BUICK Enclave Models/Series Timeline, Specifications & Photos

Buick unveiled the third generation of its three-row SUV Enclave in the spring of 2024, packed it with technology and advanced safety systems, and was powered by a turbocharged four-pot engine.

One of the oldest American automakers, Buick was set to become a leader in the mid-size luxury SUV segment. It tried its best with the third generation of the Enclave, a nameplate that it introduced in 2008. Meanwhile, this model morphed from a vehicle built on top of a minivan platform to one that shared its underpinnings with other SUVs from GM's inventory. The automaker offered it in a choice of three grades: the Preferred, the Sport Touring, and the Avenir. Regardless of their choices, customers got a well-equipped seven-seat crossover that could take them from A to B while towing a 5,000-lbs (2,268 kg) trailer behind. Moreover, it could do that safely since all versions were fitted with advanced safety features, and all of them were available with the Super Cruise hands-free driver assistance system. The car's design language followed the one envisioned by the 2022 Buick Wildcat concept car.

The car's front fascia featured a broad grille flanked by the LED headlights placed in a pair of scoops. Above them, Buick installed eyebrows-like daytime running lights. At the same time, on the lower side, the automaker installed a beefier bumper that included a secondary, trapezoidal-shaped air intake underlined by a silver or black trim, depending on the grade. The Sport Touring version was available with a High Gloss Black front fascia finish and inserts.

From its profile, the majestic three-row crossover impressed with its curved lines but angular-styled wheel arches. Its sculptured doors and the ascending window line over the rear quarter panels created a premium look for the Enclave's third generation. Buick offered it with 20-inch alloy wheels for the Preferred and the Sport Touring grades. At the same time, the Avenir trim level was equipped with 22-inch wheels with an Avenir Pearl Nickel finish. Only the top version was fitted with the panoramic glass roof, but all versions were fitted with an auto-sense power liftgate, adding to the luxurious feel of the car.

Inside, the automaker surprised its customers with a 30-inch curved display that adorned the dashboard. It consisted of two screens, one that fronted the driver and showed the instrument panel and the other atop the center stack for the infotainment system. Buick provided the entire range with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The infotainment system was powered by Google's Android Automotive, allowing access to native Android apps and most vehicle functions. Using the touchscreen or Google Assistant, drivers could reply to messages, get directions through Google Maps, and control select functions. The front bucket seats had heating and ventilation, while the third row had power folding functions.

Under its skin, the 2025 Buick Enclave featured a turbocharged inline-four engine that produced 326 hp (333 PS) that it sent to the front or in all corners via an eight-speed automatic transmission. An adaptive suspension was provided for the Avenir grade, which Buick said it greatly reduced stress on the driver.

Buick planned on launching the refreshed Enclave in 2020, but the pandemic situation forced the American carmaker to delay that to the summer of 2021 as a 2022 model year.

The carmaker kept its promise to offer a premium vehicle at a bargain price compared to the European competitors. That didn't mean that it lowered the quality of its features. Buick built it smarter. It shared its platform with the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia. It's like getting to KFC, ask for two buckets, and then split it in three. But the Enclave was more of a Red Lobster meal than a chicken and threatened its main competitors with a seven-seat interior packed with more technologies.

On the outside, the design team worked harder at the SUV's front fascia. It reshaped the grille and improved the headlights. Buick's engineers helped with the automatic high-beam feature. The Enclave kept the same wave-shaped sculptured doors and fenders and revealed new light-alloy wheels on its sides. At the back, the biggest SUV from Buick's lineup sported redesigned taillights, with a straight chromed slat connecting them over the tailgate.

Inside, the carmaker offered an infotainment unit with standard wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A new trim level, named Avenir, pampered its seven occupants with a leather-clad interior, two sunroofs, and massage for the front heated and ventilated front seats.

Under the hood, the carmaker installed an enhanced 3.6-liter V-6 powerplant that produced 210 hp and was paired with a nine-speed automatic gearbox. The all-wheel-drive system was available but not standard.

Ten years after the introduction of the Enclave nameplate in Buick’s inventory, the American automaker revealed the second generation of it, and the changes were massive.

While the Enclave’s first generation looked more like a minivan with hinged doors instead of sliding ones, the second generation of this moniker came as a fully-fledged SUV in its own right. Still, it kept the people-carrier abilities as the GMC Acadia and Chevrolet Traverses, with which it shared its platform, but it was more stylish. It was more like a premium vehicle, albeit there were some parts of the car that didn’t fit the bill as a contender for the Acura MDX or the Infiniti QX60 as it wanted to.

