The first corner you take in the 2011 Buick Enclave is the biggest surprise of all. "What is this?" is the first thing that came to mind because here is a 4700 lb. Buick that actually dove into a long sweeper. Buicks I have driven in the past were simply tuned to be as soft as possible with little or no confidence yet here you can have comfort but now a small smile will creep up every time you push this leviathan hard. Buick wants to attract a younger group of buyers and there is no better place to start than the progenitor of Buicks rebirth.
Leviathan is a good word for the 2011 Buick Enclave. According to Buick the Enclave sits at 201.8 inches in length and 72.5 inches in height which is quite visually intimidating. With the fluidly flared fenders, large High Intensity Discharge Xenon headlights and the trademark waterfall grill the Enclave is an impressive sight to behold. Twenty-inch chrome wheels do a good job of filling the large wheel wells and give even this large crossover a sporty crouched look while still offering good ground clearance.
The Buick Enclave is part of a trio of GM crossovers that include the GMC Acadia and the Chevrolet Traverse. Out of these three the Enclave shows the most attention to exterior detail with pleasing curves and complex sheet metal that draws light nicely and is a pleasure to look at as you walk away. Especially at night with the Xenon headlights there is a strong feline resemblance that overall won me over.
The interior of the Buick Enclave is another place where it shines. Buick also quotes roughly 112 cubic feet of cabin space there is no shortage of space within the interior. Equipped with second row captains chairs and a third row bench six people can sit comfortably and with a bit of discomfort seven can find a seat in this Enclave. The captains chairs do not recline which means that second row passengers may have to constantly readjust as the miles pile on. A dual panoramic sunroof allows for a wonderful view of the sky passing overhead but the secondary sunroof does not open which means second row passengers dont get to experience the full flavor of a sunroof.
The Enclave offers options such as full touchscreen navigation, dual climate control, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth hands free calling, and OnStar things that a connected technologically savvy car buyer is looking for. The center counsel seems a bit dated for materials and design but everything is laid out logically with an easy to use touch screen and hard buttons that are easy to find by touch. The dash mounted analog clock reminds you that this Buick shares a lineage with older models but this model is the first of the new lineup that offers more technology and more refinement than this. One thing that is missing is a blind spot awareness system that its direct competition the Acura MDX has. In a vehicle like this with an upswept belt line and massive rear pillars that feature seems necessary.
Driving the roughly 4700-pound crossover is far from what youd expect. With front struts and a multilink rear suspension unlike the leaf springs of former body on frame SUVs corners are no longer a curse word. Body roll is certainly present but well contained even under heavy steering load. The steering wheel like the other Lambda body SUVs is quite thin and road feel is a bit limited through it. The variable assist power steering is actually a nice feature because it allows for easy dry steering of the immense 20-inch wheels while offering decent steering weight as speed increases which equals a very confident highway experience. Comfort is not forgotten in all of this and everything but the largest potholes are absorbed with aplomb. There is still a bit of the old Buick DNA in there but it is appreciated because not every driving situation you experience requires razor sharp chassis response in a crossover.
Under the hood is a 3.6L SIDI (spark-ignited direct injection) engine that produces according to Buick and the EPA 288 hp at 6300 RPM and 270 ft/lbs at 3400 RPM. This engine is mated to a new Hydramatic 6-speed automatic transmission. In D the transmission is always wanting to upshift for the sake of fuel economy but dropping it into L remaps the transmission and holds onto gears for as long as possible which actually merits some impressive acceleration even attached such a massive vehicle. The aural experience of the V6 brings a smile every time it crosses the 4000-RPM mark. Fuel economy with this engine is hard to keep above the 20-mpg mark around town though the EPA rating for FWD is only 17/24 so this falls within that range. On the highway though with a light foot it is quite easy to beat EPA estimates where I saw economy rise to 26-30 MPG. Overall it is a potent yet efficient powertrain for over the highway driving.
Buick has created here a modern, efficient, and extremely drivable crossover that no longer just appeals to buyers over the age of 55. With a thoroughly modern power train, a well-tuned suspension, and one of the quietest cabins in its class the Buick Enclave is an overall success. It offers technology and comfort that a new modern, technologically savvy, and stylish family looks for in a large crossover. Buick is no longer a luxury brand with a small niche market it has become a major competitor in offering stylish design orientated cars that appeal to young buyers without losing the old ones.
[Buick; Company Supplied Fact Sheet]
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