2018 Buick Encore vs. Buick Envision vs. Buick Enclave: Which is for you?

2018 Buick Encore vs Envision vs Enclave exterior profiles ・ Photo by Buick

When most people think about the Buick brand, they picture the full-size sedans that were its historical best-sellers. But today, Buick’s three most popular models are its three crossovers: the subcompact Encore, the compact Envision, and the full-size Enclave. All three combine the high seating position, optional all-wheel drive, and handy cargo space of an SUV; the user-friendly driving dynamics of a car; and the extra dose of smooth, quiet luxury that Buick gives all its products.

If that combination of qualities sounds appealing, one of the three Buick crossovers could be a good fit for you. But they span a wide range of sizes and prices, and each also has its own unique pros and cons. Which is for you?

Size and Price

The 2018 Buick Encore is the brand’s smallest, most affordable crossover. It starts at just $22,900 in the base 1SV trim, and even the top Premium all-wheel drive model starts at a reasonable $32,100. It provides an upscale-feeling alternative to its mechanical twin, the Chevrolet Trax, along with competitors such as the Honda HR-V and Hyundai Kona.

The 2018 Buick Envision is priced from $33,995 for the base 1SV to $44,960 for the Premium II AWD. Its closest competitors include the Lincoln MKC, Acura RDX, Lexus NX, and Infiniti QX50 — all of which, like the Buick, undercut the pricier European competition.

Lastly, the 2018 Buick Enclave is a full-size crossover with three rows of seats. A premium version of the Chevrolet Traverse, it’s priced from $39,995 for the 1SV trim to $55,800 for the Avenir AWD. Compare it to the slightly smaller seven-passenger luxury models such as the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60, along with fully loaded versions of mainstream-brand crossovers like the Ford Explorer, Dodge Durango, Honda Pilot, or Volkswagen Atlas.

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Available Features

All three models are available with a generous array of luxury features, including heated leather seats, a heated steering wheel, navigation systems, and a power-adjustable driver seat with memory settings. And they all include a touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration as standard equipment, along with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.

The more expensive Envision and Enclave go a lot further, however. If you check all the boxes on both of these crossovers, you get ventilated front seats, hands-free power liftgates, rain-sensing windshield wipers, head-up displays, and several key safety features.

Between these two, the Envision alone offers a semi-automatic parallel-parking system. Meanwhile, the Enclave has an available power-adjustable steering column, a wireless smartphone charger, and a rearview camera mirror.

Photo by Buick

Exterior Design

Though all three hail from the same brand, the Buick Encore, Envision, and Enclave look nothing alike. The little Encore is a stubby little thing, just 168 inches long — 3 feet shorter than the Enclave. While it wears a handsome face, it looks more like a cheery small car than an elegant luxury model.

The Envision has a more conservative design with more typical crossover proportions. It lacks the edgy styling of many luxury competitors, opting instead for a gently curved box decorated with tasteful amounts of chrome trim. Its details keep it from looking small, yet it also doesn’t try to attract much attention.

The Enclave, meanwhile, is among the biggest crossovers on the market — and it drapes its elegant styling all across its 206-inch-long frame. Newly redesigned for 2018, it retains the old model’s graceful curves while adding some particularly appealing new features. We love the slim taillights and the way the rear windshield wraps around the Enclave’s sides to meet the side windows.

Photo by General Motors

Interior Design

The Encore, Envision, and Enclave all feature elegant interior designs. As the least expensive model by far, the Encore is understandably the least opulent of the three Buicks — but it’s the one that punches the highest above its price bracket, looking and feeling upscale of the subcompact-crossover norm.

The Envision dresses up the experience with liberal use of woodgrain trim and leather-trimmed cabin surfaces. An artful curve begins on the door panels to wrap around the whole dashboard, a nice touch, and it’s backlit at night. The Envision doesn’t emulate the high-tech designs of many new luxury cars, but some buyers will find a comforting simplicity.

