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2008 Buick Enclave
2008 Buick Enclave
Classy Family Car
The Buick Enclave is the most modern Buick to date, and possibly the most versatile, with car-like manners and room for the whole family.
The Enclave is a crossover utility vehicle (CUV), meaning it has SUV looks but is built on a car platform with much of the space and many of the convenience features of a minivan. If you need to haul people and stuff, but don’t plan to go off-road, the Enclave is a solid choice.
The luxury-minded Buick Enclave supplants not one, but two vehicles in the automaker’s line, the minivan-derived Rendezvous and the truck-based Rainier SUV. Buick’s timing couldn’t be better, as consumers are increasingly eschewing traditional rough-and-tumble SUVs for more car-like crossover models because of their superior handling abilities, lower ride height and better fuel economy.
The trade-off lies in crossovers’ diminished towing and hauling abilities, and their lack of off-road prowess compared with truck-based SUVs. Few owners ever use their SUVs to go off road or pull anything heavier than a small fishing boat or trailer anyway, so it’s an amenable compromise.
The Enclave shares platforms, powertrains and components with the GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook. It’s the most luxurious of the group and carries exclusive design details, such as Buick’s trademark chrome-on-black "waterfall" grille. Sporting a powerful-looking profile, it rides on a long (118.9-inch) wheelbase, with a wide (67.3-inch) stance. The Enclave is offered in CX and CXL trim levels, both of which offer a choice of either front- or all-wheel drive.
A new 3.6-liter V6 engine was developed jointly by General Motors facilities in Australia, Germany, North America and Sweden. It is the only engine offered and uses numerous sophisticated systems to generate a class-leading 275 horsepower.
The engine is paired with Buick’s first six-speed automatic transmission, which is a giant step forward in performance and operational smoothness over the aging four-speed Hydra-Matic gearbox used elsewhere in the automaker’s line.
Fuel economy isn’t great: The Enclave returns a bit less than 20 miles per gallon in combined city/highway driving for both front- and all-wheel-drive models. When properly equipped, the Enclave can tow up to 4,500 pounds.
The Enclave’s ride and handling qualities benefit from a low center of gravity along with a car-like four-wheel independent suspension that features a unique compact “H” design at the rear to minimize intrusion into the passenger compartment — this makes for a roomier interior.
StabiliTrak stability control comes standard to maintain balance during extreme maneuvers. It’s coupled with rollover-mitigation technology that can deploy the vehicle's standard head-curtain airbags before a crash occurs, if it determines a rollover is imminent. Antilock brakes and low-speed traction control are likewise included.
The Enclave’s interior is spacious, quiet and attractively designed. The dashboard is highlighted by blue gauges and an analog clock, the latter employed by several luxury manufacturers in order to make a vehicle feel more upscale.
Three rows of seats are standard, with a 60/40-split bench in the rear and two captain’s chairs in the middle. The second-row seats can slide fore and aft as needed. A middle-row bench seat is alternately offered for eight-passenger seating. Access to the third row is easier than in many competing models, and Buick claims it’s suitable for three adults, though in reality only children would be comfortable sitting back there for any length of time.
Both rows can fold flat to create a voluminous cargo area, but they don’t disappear into the load floor like on a minivan. The vehicle boasts two dozen storage areas, large and small, scattered throughout the interior.
A full range of convenience features is included. The latest high-tech gadgets are optional. While a conventional in-dash navigation system is offered, the Enclave’s standard OnStar communications system can deliver turn-by-turn voice navigation commands, which is a simpler and less costly alternative for those with only an occasional need for route guidance. (A one-year subscription to the Directions & Connections plan is included and required for voice navigation.)
Is the Buick Enclave for You?
| Buy the Enclave if | You need to carry a lot of people and/or gear but don’t want a minivan; you want a vehicle that looks like an SUV but handles like a car; you like to "buy American." |
| Keep Looking if | You prefer a crossover from a luxury brand with more cachet; you want added power or require more off-road acumen; fuel economy is a top concern. |
| Who Fits? | There’s ample room for four adults, with three more riders — preferably children — able to fit in the third-row seat; if you choose the alternate second-row bench in place of the standard pair of captain's chairs, an eighth passenger can squeeze in when needed. |
| Closest Competitors | |
| Did You Know? |
The names of most SUVs suggest power, performance and/or adventure. Names like Armada, Durango, Explorer, Touraeg, TrailBlazer and even the fictional Canyonero from “The Simpsons” do just that. Enclave, on the other hand, is neutral by comparison. The dictionary defines an “enclave” as a small country that’s culturally or ethnically different from a larger political unit that surrounds it. |
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