2018 Buick Enclave Avenir Preview
CARS.COM
Competes with: GMC Acadia, Infiniti QX60, Lincoln MKT, Volvo XC90
Looks like: The Enclave goes upscale
Drivetrain: 302-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 and 260 pounds-feet of torque; nine-speed automatic transmission; front-wheel drive, available all-wheel drive
Hits dealerships: Fall 2017
The 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir makes its debut in New York, offering more luxury, technology and style than the standard Enclave.
More 2017 New York Auto Show Coverage
The Avenir started out as a concept vehicle that debuted at the Detroit auto show in 2015, but Buick has turned it into a full sub-brand (similar to GMC’s Denali) and will give the name to more luxurious and stylish versions of its existing vehicles. The 2018 Enclave Avenir is the first of those, with more iterations to follow in the Buick lineup.
Exterior
The Enclave Avenir gets a unique, three-dimensional mesh grille that is paired with a chromed wing version of the Buick logo. Compared to the standard Enclave, the Avenir looks more upscale. Twenty-inch wheels, LED headlights and taillights, and a power liftgate are standard.
Interior
The features list for the Enclave Avenir is a long one: heated and ventilated front seats, heated second-row seats, a dual moonroof, an 8-inch display in the instrument panel, wireless charging, navigation, a 10-speaker Bose audio system and an air ionizer. The air ionizer helps to eliminate odors and can reduce pollen, dust and bacteria.
The second-row passenger’s seat can slide forward even with a forward-facing child-safety seat installed, allowing access to the third row. Both the second and third rows can fold flat to open up a large cargo area with a maximum of 97.6 cubic feet of cargo room.
Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both standard, as is OnStar 4G LTE Wi-Fi hot spot capability.
Under the Hood
A 302-horsepower, 3.6-liter V-6 that makes 260 pounds-feet of torque is mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. That gives the 2018 Enclave Avenir a slight power boost and three extra speeds compared to last year’s model. Front-wheel drive is standard, while all-wheel drive is optional. With a factory-installed towing package, the Enclave Avenir can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Safety
The Enclave Avenir will be the first Buick model to use GM’s rear camera mirror, previously a Cadillac-only feature. With it, the rearview mirror can be used as a standard mirror, or display the view from a rear-mounted camera. This view eliminates obstructions like the head restraints and offers a wider field of view.
The rear camera mirror is standard, as are a 360-degree camera system and rear parking sensors that help to maneuver the Enclave Avenir in tight quarters. Several driver assistance technologies are available, including blind spot monitors with rear cross-traffic alert, lane keep assist, front pedestrian braking and a safety alert seat.
Pricing is not yet available on the 2018 Enclave Avenir but will be revealed closer to the SUV’s on-sale date in the fall of 2017.
