A look back at the 2008 Buick Enclave

2008 SUV went from lumbering to limber

The 2008 Enclave was unlike anything Buick had ever produced, primarily because it was attractive. The rest of the lineup had, to be polite, a rather somnolent style.

It was also a seriously large vehicle that rivaled the old Buick Roadmaster wagon (it was deserving of its Roadmonster nickname). The 2008 Enclave was 5,118 millimetres long, 2,006 mm wide and rode on a long 3,023-mm wheelbase. Thankfully, its size came with a benefit — it accommodated seven without feeling ponderous in the way it drove.

With three teens and an infant who needed a car seat, there were few vehicles outside of a full-on minivan capable of carrying the Fletcher family without a substantial whine factor. The Enclave accommodated the brood and the sundry items needed for a visit to Grandma’s house with ease (there was a voluminous 24.1 cubic feet of cargo space with all three rows up).

Even the two riders relegated to the third row did not whine too loudly, which spoke volumes about the space and comfort. For those sitting in the middle row, things were even rosier — legroom was limo-like. Opting for the two-panel sunroof made the interior feel even larger.

The 2008 Enclave also did the quiet thing very well. Normally, such a large box tends to amplify the slightest noise to the point where it becomes a constant irritant. But along with all the usual sound deadening and laminated glass in the front side windows, the up-level CXL sat on P255/60R19 quiet-ride Michelin tires. The latter made a substantial difference, as they cut the usual road sizzle to nil. As a package, the 2008 Enclave was one of the quietest rides around, crossover or not.

Up front, fit and finish were a cut above that of the Enclave’s competitors as the materials were rich and the style was inviting. It was also comfortable. The leather eight-way power driver’s and four-way passenger’s seats, for example, not only warmed the seat base — the backrest was heatable as well, which was heaven for anyone with a back twinge.

Then there was the wealth of equipment — all the usual power toys, an effective climate control system, an attractively functional gauge cluster and a navigation system that was tied into a solid-sounding, 10-speaker Bose audio system.

This package also included a rear-view camera to go along with the backup sensors. This should be considered a necessity, as the Enclave’s size and three rows of headrests made it difficult to park without help.

The 2008 Enclave was powered by a 3.6-litre V-6 that pushed 275 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque to the road through a six-speed automatic with a manual mode. For the most part, this engine provided the needed oomph, although the quest for overall fuel economy and portly 2,168-kilogram curb weight blunted the initial launch. Fortunately, the urgency picked up thanks to the variable valve timing (on both the intake and exhaust cams) and the fact it spread the power out over a broad range. Up to 200 lb-ft of torque was available between 1,200 and 6,000 r.p.m. When clocked, it took the Enclave 9.5 seconds to eclipse 100 kilometres an hour and 8.5 seconds to bridge the 80-to-120-km/h gap. Both times spoke to the soft launch.

The 2008 Enclave also succeeded in the handling department. The suspension was compliant and the steering had very good feel and feedback. Even when pushed through a looping on-ramp, the Enclave remained flat and unflustered.

On the flip side, it took a pretty large pothole to upset the ride quality.

StabiliTrak, GM’s advanced electronic stability control system, and the anti-lock brakes reinforced the sense of security. The former not only kept the Enclave pointed in the right direction, it included roll mitigation; the latter brought a refined brake feel, little in the way of fade and an average stopping distance of 44.1 metres.

The 2008 Buick Enclave was, to steal a tag line, not your father’s Roadmaster. It was spacious, comfortable, quiet and, as a package, highly refined.

It was also so much more, as the road manners proved to be considerably better than expected.

There was, however, an option that should be considered a must — all-wheel drive. This system automatically shuttled the power around by monitoring vehicle speed, throttle position and wheel slip. In practice, it did its thing so seamlessly that the driver was only aware of its action because of the lack of wheelspin. It added enormously to an already agile-feeling crossover. Go figure, “agile” being used to describe a Buick!