2013 Buick Enclave Review

If there is one kind of reputation which Buick seems to constantly strive for, it centers around producing higher-quality vehicles than its cousin brand Chevrolet. With that said, Buick doesn’t take it too far and reach the refined segment that Cadillac has grown to become.

Much like the GMC Acadia and the Chevrolet Traverse, the 2013 Buick Enclave is capable of providing a number of seating configurations to complement the grand V6 engine, a driving experience that inspires confidence and a huge cabin to boot. However, if there is one thing that the Enclave has over its competitors, it would be its upscale interior. For this year, the Enclave brings even more class; while the general layout is the same, the materials used on the inside have been overhauled completely. In addition, the Enclave of this year also sports the IntelliLink, which has its own touchscreen display that can be configured along with a smartphone integration option.

There are other interesting changes to note with this year’s incarnation of the Buick Enclave as well, such as the new inboard front side airbags along with a newly tuned suspension that provides a more controlled and precise driving experience. Altogether, the changes that Buick has implemented for the Enclave have done nothing but improve its status within its little niche, giving it more of an edge over its Acadia and Traverse competitors.

In addition to this, the 2013 Buick Enclave is the only one of its segment of competitors that seems to have captured the feel of a luxury vehicle. Considering the difference between high-end vehicles and the paltry selections of three-row crossovers that offer huge cabins, it helps reinforce the Enclave’s good position even further.

Underneath the hood of every Buick Enclave in 2013 is a 3.6-liter V6 engine capable of delivering 270 pound-feet of torque and 288 horses. The standard options are front-wheel drive and a six-speed automatic transmission, though it is possible to swap the drive for all wheel. With the proper equipment, the Enclave can tug 4,500 pounds with it.

In performance testing, the Enclave equipped with all-wheel drive was able to reach 60 in 8.6 seconds, which is about average for the class. The fuel economy is estimated to be 17 miles per gallon in the city, 24 miles per gallon on the highway and 19 miles per gallon when combined with front-wheel drive. Swapping it to all-wheel drive changes these numbers to 16 miles per gallon in the city, 22 miles per gallon on the highway and 18 miles per gallon when combined.

The 3.6-liter V6 engine can also provide more than enough acceleration no matter what the driving conditions are. However, it is true that luxury models are a bit quicker with powerful V8 engines. Still, the Enclave performs well with what it has powering it.

It comes down to this…

Some folks are looking for a combination of affordability and luxury.

And the all-new 2013 Buick Enclave does just that.