MSRP: $36,255
As tested: $44,950
3.6L, V6, 6-speed automatic
16 city/22 highway
|
|
|
|
Buick's entry into the burgeoning SUV-minivan luxury crossover market hits on an attractive combination of elegance and sporty style with convenience and amenities for those dads out there. Or so we thought, until a snarky female we know stated bluntly, "It's a minivan." Admittedly, the Enclave is not a rough-and-ready off-road vehicle or Escalade-style zero to 60 burner. But as much as we value the opinion of the fairer sex, we still give Buick props for the design of our striking cocoa metallic tester. The 19-inch wheels, sleek hood portholes and dual exhaust give more than enough masculine edge.
|
|
|
|
|
The Enclave's inside is said to be inspired by private jet cabins and it's easy to see why. Three rows of elegant seats accommodate seven, and the Enclave boasts heated leather front seats, leather second-row captain's chairs, a mahogany-trimmed steering wheel and art deco touches. Our tester came pimped out with an entertainment package ($4,320) that included touch-screen nav, Bose speakers, rear-seat audio controls and front and rear seat DVD entertainment (the front screen goes blue when you switch out of park so you keep your eyes on the street, not on The Sopranos: Season 6.) The power sunroof and second-row skylight package ($1,300) keep back-seat passengers from feeling left in the dark.
|
|
|
|
|
As you'd expect from a luxury crossover with a high sticker, the Enclave has a smooth, quiet, comfortable ride that benefits from Buick's Stabilitrak stability control and the automatic transmission with shift logic that reads the road grade and adjusts accordingly. The 275-horsepower 3.6-liter V6 won't have you squealing off the line at a traffic light -- then again, if you have kids in the seat, you're not supposed to be giving them whiplash while they're trying to watch The Lion King. Does all this luxury and comfort mean this crossover crosses over into being a minivan? Hardly. After all, our snarky friend didn't say "no" to taking a ride.
-- by Sam Jemielity |
|
|
