2018 Buick Enclave Attempts To Define Full-Size Crossover Elegance
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Yesterday, Buick revealed the 2018 Enclave Avenir to showcase how its sub-brand will treat consumers with concept car-inspired design cues. Today, the brand has revealed what to expect from the more pedestrian of Enclave. This is the long-awaited, 2018 Buick Enclave.
After the first-generation soldiered on for a decade, the 2018 Enclave has big shoes to fill. The original Enclave is credited with reigniting Buick’s fire and the second-generation looks ready to deliver. Gone is the bulbous exterior design from the first-generation car, instead replaced by a more rakish, yet still sleek, exterior with a lower roofline and sharper windshield. Here, Buick’s first application of Evonik Acrylite technology is also present, which allows for smooth detailing in the LEDs to reimagine Buick’s signature lighting.
Inside the 2018 Enclave, it’s a bundle of premium engineering, thoughtful design, active safety and clever cargo capacity.
23.6 cubic feet of cargo space is available behind the third row, while 10 percent more is available with the hidden underfloor storage compartment. Like the Enclave Avenir, the second and third rows fold completely flat. For ease of use, the 2018 Enclave also features available SmartSlide to allow simpler access to the third row.
Buick hasn’t skimped on the safety, either. Standard safety equipment on all 2018 Enclaves includes a rear vision camera, rear park assist and seven airbags, including a front center side airbag. Additional safe keeping comes in the form of active safety features such as forward collision alert, rear cross traffic alert, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, safety alert seat, following distance indicator and front park assist. There’s also GM’s Rear Seat Reminder system to help ensure precious cargo isn’t left behind, too.
And regarding the aforementioned premium engineering, Buick has ensured its QuietTuning provides impeccable hushed experiences and includes an air ionizer for each trim, save for the base model, to displace odors and provide cleaner air inside the cabin.
Base Enclaves will arrive with a host of standard features if higher trimmed models aren’t playing nice with the pocketbook; push-button start, a hands-free power programmable liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, universal home remote, six USB ports and more are present no matter which Enclave is being poured over.
Power still comes from a 3.6-liter V6 engine paired to a nine-speed automatic, like the Avenir model, and is capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds when outfitted with a dealer-installed towing package. Front-wheel drive is standard, but Buick’s twin-clutch all-wheel drive system is available, though, we’re not sure if certain trims exclude the AWD option.
The 2018 Buick Enclave will arrive in base, Essence, Premium and Avenir variants when it reaches dealerships this coming fall.
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GM has vastly improved every aspect of the new Enclave. The overall style and lines come together very well.
All of GM’s new SUVs/crossovers should do very well in the market. The existing products were in production for nearly 10 years, but still sold very well.
A great deal of the design language and underpinnings shared with the new LaCrosse. That’s a good thing. Should help both.
Looks like a Chevy. Buick had be careful not to cheapen Buick in favor of Avenir.
It doesn’t look like anything to me.
I wonder if it’s about as tall as the current enclave
I think it looks great
Used to be: Acadia bulky and ugly, Terrain smart looking, ‘Nox invisible, and Enclave okay.
Now it’s: Acadia handsome, Terrain goofed, ‘Nox not bad, and Enclave invisible.
… head scratching, dandruff falling…
The new GL8 is unusually homely a la 2000s Chrysler Corp. Same with Chinese Verano. Lacrosse and Envision are also is less than inspired so by contrast Enclave it’s great.
I’m going that Mark Adams stays with GM and Buick. That or the guys who did Avista take over.
Also, Avenir means that Buick must be dumbed down. Dumping the premium brand has risks.
I wonder if anyone still remembers that centieme concept?
Well, a close examination of the body reveals that it’s the same as earlier Enclaves. Just trimmed up and better looking. Which is a good thing for me, as I want the size and capacity.
I think it really looks great.
It be so nice if they change the ugly grill
GM did an excellent job in making the CUV a little bigger and gave it a nice look but they forget to improve fuel efficiency, When will GM remember that cars arent only about looks?
So Hybrid for you then?
Possibly but they aren’t cost effective yet.
If the technology is out there why not make a more efficient CUV. The similar European and the Japanese CUVs are more economical why cant GM make them fuel efficient. Is it because they spend more money on design and marketing than fuel efficiency?
Dont get me wrong I love the new design and added space. and hope in the next redesign they can consider make it slightly wider but I dont think GM is spending enough effort on fuel efficiency like the competitors.
Not sure what you mean by “similar European and Japanese” CUVs. I’m not aware of any of those that have the size and capacity of the Enclave. If you want smaller, then go with the newly shrunk GMC Acadia. With the Enclave, we are talking about a near 5,000 pound vehicle, and it’s not going to get 25mpg at US highway speeds. And I do not want a turbo four-banger in my next Enclave. Give me a torquey V6 like in my 2009 Enclave.
Because as of right now we don’t know what the fuel efficiency of the new enclave or traverse is yet. It should be more efficient than the current model’s 15 city and 22 hwy. are you expecting a vehicle this size to have 20 city 29 hwy?
source http://www.jdpower.com/cars/articles/new-car-previews/2018-buick-enclave-preview
“Fuel Economy
Buick states that the FWD Enclave will get 17 mpg city and 20 mpg highway, with 25 mpg average. Opting for AWD decreases those numbers slightly, down to 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway and 24 mpg combined.”
Gentlemen,
Please dont get me wrong, I love the new look. I appreciate the slight improvement on fuel efficiency but they can do much better on fuel economy.
I will not mention brands or name models but if we compare similar products from Europe and Japan, I know GM can do much better, if they choose to do so.
I don’t think that’s the right source man. I think the fuel economy.gov is the right source to look at and as for now there is no official fuel economy for it