2018 Buick Enclave Road Test and Review

The first generation of the Buick Enclave was introduced for the 2008 model year — making it a vehicle in need of an update. Buick delivers for 2018 with the all-new second generation of its popular three-row SUV. There are changes throughout with a new exterior design, an updated interior, improved fuel economy, increased towing capacity and a long list of standard and available safety features. Also on the list of improvements is a quieter cabin, allowing passengers in the front seats to easily have conversations with those back in the third row.

The Enclave is also the first vehicle in the new Buick Avenir line. The Avenir label adds even more luxury to various Buick models to serve the most discerning shoppers. Let’s take a closer look at the 2018 Buick Enclave and see if it has what it takes to attract the luxury buyer.

There is a single powertrain across the Enclave lineup regardless of which trim level you choose. It’s a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 302 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The base Enclave is available only with front-wheel drive, but the rest of the lineup offers the choice of all-wheel drive.

Most people buying a three-row SUV aren’t looking to set record lap times, but that doesn’t mean they want sluggish performance. The Enclave makes sure driving an SUV isn’t tiresome, with a responsive engine that easily powers into highway traffic. It also delivers a nice burst of speed for passing and has a smooth transmission. Shifts are well-timed and quiet. You won’t hear shifts or engine noise, which is evidence of how hard Buick worked to create a peaceful cabin.

Buick is a luxury brand and delivers a luxury experience with the Enclave. It has an elegant interior with quality materials that look and feel good. The driver gets an eight-way power-adjustable seat while the front passenger gets six-way power-adjustability, both with lumbar. Both front seats are heated even in the base trim.

Room for seven passengers includes a third row with enough space for three. This is never the preferred spot for adults and is best left to smaller kids, but the Enclave does have enough third-row space for two adults to sit comfortably. Headroom and legroom are good and access is easy, especially with the optional SmartSlide feature. It operates with a latch you can easily pull with one hand and tips the second-row passenger seat forward to give easier access to the third row. It even works with an empty car seat still in place.

Exterior updates include a sleeker design that gives the Enclave a modern edge and increases its appeal. It’s lower and narrower than the outgoing model, though still roomy for people and cargo. There are standard 18-inch aluminum wheels with 20-inch wheels available on higher trims.

A power hands-free liftgate is also standard, which is wonderful when your hands are full. However, such systems can be frustrating if you can’t find just the right spot to get them to open. The Enclave solves this problem so you’re not wobbling around on one foot desperately trying to trigger the liftgate: It displays the Buick tri-shield logo on the ground just below the hidden sensor so you know exactly where you need to place your foot. It’s a small detail, but one that makes living with the Enclave day-to-day much easier.

Standard infotainment on the Enclave includes an 8-inch color touchscreen with AM/FM and Sirius XM with a three-month trial. Navigation is added as optional or standard on higher models but isn’t available on the base Enclave. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration are standard, as is Bluetooth streaming audio, and there are five USB ports located throughout the vehicle. OnStar 4G LTE with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot and the OnStar guidance plan are included on every Enclave with limited trial plans.

The large touchscreen makes it easy to use, especially when you’re using navigation on more congested city streets. Menus are logically organized and it takes very little time to learn and be comfortable with how everything works. Audiophiles will love the sound quality of the Bose premium 10-speaker system, which is standard on the Premium and Avenir.

The Enclave delivers a smooth and comfortable ride for all passengers no matter where they choose to sit. The front bucket seats are supportive and even third-row occupants won’t find long journeys a chore. The suspension system is tuned to smooth out road imperfections, so even on side roads with broken pavement the ride is smooth and unflustered. Buick’s QuietTuning, which includes active noise cancellation, further enhances the ride by limiting road and wind noise.

While many three-row SUVs feel like their size, the Enclave has responsive steering that takes the work out of driving and makes this large vehicle surprisingly nimble. It handles twisting roads calmly with minimal body roll and none of the top-heavy feel that often accompanies larger SUVs. It’s just as well-mannered on the highway, easily navigating heavy traffic at high speeds.

Fuel economy ratings on the 2018 Buick Enclave aren’t terrible, but they fall a little short of some leading competitors. The Enclave achieves an EPA-estimated 18 mpg city/26 mpg highway with front-wheel drive, or 1 mpg less with all-wheel-drive. That's 3 mpg better than the 2017 model, but the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60 are rated for up to 20 mpg city/27 mpg highway in front-wheel drive models, with a drop to 19/26 with all-wheel drive. Accordingly, if minimizing fuel usage is a priority, then other luxury suvs may be a better choice. However, note that Buick recommends regular fuel while those models desire premium.

The new Enclave has 23.6 cubic feet of cargo capacity behind the third row, 58.0 cubic feet behind the second row, and 97.6 cubic feet behind the first row. An underfloor storage bin offers another 3.1 cubic feet of cargo space so you can easily bring along everything you and your family need. While cargo space is down slightly from the 2017 model, it's still better than most other crossovers.

There’s also increased towing capacity if all that interior room isn’t enough. The 2018 Enclave can tow up to 5,000 pounds when equipped with the trailering package. While the Enclave might be a luxury suv, the increased cargo and towing capacity help make it a vehicle that’s as ready to coddle passengers as it is to do work.

The Enclave includes numerous standard and available safety features, including a rearview camera, rear park assist and seven airbags. Options include blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and a surround vision camera, which shows a birds-eye view around the vehicle. The highest trim levels add a follow distance indicator, forward collision alert, front pedestrian breaking and low-speed forward automatic braking.

There’s no shortage of advanced safety features on the Enclave, but most aren’t available on the base model. They’re gradually added as you go up the trim levels and for the most part aren’t available, even as an option, on lower trims, so you’ll have to pay the premium for the top models. As for crash tests, the 2018 Buick Enclave has not yet been rated by either the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The 2018 Buick Enclave comes in four trim levels. The base Enclave is priced from $39,995 and includes standard features like heated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control and an 8-inch color touchscreen. The Enclave Essence starts at $44,215 and adds a lane-change alert with side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and options for a surround vision camera and a trailering package.

The Enclave Premium has a starting price of $48,015 and adds numerous features including a Bose 10-speaker audio system, HD radio, heated second row and steering wheel, and a significant safety bump through the Driver Confidence Package II. This includes lane keep assist with lane-departure warning, safety seat alert, forward collision alert and follow distance indicator. At the top of the lineup is the new Enclave Avenir, priced at $53,415. It adds navigation, unique Avenir badging, wood accents on the steering wheel and wireless smartphone charging.