2024 Buick Enclave
This is the top of the Buick lineup. A midsize three-row SUV that combines the Tri-Shield’s past with its present.
The Enclave’s calling card is its luxury. There are still customers that crave Buick luxury – a premium experience that traditional owners have known for decades.
We wonder whether the traditional luxury of the 2024 Buick Enclave stand up in a changing marketplace. We had to drive one to find out.
The current second-generation Enclave has been with us since the 2018 model year. A mid-cycle refresh for 2022 helped define an exterior that exhibited plenty of lines through a sharper-looking profile. The enlarged grille creates a bold statement, while flanked by thin headlamp units. The sharpness comes from a series of angles creating a muscular, but luxurious roofline, glass profile and creases below the beltline. At the rear, the thin horizontal taillights are crowned with a chrome strip bringing this sharp profile altogether.
Our Avenir tester adds a special mesh grille texture finished in silver. The taillights get clear lenses as that extra Avenir touch. A set of 20-inch alloy wheels finish up the look of this elevated Enclave.
Once inside the Enclave, you are welcomed with a combined analog and digital instrument cluster with great sight lines for the driver. A head-up display is added that is clear and concise. An eight-inch infotainment screen is front, center and recessed into the stylish dashboard. Vehicle controls are a mix of easy-to-use switches to the transmission buttons on the center console.
Quilted leather upholstery adorns the front and second-row seats. The driver’s seat has plenty of powered adjustments offering a comfortable and supportive environment behind the wheel. Second row captain’s chairs are also comfortable with plenty of adjustments. Access to the third row is simple: Flick a lever and the seats tilt and slide away. While the third-row seat seats would fit three children, there is actually enough space for two average-sized people.
Behind the third row of seats is a generous 23.6 cubic feet of cargo space. Once you fold down the third row, that space expands to 57.7 cubic feet. With both the second and third row down, you have a massive 97.4 cubic feet of usable cargo volume.
Our Enclave Avenir is powered by a 310-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 engine with 266 pound-feet of torque. The V6 is connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission with our tester’s available all-wheel drive system.
This V6 feels happy underneath the Enclave’s hood. There is strong passing power is nice and will cruise very confidently. It does extremely well around town. The Environmental Protection Agency states that the Enclave’s fuel consumption should average 20 MPG in a combined cycle.
The key to the Enclave’s driving manners was to fulfill its luxurious credentials. The ride quality felt isolated from the road. While the dampers felt soft, the suspension yielded a balanced driving experience. The Enclave also exhibited solid control dealing with evasive maneuvers and cornering on twisty roads. We experienced only minimal roll through these maneuvers.
The steering was solid with a good turning radius. On-center feel was also solid with good lane-holding. The brake pedal was responsive and solid. We experienced good stops in normal, panic, and wet situations.
The 2024 Buick Enclave comes in three trim levels, along with a Sport Touring package available. Pricing starts from $45,295. Our Avenir AWD tester came with a sticker price of $62,745.
The Enclave is truly a premium offering in the three-row mid-size segment. Consumers normally compare the Buick with the Jeep Grand Cherokee L, GMC Acadia, Cadillac XT6, Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, Toyota Highlander and Grand Highlander, Lexus TX, Nissan Pathfinder, Infiniti QX60, Honda Pilot, Acura MDX, Volkswagen Atlas, Volvo XC90, Hyundai Palisade, Kia Telluride, Genesis GV80, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLE, and BMW X5.
With so many choices for consumers looking to step up to a luxurious experience, ask yourself a question: “Would you really rather have a Buick?” If your answer is yes, take a look at the Enclave whenever you’re shopping for a premium three-row SUV.
Credits: CarSoup Editors
