Written by Daniel Barron
Enclave the un-Buick of Buicks
Filed Under Road Tests
2008-05-20 05:46:23
If the Buick Enclave is to be considered an “old man’s” car, then hand me some Old Spice and pass me the prune juice, because after driving this SUV for a week, I’m completely sold.
The Enclave is currently only one of three vehicles in the Buick lineup, but it sits in the very popular and always competitive crossover SUV segment. Though it’s billed as a luxury vehicle, it starts at a somewhat-modest $40,895 (modest compared to the likes of BMW and Mercedes-Benz). Move up a trim level, add all-wheel drive, and throw in a few choice options, and you have something very similar to what my tester was.
I’m glad I drove this vehicle with all the fixin’s, because as you may or may not know, GM went out of its way to pit the fully-loaded Enclave against the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GL-Class in the SUV/CUV over-$60,000 category in the 2008 Canadian Car of the Year awards. And lo and behold, the Enclave won. I was eager to see if it really was up to the challenge.
To be honest, I still have a hard time stacking the Enclave up against those two European behemoths - especially the X5, which is pretty much the polar opposite of the Enclave - but against more realistic competitors like the XC90 or the RX 350, the Enclave more than holds its own.
Like most any Buick past or present, this SUV focuses on pampering its passengers first and foremost. The automaker has been touting its sound-deadening technology (‘QuietTuning’) since the day the Enclave was first released, and for good reason. There are few vehicles I’ve driven that are as quiet as the Enclave is in all respects, whether it’s wind, road or engine noise.
While European counterparts are more about looking good first and being functional second, the Enclave is the opposite. Getting into the third row seats is a simple process that requires one hand – thanks to GM’s Smart Slide feature, where the cushions on the second row seats flip up and the seatbacks slide forward, with the flip of a switch. And, it’s just as easy for passengers already in the third row to operate the Smart Slide seats from their position at the back of the vehicle.
The two second-row captain’s chairs are wonderful to sit in. The third row bench seats leave something to be desired in terms of head room and foot room, but are surprisingly comfortable for two on trips that last longer than five minutes.
Keep in mind that although the Enclave’s focus seems to be more on convenience, it is by no means a bad looking vehicle. Big leather seats, real mahogany on the steering wheel, and a classy digital clock atop the centre stack add some real allure to the inside of this car.
And though the exterior seems to polarize car fans, I think this thing oozes cool, especially for a Buick. My tester had the huge, optional 19-inch chrome aluminum wheels, while the substantial dual chrome-tipped exhausts were a great touch. The back window on the Enclave looks like a pair of designer sunglasses, the portholes running up the hood added an aggressive touch, and I never tired of watching the brilliant high-intensity discharge headlamps light up when I hit the ‘unlock’ button on the key fob.
In other words, no matter what angle you’re viewing the Enclave from, it looks great.
Though Buick is obviously doing something about how youthful this new SUV looks, don’t expect it to act like a sprightly Cayenne or X5. If slow and steady wins the race, the Enclave should be undefeated for years to come with its 3.6-litre V6 and six-speed automatic.
What it comes down to is: Buick did good. The Enclave upholds all the values of the automaker (comfortable, unimposing, easy to use) while still being relevant well into the 21st century.
Best of all, and contrary to an ever-present stereotype, you don’t have to be nearing retirement age to appreciate this Buick.
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