Whether you decide to buy a new or used Buick Enclave, you’re going to be in luck. This luxurious mid-size luxury SUV, introduced back in 2008, is well-known for having voluminous cargo space and a long list of luxury appointments, allowing it to compete quite successfully with even the most upscale European imports. Buick understands its target audience maybe better than the rest, utilizing clever marketing and product positioning strategies that turned heads and got the Enclave noticed in a very competitive category.
Buick has been changing its marketing strategies over the years to try to entice the younger generation into buying their vehicles. Buick's strategies have included reaching out to influencers on Instagram, and partnering with big television companies like HBO to feature Buick vehicles in their programming. All of this change in marketing tactics has brought Buick into a more competitive standing with the younger market. This is no small task for a brand that has mostly been aligned with older buyers.
One of the Enclave’s standout features is its standard third row of seats. Buyers are also able to customize the second row with an optional bench, upping the seating to eight, or just keep the two captain’s chairs that come standard. That’s a huge advantage over many of the Enclave’s competitors, some of which don’t even offer a third row. But versatile seating is just the beginning of the story. The Enclave offers a wide range of both standard equipment and add-on options and packages, giving buyers the freedom to build out their Enclave with exactly what they need. The Enclave also offers a surprising towing capacity of 5,000-lbs., making it an extremely capable hauler too.
When it was first released, the 2008 Buick Enclave came in only two trims: the CX and the CXL, which were available in either front-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. In 2013, the Enclave’s trims changed to the Base, the Convenience, the Leather, and the Premium, and eventually, they dropped the Base trim. Today, the 2020 Buick Enclave offers a broader range of trims, and all trims, except the base Preferred, are available in all-wheel drive. All Enclave models come standard with front-wheel drive. From the time the Enclave debuted in 2008 until now, it has always offered seating for seven or eight passengers.
Automakers often redesign and evolve their vehicles to stay current and competitive; however, Buick stuck with the Enclave in its first-generation version all the way until 2018 because its design was popular with customers. Over the years, Buick added and subtracted features and renamed trims to stay up-to-date with performance, safety, and technology in the category. In 2009, the Enclave’s 3.6-liter V6 engine was tweaked to put out 288 horsepower and 276 lb-ft of torque while also keeping fuel economy respectable, at 17 MPG city / 24 MPG highway.
In 2013, Buick refreshed the Enclave on the inside and outside, including adding Xenon headlights and LED fog lights and taillights. The Enclave also received a more modern grille, giving it a completely redesigned exterior feel. On the interior, Buick tweaked the dashboard design with soft blue ambient lighting, wood and chrome accents, and a highly functional infotainment touchscreen.
Sales stayed robust throughout the Enclave’s first-generation run, and the SUV earned praise for its timeless styling, roomy interior, and very quiet ride. These characteristics put the Enclave in a great position to compete with luxury imports. At its height in 2014, over 62,000 Enclaves were sold. In 2018, the company introduced a completely redesigned Buick Enclave, which has a sleeker, more aerodynamic exterior design. This new Enclave boasts a 3.6 liter V6 that produces 310 horsepower and 266 ft-lb of torque, and Buick replaced its six-speed automatic transmission with a nine-speed.
The Buick Enclave delights with a long list of luxury features that make driving in all conditions - even traffic! - a pleasure. Why? It’s comfortable and spacious with luxury features such as the available power sunroof, heated and ventilated seats, power heated outside mirrors, high-end Bose audio system, and navigation on the Premium. All serve to define the Enclave as a luxury American SUV. This dates back to the vehicle’s first launch, making a used Buick Enclaves a wise choice if buyers want a wide range of luxury and comfort features.
Despite features like a power moonroof that bring the outside in, the Buick Enclave is exceptionally quiet inside. In fact, for the 2019 Enclave, Buick introduced QuietTuning technology. This feature puts cabin acoustics at the forefront through the design of a cabin that is quiet and free from distractions. Many factors combine to achieve this quiet interior space, such as an abundant use of insulation throughout the car’s structure, insulated windshield and side glass, and underbody paneling that absorbs road noise. Additionally, there is a dual-density carpet, quiet-tuned tires, and a specially tuned suspension that is designed to reduce road vibrations.
The Buick Enclave has a whole host of luxury features that are designed to take the driving experience to the next level. Luckily for passengers, Buick hasn’t limited these features to just the driver. Luxury is the headline, dating back to the Enclave’s first appearance in 2009. Rear seat passengers enjoy an integrated rear DVD player for those long, boring road trips, along with an available 10-speaker Bose audio system. Heated and cooled front seats keep the driver and front passenger comfortable while on the road. A used Buick Enclave is a great choice, even dating back to its earliest model years.
Throughout its first-generation and into the redesign in 2019, Buick has kept a laser focus on luxury, keeping the Enclave competitive with more expensive luxury imports and giving buyers an American vehicle option. Even the Enclave’s exterior styling hints at the luxury that awaits inside the cabin, with its sleek, refined curb appeal. With the redesign, Buick lowered the roof profile to further enhance its modern appearance.
It can be argued that driver assist features are luxurious because they enhance the quality of the driving experience. While safety is the headline, it’s comforting to know that automated braking, lane-keeping assist, and blind spot monitoring, as well as adaptive cruise control and automatic high beams, will all work together to deliver the safest driving experience. We all know that being able to relax while driving is the ultimate in luxury. Available safety features vary by model year, but newer Buick Enclave models will offer current driver assist systems.