A Look Inside The 2020 Buick Enclave

The Buick Enclave is a luxury crossover SUV.  With seating for seven to eight passengers, it makes an excellent family car.  This Buick has a robust powertrain that incorporates a V6 engine under its hood and optional all-wheel drive.  There is also signature StabiliTrak technology which gives an extra boost in difficult situations.

In the technology department, the Enclave boasts the IntelliLink infotainment system with GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and SiriusXM reception.  An 8-inch flip-down monitor, as well as a sound system by Bose, provide loads of entertainment opportunities during road trips.  Climate-controlled front seats, covered in genuine leather are part of the amenities available in the Enclave’s cabin.  The QuietTuning technology developed exclusively by Buick, also shows off the sophisticated nature of the vehicle’s interior design.

Lets find out more about the Enclave!

Price

The Buick Enclave Convenience is the base trim and is priced at just above $39,000.  It has features like the IntelliLink system with 4G Wi-Fi. To upgrade the to the Leather edition it costs approximately $44,000.  This Buick offers an optional rear entertainment system and navigation system.

A buyer who wants to enjoy the luxurious amenities in the Premium trim will have to spend more than $47,000. This high-end vehicle comes with a basic model of eight-way front seats with ventilation and heating.  The Premium and Leather models also incorporate the eight seats instead of the usual configuration that is intended for seven.

Performance Specs

The Buick Enclave is has a 3.6 L V6 engine that can produce up to 270 pound-feet of torque and 288 horsepower.  Fuel is delivered into this six-cylinder engine block with the direct injection mechanism.  Variable Valve Timing (VVT) controls the closing and lifting of the 24 valves.

If you intend to drive in cold weather often, consider installing the optional engine block heater that can be plugged into any standard AC outlet.  A six-speed automatic gear system combines with its all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive.  The standard traction control lowers the possibility of slipping or skidding on the road, by using an electronic system to observe driving conditions in real time.

The Buick Enclave is kept balanced on rough roads by its independent suspension system.  The StabiliTrak Stability Control System markedly increases the vehicle’s cornering abilities, by adjusting several parameters. This signature innovation can sense a disparity between where you intend to go and the actual wheel direction. The rollover mitigation features prevents your Buick from flipping over while making sharp turns or navigating very steep terrains.  Four-wheel disk brakes help the Enclave come to a smooth stop in hazardous situations.

The Enclave has the capacity of towing up to 4,500 pounds when it is fitted with the Trailering Package.  This package includes a heavy-duty engine cooling system and a trailer hitch.  Without the upgrades, the vehicle has a standard towing capacity of 2,000 pound

Fuel Efficiency

The Buick Enclave gives a fuel economy of 15 MPG in the city and 22 MPG on the highway.  This fuel economy  applies to both the all-wheel drive and the front-wheel drive configurations.  Despite having average efficiency for its vehicle class, the Enclave comes with a 22.0-gallon fuel tank that offers a driving range of approximately 485 miles,

The dual exhaust tailpipes which are covered in stainless steel, are designed with maximum power in mind rather than class-leading productivity.  The Enclave overcomes rough surfaces that would otherwise slow down sedans and compact cars with the assistance of dual-flow suspension dampeners.

Entertainment Features

A 6.5-inch color touch screen is included in the Enclave’s IntelliLink infotainment system.  You can access the GPS navigation system that comes with live feeds via SiriusXM NavTraffic, with the swipe of a finger.  The IntelliLink portal has many other applications like Pandora Internet Radio and SiriusXM Satellite Radio.  Your favorite songs can be heard from the Bose audio system, which produces high-quality acoustics with its ten speakers.  External noise won’t infiltrate the music being played on the premium sound system, thanks to the patented QuietTuning technology.  Also, laminated coatings that are designed to block and absorb external sounds cover the car’s windshields.

Just pull down the 8-inch LCD connected to the DVD player, to keep the rear passengers happy during long trips. This premium rear entertainment system also has two wireless headphones.  Also portable electronics that aren’t compatible with 12-v ports or USB ports can be plugged in with a 120-v outlet with three prongs.

Both the driver and passengers can connect to a 4G LTE Wi-Fi network at any point with a subscription to OnStar.  This wireless internet connection accommodates up to seven devices at the same time.  Two universal tablet holders are installed on the back of the headrests of the front seats for the use of passengers in the second row.

Safety Features

With the help of  radar technology, the Buick Enclave’s Side Blind Zone Alert  knows if another vehicle is currently in your blind spot.  When another vehicle is identified, the corresponding side mirror will blink warnings. In the same way, cars that are up to 65 feet behind you can be detected by the Rear Cross Traffic Alert.  The Lane Departure Warning will emit visible and audible alerts if you try to switch a lane but didn’t put on the appropriate turn signal.

If you approach another car too quickly, you will be alerted with the Forward Collision Alert system.  The Rear Parking Assist which is connected to several ultrasonic sensors helps you confidently back up into a parking space.  For parking in reverse, you may also rely on the rear view camera.

The Enclave offers excellent protection during crashes.  It has advanced active safety technology.  There is a front center air bag that creates a barrier between the front passenger and the driver during a side collision.  All three seating rows are fitted with curtain air bags as well.  The deployment of all air bags inside this spacious family vehicle is controlled by the Automatic Occupant Sensing System.  The Automatic Crash Response which is a part of the OnStar Guidance Plan is also triggered by the inflation of the air bags.  Subscribing to this plan grants you access to other services, such as Roadside Assistance, the Advanced Diagnostics and Stolen Vehicle Assistance.

How It Stacks Up Against The Competition

The Chevrolet Traverse is a crossover SUV that’s available with three rows of seats.  It is a strong competitor against the Buick Enclave.  This family-friendly Chevy is fitted with a plethora of high-tech features such as the MyLink infotainment system with 4G Wi-Fi and Navigation.  The Traverse is not considered a luxury vehicle, which is why it is less expensive than the Enclave.

The Cadillac XT5 which is classified as a luxury crossover SUV is also a competitor of the Enclave.  This high-end Cadillac is available with Pedestrian Collision Mitigation, the signature CUE infotainment system and head-up display.  The XT5 is a class leader in efficiency with its Active Fuel Management and Automatic Start-Stop. The Enclave is less expensive than the XT5 Premium Luxury.

Pros and Cons Of The Enclave

Pros

• Rear entertainment system and universal tablet holders.
• Roomy interior with seven or eight seats.
• Accident-mitigation technology including the Forward Collision Alert.
• An IntelliLink system which is with GPS navigation, Wi-Fi and SiriusXM services.

Cons

• Power lift gate lacks a hands-free function.
• More than 4,700 pounds of Curb weight which produce handling difficulties.
• Poor fuel economy in urban areas.
• The base trim does not have Premium entertainment amenities.

The Buick Enclave is a great SUV.  If you are still on the fence about whether it is the right car for you, then you should visit a dealership.  You can get more information about the Enclave and take it for a test drive.