Buick’s renaissance, or rejuvenation, arguably started with the introduction of the Enclave mid-size crossover. Don’t call it an SUV, because it isn’t one—the term SUV is now socially regarded as clumsy and for fuel-hungry mammoths whose popularity has dwindled almost as badly as Mel Gibson’s.
So a crossover it is, and a good one at that. Sharing the same mechanicals as GM’s other Lambda-platform models, the Chevrolet Traverse, the GMC Acadia and the departed Saturn Outlook, the Enclave is the most luxurious of the bunch.
In a move to further distance it from negative environmental criticism, it’s only available with a V6 engine. Displacing 3.6 litres and developing 288 horsepower as well as 270 pound-feet of torque, it helps the Enclave sprint to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds, not bad for a 5,000-lb vehicle.
Despite being bolted to a 6-speed automatic, the Enclave’s V6 isn’t exactly brilliant in regards to fuel economy. We’re averaging 14.2 L/100 km during our test, but truthfully, it’s not surprising. Its highway rating of 9.0 L/100 km seems rather optimistic.
The big Buick can tow up to 4,500 pounds or 2,041 kg. By now, you’re probably saying “Geez, why didn’t they just put a V8 in there?” Not a bad idea, but the V6 is more than enough to haul it around swiftly. Then again, fuel consumption with GM’s 5.3-litre V8, which includes cylinder deactivation, wouldn’t be much worse than with the V6, and towing capacity would probably be higher. Oh well.
The Enclave might be quick off the line, but stopping from 100 km/h takes a notable amount of real estate; its 62-metre performance should be better. So never mind the V8, as more-powerful brakes would be a more important upgrade.
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| Sharing the same mechanicals as GM’s other Lambda-platform models, the Chevrolet Traverse, the GMC Acadia and the departed Saturn Outlook, the Enclave is the most luxurious of the bunch. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |
So a crossover it is, and a good one at that. Sharing the same mechanicals as GM’s other Lambda-platform models, the Chevrolet Traverse, the GMC Acadia and the departed Saturn Outlook, the Enclave is the most luxurious of the bunch.
In a move to further distance it from negative environmental criticism, it’s only available with a V6 engine. Displacing 3.6 litres and developing 288 horsepower as well as 270 pound-feet of torque, it helps the Enclave sprint to 100 km/h in 8.3 seconds, not bad for a 5,000-lb vehicle.
Despite being bolted to a 6-speed automatic, the Enclave’s V6 isn’t exactly brilliant in regards to fuel economy. We’re averaging 14.2 L/100 km during our test, but truthfully, it’s not surprising. Its highway rating of 9.0 L/100 km seems rather optimistic.
The big Buick can tow up to 4,500 pounds or 2,041 kg. By now, you’re probably saying “Geez, why didn’t they just put a V8 in there?” Not a bad idea, but the V6 is more than enough to haul it around swiftly. Then again, fuel consumption with GM’s 5.3-litre V8, which includes cylinder deactivation, wouldn’t be much worse than with the V6, and towing capacity would probably be higher. Oh well.
The Enclave might be quick off the line, but stopping from 100 km/h takes a notable amount of real estate; its 62-metre performance should be better. So never mind the V8, as more-powerful brakes would be a more important upgrade.
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| The Enclave could benefit from more powerful brakes. (Photo: Matthieu Lambert/Auto123.com) |