SUV Boom Poises Buick and GMC for Success

SUVs are fast replacing cars as the vehicle of choice for most consumers. Premium brands are attracting more buyers than ever before. How have Buick and GMC fared during this time of change? Very well, it seems.

Part of each brand’s success has been positioning. GMC is playing to its strengths. Already enjoying an image as a utility vehicle leader, the brand was able to capitalize on the same trends that helped Buick grow. The movement toward premium vehicles, which has also occurred across the industry, helped position GMC to challenge Jeep’s dominance in utility. GMC grew the Acadia to a midsize model. It added the compact Terrain. A softer style appeals to more women shoppers. Popular Denali versions offer more upscale designs. Performance is emphasized as well, making these especially attractive in an age where many SUVs are underpowered.

Buick has three popular SUVs: Enclave, Encore, and Envision. Many of the Buick SUVs were new to the lineup only a few years ago, and the Enclave Avenir is brand new for 2018. Brand sales now consist of 70 percent utility vehicles. Marketers point to Buick’s quirky advertisements which helped transition it quickly from a sedan-based automaker to an SUV-based one. Awards have helped too. The Enclave earned the Ward’s 10 Best User Experiences Award. Even as the automaker ramped up the sale of new models, the brand demonstrated a steady hand as it earned the top spot in the JD Power U.S. Sales Satisfaction Study.

Now the fourth leading premium brand, Buick is outselling its rivals. Cadillac and Audi don’t sell as many vehicles as Buick does. The Detroit News reports that the brand has outpaced industry growth at a rate three times that of other popular brands. 2016 sales alone grew by 12.3 percent, and the trend has continued for 2017.

GMC and Buick share many common traits. The brands emphasize fun behind the wheel. They offer family-sized vehicles with spaciousness even on the third row. Both have long lists of amenities to pamper drivers. Buick and GMC include top technologies on the dash for entertainment. Each is making progress in the area of crash avoidance and automation. Good safety scores help round out the packages for these SUVs.

Whether your emphasis is on utility or premium living, you’ll find both in the line-ups for GMC and Buick at our dealership. Please ask our staff for more information about your favorite and take a test drive. It’s the best research for SUV shoppers.