2016 Buick Enclave Quick Spin Review

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The 2016 Buick Enclave is a comfortably luxurious and low-key mid-size family crossover SUV with an exceptionally spacious interior, a premium ambiance, and a host of cutting-edge comfort, convenience, and safety features. Noted specifically for its quiet and smooth ride, which enhances its long-distance cruising prowess, the Buick Enclave is an outstanding choice among family vehicles. The real beauty of the 2016 Buick Enclave lies in the fact it offers an outstanding level of premium content for a very reasonable price. For 2016, Buick Enclave pricing starts at $39,050.

What’s New For 2016

For 2016, the handsome Buick Enclave focuses on providing more connectivity than ever with the introduction of OnStar 4G LTE and a standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot feature that provides a mobile hub for driver and passengers to stay connected all the time. The hotspot allows passengers to connect up to seven personal devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets to high-speed wireless internet whenever the vehicle is on. Buick is also presenting a new Tuscan Edition trim package with a bronze-trimmed grille and 20-inch wheels.

Trims

For the 2016 model year, Buick is offering the Enclave in three basic trim levels: Convenience, Leather, and Premium. Among the standard features of the Convenience Group are 19-inch wheels, automatic xenon headlights, a power liftgate, heated mirrors, parking sensor arrays, and remote start. Bluetooth, tri-zone automatic climate control, and Buick’s IntelliLink electronics interface are also standard. The Leather Group adds (yes) leather upholstery as well as heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross traffic alert. A 10-speaker Bose audio system and a host of driver safety aids come with the Premium Group.

Design

The signature design element of the 2016 Buick Enclave is its now familiar sculpted styling, which is laced with a black-chrome version of the traditional Buick waterfall grille. The traditional Buick portholes are represented in a pair of chrome trim elements on the hood. If you count their “openings,” you’ll get a clue to the cylinder count of the Enclave’s engine. Complementary features contributing to the Enclave’s premium appearance include signature wing-shape LED lighting and monochromatic paint schemes accented with chrome, along with larger 19- and 20-inch wheel designs. Dynamic yet reserved, the Buick Enclave is one classy-looking automobile.

Features

The 2016 Buick Enclave’s interior is adorned with high-quality materials and includes the intuitive technology of Buick IntelliLink. These elements solidly establish the Enclave as a luxury automobile. Rich, saturated tones and contemporary color combinations enhance the Enclave’s stylish interior decor. Longtime followers of Buick know the marque has traditionally offered a rich interior color palette. For 2016, the exclusive Dark Plum interior offers eye-pleasing visual warmth a well as elegant touch from the soft Nuance sandstone leather upholstery and its similarity to leathers used in premium home furnishings.

Comfort

Buick is noted for its "Quiet Tuning” technology, and as applied to the 2016 Buick Enclave is exceptionally effective at ensuring the comfort of the passengers (up to eight) in the mid-size family crossover SUV. Exceptionally spacious, the Enclave offers second-row captain’s chairs for even greater comfort (and they’re also useful for separating siblings on long drives). The Enclave’s full-size third-row seat can accommodate adults if need be, although it’s best suited to children for extended trips. With the third row in place, Enclave offers an outstanding 23.3 cubic feet of cargo capacity. With both rows folded, Enclave can accommodate an amazing 115.2 cubic feet of cargo.

Safety

A comprehensive suite of cutting-edge safety features is offered for the Enclave, with the latest contemporary driver’s aid technologies included with the Leather and Premium Groups: rear cross traffic alert and a blind spot warning system, as well as both forward collision alert and lane departure warning systems. Standard safety features include antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, rear parking sensors, and a rear-view camera. Enclave’s OnStar system provides automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, stolen vehicle location and intervention, as well as remote door unlock. NHTSA rates the Buick as a 5-star car in terms of crashworthiness, and the IIHS ranks the Enclave highly as well.

Engines

A 3.6-liter V6 engine featuring fuel-saving direct-injection technology and continuously variable valve timing supplies power for the 2016 Buick Enclave. Direct injection helps the engine produce 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque with good efficiency. Front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission are standard; all-wheel drive is optional with the Leather and Premium Group trim packages. Front-wheel-drive fuel economy is rated at 17 city/24 highway/19 combined mpg. The all-wheel-drive powertrain is good for 16/22/18 mpg.

Performance

On the highway is where the Buick Enclave lives up to its classic Buick Roadmaster heritage. Quiet, smooth, powerful, and exceptionally comfortable, the 2016 Buick Enclave is easily a 500-mile-a-day cruiser. Further, when fitted with a proper towing kit, the Enclave can pull up to 4,500 pounds. Around town, the flip side of the 115-cubic-foot cargo capacity does make itself apparent. This is a sizable ride with a large turning circle. The backup camera and parking sensor arrays do make parking easier, and the Enclave surprisingly handles just as nicely as a large sedan even though the U-turns do require a bit of planning.

Pros & Cons

The 2016 Buick Enclave offers a smooth ride, quiet operation, outstanding cargo capacity, commendable safety scores, genuinely useful and accessible third-row seating, tastefully restrained exterior styling, and a nice interior treatment.

A bit tricky to maneuver in tight urban situations; the engine could offer some more passing power.