I recently had the opportunity to drive for a week the 2011 Buick Enclave to see if my perception of the new Buick image actually made the transition from concept to actual execution. I have really enjoyed witnessing the rebirth of Buick as a major player in the entry-level luxury market. This market is getting younger and I consider myself to be part of that market. I am someone who wants a car that has class, sleekness, technology, and advanced drive train technology. This is what I expected from the Buick Enclave and it truly delivered on the expectations that I had.
The driving experience and the drivetrain are things that play strongly into what I want out of a car and I am always leery of large crossovers. I worry that they will be too loose, feel too large, and shy away from anything not resembling a straight road. Fortunately I was very surprised to find that I really enjoyed actually driving the Buick Enclave. Instead of a lazy large engine it was fitted with a responsive quick revving direct injection V6 that I really appreciated from a drivers perspective. I also enjoyed the six-speed automatic which allowed me to on one hand drive economically but also was willing to kick down when I needed a bit more power.
Coming from my usual daily driver the level of comfort in the interior was a bit mind blowing for me. I made a trip from Louisville to Elkhart Indiana that in my car is excruciatingly long but was surprisingly pleasing and short in the support Enclave seats. Noise isolation is very pleasing as well as active noise dampening that works on the principle of sound wave cancellation to rid the cabin of unwanted road noise. Ride comfort is important to me in a Buick and the Enclave is extremely comfortable without compromising too much in terms of the driving experience. The cabin also offers a whole list of features that are more important to younger buyers such as me. Touch screen navigation, voice activation, bluetooth, OnStar, all things you need for an energetic, free spirited drive. All of this combined with dual-climate control and heated as well as cooled seats make it ideal for long road trips especially to places youve never visited and need a helping hand to get around.
The Enclave come from a series of three vehicles; the Chevrolet Traverse, the GMC Acadia and itself. Out of these three the Enclave is by far my favorite. With the large cat-eye lights, lithe muscular body lines, and the appearance of a crouched stance the Enclave has an overall feline composure that I really enjoyed. I am also a fan of the waterfall grill that is elegant without being overly gaudy. I personally prefer a more reserved car and the Enclave allows you to show a bit of personality without being too much in your face; which I appreciated very much.
The only issue with the vehicle for me is that as a student the fuel economy means its a bit out of the budget for a daily driver but that isnt the point of the Enclave at all. With a seating capacity of 7 people plus their cargo this is a vehicle for a young family not a single person and 17/24 on the EPA cycle is perfectly suited to the utility and the capability of a vehicle such as this. I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity and came away with a better idea of the type of product Buick is trying to make. If future products stay on the same path as the 2011 Enclave, Buick has a bright future as an entry-level luxury brand.
For a more full depth review stay tuned for my in-depth review.
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