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Attractive interior design, comfortable seats for children and adults on all three rows, large cargo capacity, smooth ride.
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Poor quality materials, controls difficult to find and use, transmission that can hesitate when downshifting gears.
The 2008 Buick Enclave is a completely new large crossover that can accommodate up to eight passengers. Power is provided by a 275-horsepower V6.
Car Overview.
Buick wants to be known as an upscale automaker, but none of the cars released by the brand in the past five years have lived up to its luxury image. The 2008 Buick Enclave may be the one to break Buick's streak of mediocrity.
At first glance, the Enclave is just another new crossover with a standard V6 engine, a choice of front- or all-wheel drive, and seating configurations for seven and eight passengers. But when you get into it, it's a completely different story from other Buicks. The interior does not seem to be built with price in mind, but rather the product of careful design, with the artistic curves of the dashboard, elegant front seats, and Tiffany Blue-style lighting. Overall, the 2008 Enclave is a step forward for Buick and a viable member of the premium crossover SUV class.
However, the Enclave shares its backbone with GM's latest series of crossovers, including the Saturn Outlook and GMC Acadia. All use fully independent suspension and mount a 275-hp 3.6-liter aluminum V6 mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. Interior dimensions are massive by midsize SUV standards. Not only can the Enclave seat adults in all three rows, but it has a maximum cargo capacity of 116 cubic feet, more room than most full-size sport utility vehicles. A 60/40 split third row of seats is standard on every Enclave, and in keeping with Buick's luxury mission, the second row features two captain's chairs. For families who need even more space, a bench seat is available that conveniently folds down at no extra cost. Cloth upholstery and wood trim are standard on all Buick Enclaves, while leather is available on the CXL model. All planned safety features, including stability control and three-row side curtain airbags, are standard on all models.
We have no doubt that the 2008 Buick Enclave crossover will be a practical family car for buyers who have between $35,000 and $45,000 and do not want to buy a minivan. However, its success as a luxury SUV is not so certain. Despite its more luxurious design and trim than other Buicks, there are still questionable vinyls and plastics in the cabin. This can be a disadvantage when compared to the high-end interior finishes of competitors such as Acura MDX, BMW X5, Lexus RX 350, and Mercedes-Benz M-Class. However, the Enclave is more economical than all these competitors, which may compensate for this weakness.
Performance and fuel consumption
Buyers can choose between front- or all-wheel drive on the Buick Enclave. Either way, the power source is a 3.6-liter V6 with 275 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission is standard. Appropriately equipped, the new Buick crossover can tow up to 4,500 lb-ft.
Safety.
Every 2008 Buick Enclave is equipped with antilock disc brakes, tire pressure monitoring, stability control (with rollover prevention logic), front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags in the three rows. Rear parking sensors are optional, and cars equipped with a navigation system have a rear camera.
Drive.
The V6 Enclave offers ample power in all situations and a moderately sporty exhaust note. The six-speed automatic transmission is smooth, but is programmed for maximum fuel economy, which sometimes results in a delay in downshifts. There is a manual shift button on the shift lever, but we wish Buick had offered the convenience of push buttons or paddles on the steering wheel. As might be expected, the Enclave is quiet and smooth to drive on the highway, although some buyers may find the CXL model a bit too stiff because of the 19-inch wheels. The handling of the 2008 Buick Enclave is competent and predictable, but not particularly sporty.