The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Enclave delivers luxury-car style
New Buick model is also spacious, offering comfort for passengers.
Buick takes another big step in its transformation into a legitimate luxury brand with the 2018 Enclave Avenir, an elegant and advanced family-carrying SUV arriving in dealerships this fall. The Enclave (I give it four out of four stars) carries seven people in comfort and style. “Avenir” is Buick’s newtop-of - the- line trim, an analogue to GMC’s high-end and highly profitable Denali line. The spacious seven-passenger Enclave is the fifirst Buick to offer an Avenir trim level, a package that includes 20-inch wheels, a striking new grille badge and loads of standard features.
The original Enclave started Buick’s rebirth in the U.S. when it went on sale 10 years ago. Roomy and very quiet inside, it inaugurated a generation of vehicles that reinvigorated Buick, which had lost all pizzazz and become a sleepy brand associated with retirees and boring sedans.
Buick’s very different today, and the 2018 Enclave Avenir SUV is the flagship of a new lineup developed to redefine the brand upward again.
The 2018 Enclave is all new, bigger but also lighter and more maneuverable than the old model. At 204.3 inches, its 2.4 inches longer than the 2017 model, but about 300pounds lighter. Rear legroom and cargo space increase thanks to the longer wheelbase and a compact new suspension.
Despite its greater length, the 2018 Enclave’s longer wheel base — up 2.0 inches — and new steering system contribute to a threefoot reduction in turning radius. That translates to more than tidy U-turns. The new Enclave felt small and light as I drove one through 60 miles of narrow, twisting roads in the Smoky Mountains.
Enclave prices start at $39,995 for a base front-wheel- drive model. All Enclaves come with a 301-horsepower 3.6-liter V-6 and nine-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel-drive Enclaves start at $46,215. Avenir models start at $53,415 for front-drive and $55,715 for AWD.
I tested a well-equipped Enclave Avenir with adaptive cruise control, automatic front braking, lane keeping assist, Bose audio, Bluetooth compatibility, Apple Car Play, Android Auto, leather upholstery, heated and ventilated front seats, a and power seats, fixed power sunroof sunroof tailgate over over the and front the more. rear seat The Enclave is exceptionally roomy. The third-row seat can accommodate adults, while the middle row’s two captain’s chairs are comfortable and fold flat to create a large cargo bed. The Avenir’s third row features power switches to fold flflat and return upright. A compartment under the cargo space behind the third row adds 3.1 cubic feet of hidden storage.
The controls are simple and easy to use. Buttons and dials control audio and climate, while a touch screen and voice recognition work well for phone, navigation and other features.
The interior design features sweeping lines and soft materials on every surface. The Avenir’s leather seats have attractive stitching.
The exterior styling is equally handsome. The nose appears lower and wider, thanks to swept back LED lights and a new grille that features glossy black diamond mesh and nearly full-width chrome wings running from a round Buick badge in the center. Character lines on the sides and a roof that slopes down at the rear enhance the impression of a trim vehicle.
A handy tip ‘n slide passenger-side second-row seat pro- videseasy access to the third row. Buick chose not to offer the feature on the driver’s side, ostensibly because its less safe for kids to enter and exit on that side. I suspect the motivation was saving money and weight.
The front shoulder belts are not adjustable for height. That’s a small omission, but it’s a convenient feature common in luxury vehicles.
The Enclave’s 3.6-liter V-6 produces 310 horsepower at 6,800 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at a reasonably low 2,800 rpm. Seamlessly mated to a new ninespeed automatic transmission, the powertrain delivers good acceleration, including on the high-way and in hilly countryside. The transmission shifts quickly and smoothly. The engine is quiet, except when floored.
The Enclave AW Drated 17mpg in the city, 25 highway and 20 in combined driving in EPA tests. I got better than 24 mpg in nearly aweek of driving that included a long, fast run over mountain roads and interstates from North Georgia to Detroit.