The Enclave — the newest and the most expensive Buick crossover — is the most opulent. While it also doesn’t mimic an Audi, it elevates the Envision’s curvy design theme to beautifully modern effect. And in case its exterior size seems daunting, Buick added a high center console to keep the driver feeling cozy.

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Comfort and Cargo

The Encore is one of the smallest crossovers you can buy — and you feel it on the inside. The front seats are up nice and high for a good forward view, and the cushions are comfortable. But the rear seat has tight legroom for adults, and there’s just 19 cubic feet of cargo space behind it. The rear seat folds down to offer up to 48 cubic feet, but it’s a multi-step process. One perk: The front passenger seat can fold flat to haul long items.

The Envision’s extra size results in comfortable seating for five adults and extra cargo space: 27 cubic feet behind the rear seat and 57 cubic feet with the rear seat folded — and it drops down easily.

Meanwhile, the huge Enclave offers comfortable seating for up to seven adults, with one of the roomiest third-row seats you’ll find in anything but a van. And there’s 24 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third row (more than behind the Encore’s rear seat) and a whopping 98 cubic feet behind the front seats.

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Driving Dynamics

The little Encore is nimble, maneuverable, and fun to drive around town, where its compact dimensions and tidy turning radius get a chance to shine. The base engine has just 138 horsepower, though, resulting in leisurely (albeit quiet) acceleration; we prefer the upgraded 153-hp version.

The Envision focuses on a smooth ride over agile handling, setting it apart from most compact luxury crossovers. Its base engine — a 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 197 hp — isn’t quite luxury-grade, but a 2.0-liter turbocharged unit is quieter and packs a respectable 252 hp.

The Enclave is the quietest, most powerful Buick crossover, thanks to a 310-hp 3.6-liter V6. It wafts effortlessly down the highway yet handles with agility given its size, but you still wouldn’t mistake it for a smaller vehicle when you try to park it.

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Fuel Economy

The Encore has super-thrifty EPA ratings of up to 30 mpg in mixed driving (with its smallest engine and front-wheel drive), and even the thirstiest variant (the more powerful engine and all-wheel drive) still manages a respectable 27 mpg. Every Encore uses regular-grade gasoline.

The bigger, more powerful Envision slips to 25 mpg in mixed driving in its thriftiest variant (the 2.5-liter engine and FWD) and drops to 22 mpg with the turbocharged engine and AWD. The 2.5-liter accepts regular fuel but the turbo requests premium.

The full-size Enclave is nearly as economical as the compact Envision. It’s rated at 21 mpg in mixed driving with FWD and 20 mpg with AWD, using regular-grade fuel rather than premium.

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Safety

The Encore, Envision, and Enclave all earned five out of five stars in National Highway Traffic Safety Administration crash tests. The Encore and Envision also scored well in crash tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, while the IIHS hasn’t tested the redesigned 2018 Enclave.

Where these crossovers differ is their available safety technology. The Encore has an optional forward-collision warning, which alerts drivers when they may not have noticed an obstacle ahead. But unlike the other two, it doesn’t offer automatic emergency braking, which slams the brakes if the driver doesn’t react to the warning.

Similarly, the Encore offers a lane-departure warning, but the other two add lane-keeping automatic steering assistance. And while all three have a standard backup camera, the Envision and Encore have an optional upgrade to a bird’s-eye surround vision system.

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Overall

If you’re looking for a petite, maneuverable, fuel-efficient, and affordable crossover and don’t need maximum acceleration, the most interior space, or all the latest safety technology, the 2018 Buick Encore could be a great fit. Meanwhile, if you’re willing to spend more to get a roomier interior, quicker acceleration, and more features, the 2018 Buick Envision might be your better option. Lastly, if you want maximum elegance and interior space, the full-size 2018 Buick Enclave is the obvious choice.

Each of these three Buicks also faces a number of strong competitors, too. But if you’re looking for elegantly restrained styling; a smooth, quiet ride; and a luxury experience that flies under the radar compared to flashy European brands, you’ll want to see if a Buick fits your needs.

Photo by Buick