Review from the Reminder News!
Auto Reviews — 08/19/2010 Review : Buick’s expansive Enclave
BY BILL HEALD ReminderNews
08/19/2010
If there’s one thing GM has been unusually good at, it’s building big, solid vehicles that combine comfort with excellent utility. This has been especially true for their line of big SUVs, and since they’ve decided to retire their minivan platform (for the time-being , anyway), this role has been superseded by their big new crossover SUVs, including Chevy, GMC and Buick versions of the same platform. We’re going to spend some quality time this week with the Buick Enclave, which is arguably the most luxurious of the bunch, and a very impressive family-hauler .
Click the thumbnails above to see the full size pictures.The Enclave is available with either front-wheel or all-wheel drive in two trim levels (CX, and CXL). All variants are powered by a 3.6-liter V6, and the smooth-idling mill develops 288 horsepower and channels said muscle to all four wheels in our AWD tester through a six-speed automatic transmission, the lone gearbox available. The drivetrain suits the vehicle well, and power is sufficient to push the 5,000-pound vehicle to 60 mph in around 9 seconds. Shifts are crisp, with good ratios – the only foible being a slight reluctance to downshift when passing until you really get on the gas. Handling is quite secure, and the big beast is actually pretty nimble in traffic, with a very compliant ride and an impressively solid feel on rough roads. With the optional ($455) towing package, the Enclave can pull a 4,500-pound trailer. The ABS brakes are sufficiently powerful, with acceptable stopping distances and good control. StabiliTrak, which is GM’s stability and traction control software, is standard, as is OnStar, with turn-by-turn navigation and automatic crash response.
Climb into the Enclave and you will experience room that nearly rivals a minivan (yet you still have conventional rear doors). The driver’s perch is a bit on the flat side, but quite commodious, and controls are a mixed bag of logical and atypical switch locations. By contrast , the analog instrumentation is very clear and concise. The real beauty of the Enclave is revealed when you haul the rest of your crew, for both the second and third rows are very expansive and well-furnished . The second row on our CXL had two bucket seats, with aisle access to the split bench third row. This rearward seating is roomy enough for two adults, and while the floor is a little high, it’s perfectly suitable for most individuals. With the third row folded, you have 67 cubic feet of cargo space, and with the second row folded as well, this expands to a whopping 115 cubic feet. All through the cabin , workmanship is excellent and the feeling is one of security and quality, with impressive attention to detail.
The Buick Enclave is a large crossover SUV that is as well-built as it is roomy, and is as pleasant to drive as it is to ride in. The 2010 Buick Enclave CXL-2 AWD is EPA-rated 16 MPG city/22 highway and has a base price of $43,995. With options including a navigation system , our MSRP came to $50,605. www. buick.com
