Buick Enclave 2008

By Steve Lussier

Let’s start out by saying that I didn’t think twice when offered the chance to tryout the Buick Enclave.  From the day I first saw it in a brochure or beheld it on the road, its modern and fetching design greatly impressed me. I am not alone because my friends and family were unanimous in their praise of the Enclave’s elegance and charm.

The ‘’Enclave’’ takes over from the Buick Rendez-vous which had refined ergonomics and comfort. This contributed to healthy sales during its run. The Enclave kept these features  while adding driving pleasure, a touch of luxury and size. These touches, however, substantially raise the price.

Is it worth it? The tryout will tell.

The Enclave fits into the midsize SUV category with its seven seats over three rows. This configuration usually means poor seating on the back row in the case of most compact and intermediary SUVs. My test model’s seating, was surprisingly comfortable with facilitated access by moving the middle row seats. The vehicle’s huge cargo bay can carry loads of equipment and baggage even with all the seats up. Comfortable and snug describes the seating, especially for the driver and front passenger who can access several electrical controls. We noted the same features during our tryouts of the GMC Acadia and Saturn Outlook, both similar versions of the Enclave but without the same luxury.

The instrumentation and ergonomics are simply beyond reproach. I appreciated the placement of the dials, the air conditioning controls and the radio system with satellite bands. In passing, the sound was excellent. ‘’Appreciation ‘’also holds true for the color coordination and the quality of the materials. We’ve noticed steady improvement in this area at GM. Finally, our model came with fine xenon headlights and excellent rear sonar capability which greatly facilitates tight parking manoeuvres.

The vehicle is powered by a 3.6 litre V6 developing 275 hp. This remains the only motorization currently available. One would expect dizzying acceleration but not this ordinary thrust. In fact, the vehicle’s weight compromises starting speed. GM compensates, though, with its linear acceleration and quiet engine. The six-speed automatic gearbox also delights due to the quick transmission and the subtle speed changes. It can also be switched to manual mode by simple thumb movement, thus enhancing the driving pleasure. As to handling, Buick produced a comfortable SUV with good road adhesion given its size. Leaving aside the wide turning radius which hinders parking in urban areas, the Enclave’s aptitudes provide a certain level of driving ease in the city or out. Applying ourselves to the brakes, the four huge disks did not disappoint during the entire tryout.