Vehicle Overview
The Buick Enclave offers three rows of seats standard, with seating for up to eight people. While its sibling, the GMC Acadia, competes with garden-variety Hondas and Toyotas, Buick says the Enclave will go head-to-head with the Volvo XC90 and Acura MDX, among other crossovers.
New for 2012
A hill-hold feature, which keeps the Enclave from rolling backward on inclines, is standard. The Enclave also has an enhanced brake override system, which cuts engine power when the gas and brake pedals are depressed. An accessory power outlet has been added to the center console.
Exterior
The Enclave is about an inch longer than the Acadia and features some traditional Buick styling bits, including a waterfall grille and portholes on the flanks. Exterior features include:
- Sculpted ellipsoid headlights
- Waterfall grille and louvered gills
- Standard 19-inch aluminum wheels; 20-inch chrome-clad wheels optional
- Dual exhaust
Interior
Buick says the Enclave’s interior strives to emulate that of a private jet. The second-row bucket seats slide forward and back, and the second and third rows fold to provide extra cargo room. Interior features include:
- Standard bucket seats in the first and second rows
- Three-passenger third-row bench
- Optional three-passenger second-row bench seat for eight-person seating
- Optional heated and cooled seats for driver, front passenger
- Optional navigation system and Bose 10-speaker stereo
Under the Hood
A 3.6-liter V-6 is the only engine available in the Enclave. It pairs with a six-speed automatic transmission. When properly equipped, the Enclave can tow up to 4,500 pounds. Mechanical features include:
- 288 horsepower and 270 pounds-feet of torque
- Uses regular gas
- Optional all-wheel drive
Safety
Standard safety features include:
- Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes
- Electronic stability system with rollover mitigation technology
- Side-impact airbags for the front seats and side curtain airbags for all three rows of seats
- During a rollover, side curtain airbags stay inflated for several moments to provide additional protection