The American automaker put emphasis on the car’s exterior look and, at the front, the Enclave boasted a massive grille adorned by the carmaker’s badge supported by chromed horizontal slats. The car featured standard LED headlights, and that gave more points to the styling department, who worked hard to develop the vehicle. In addition, the front bumper featured a lower A-shaped center grille flanked by a set of scoops, which housed the LED fog lamps. From its profile, the longer nose and the raked windshield created an SUV shape for the vehicle. The long greenhouse with wide glass areas featured an ascending lower window line that ended up to a raked-forward D-pillar. At the back, the automaker placed a curved tailgate adorned by a roof spoiler on its top, while under the bumper, Buick installed a set of fake chromed exhaust tips.

While the exterior didn’t impress too much, the interior showed the effort made by Buick’s design team to create a premium experience for its customers. The car was available in three grades: Enclave, Essence, and Premium, and all of them provided enough comfort for up to seven passengers. The third row boasted more legroom than the Acura MDX or the Infiniti QX56, thanks to the long wheelbase of the vehicle. At the same time, the driver benefited from a new, completely digital instrument cluster, which was available as an option. On the center stack, seamlessly integrated into it, the automaker placed an 8-inch touchscreen for the infotainment unit, which supported Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. As an option, Buick offered a split panoramic glass roof with independent areas for the front and middle seats. Another improvement over its predecessor was the trunk space, which grew to 23.6 cu-ft (667 liters) behind the third row with an additional underfloor storage area of 3.1 cubic feet (88 liters) of space.

Buick knew its customers and understood that such a big vehicle couldn’t be easily moved by a four-cylinder engine. As a result, it offered the Enclave with a 3.6-liter V6 paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. Customers could get the crossover with either a front-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive system.

The Enclave was well known for its ability to perfectly meld the attributes of a minivan and a truck-based SUV. The crossover SUV was a good choice for larger families, offering a comfortable ride and a massive cargo capacity.

The luxurious crossover rode on a unibody platform, also shared with the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia.

For 2012, the Enclave was offered in four trim levels.

The base model was well equipped with 19-inch alloys, a power liftgate, tri-zone automatic control, bi-xenon headlights and heated outside mirrors. The standard configuration could accommodate up to 7 people, while the optional second-row bench seat was available at no additional costs, increasing the capacity to 8 people.

The upper trim levels added a remote starting, a rear-view camera with rear parking assist, leather upholstery with heated power front seats - the latter included with the Leather Group trim level.

The top of the range, the Premium Group featured 19-inch chrome wheels, adaptive xenon headlights, heated and ventilated front seats and a premium 10-speaker Bose sound system.

Standalone options available included 20-inch chrome alloys, a sunroof, a rear-seat entertainment system and a navigation system.

The Enclave was available with a front-wheel-drive or an all-wheel-drive system. The luxurious crossover ran on a 3.6-liter V6 engine that cranked out 288 hp. The powerplant was mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission.

Safety wise, the Enclave was equipped with fron-seat side airbags and full-legth side curtain airbags that were standard.

Someone from GM mixed a station wagon, a minivan, and an SUV and the result was a seven-seat vehicle that was good for a larger family, able to tackle some snow, and still drives like a regular sedan.

The customers were not satisfied with the MPVs anymore. Apart from those who had a nostalgia for the minivans and soccer-moms, there were not too many other buyers. GM noticed that for a while and prepared a crossover vehicle. Unfortunately for the big carmaker, the year was 2007, and the world financial crisis was around the corner.

Sanks to its styling, the Enclave was able to survive on the market. Its horizontal slat at the front with the golden bow-tie was very esteemed. Thanks to a long roofline and a raised beltline over the rear wheel-fenders, it didn't look bulky.

Inside, it offered a 7-seat option in a 2+2+3 configuration, like in a regular MPV. Thanks to its flat-folding second and third rows, it was able to load a whole student room on its way to the college. The dashboard car-like design featured a five-dial instrument cluster. On the center stack, Buick installed a new infotainment system. Unlike its siblings, the Saturn Outlook or Chevrolet Traverse, the Enclave featured more luxurious items inside.

Buick offered the Enclave with either a front- or all-wheel-drive system and a highly fuel-efficient V-6 engine with direct fuel injection. It was paired as standard to a 6-speed automatic gearbox.