning system.

The 2015 Buick Enclave is a recipient of what Buick refers to as 'QuietTuning' technology. What does this mean? The Buick Enclave's glass has been acoustically laminated in order to reduce the intrusion of traffic noise and commuter chaos as much as possible, while suspension bushings and mounts have also been designed with an eye towards prevent bumps and clunks from entering the crossover's cabin. Finally, Buick has created triple seals on each of the vehicle's four doors (as well as its hatch) to further sonically isolate driver and passengers.

The 2015 Buick Enclave features a starting MSRP of $39,050, and taking into consideration not just the crossover's enormous interior room and substantial practicality, but also its long list of standard features, it stands out as a bit of a luxury bargain. This is especially true once you start to look at some of the other more expensive, yet similarly-sized non-premium SUVs on the market that it out-performs in terms of passenger and cargo volume, as well as comfort. These include the Chevrolet Tahoe (MSRP $46,300) and the Ford Expedition (MSRP $44,585), neither of which are as luxurious in entry-level trim.