The Buick Enclave crossovers sold and China and in North America have the same name, and are mechanically related, but they are not the same vehicle. Similarly, their styling cues differ considerably, even though they share a family resemblance. Today’s GM Authority side-by-side comparison – with the upcoming American 2022 Buick Enclave on the left and the Chinese Buick Enclave on the right in every case – explains all.
The front grilles of the two vehicles are similar in shape, though the American-market Enclave in this photo has a diamond mesh grille because it’s the range-topping Avenir, while the grille on the Chinese model (not an Avenir) has five chrome horizontal elements. A redesign of the front fascia for the 2022 Buick Enclave means that it now follows the Chinese design of having the primary headlights now reside below a set of thin DRLs.
Additionally, a chrome element slashes past the perimeter of the grille on both sides and pierces into the Daytime Running Lights / accent lights at the top of the fascia. This was not possible on the American 2021 Buick Enclave, because the lights were much deeper. Instead, the horizontal line ended before it reached the sides of the grille.
Relative to the American Enclave, the primary headlights on the Chinese vehicle are mounted considerably higher on the fascia, the lower air intake is wider and the shape of the bumper is significantly different.
The relationship between the two crossovers seems closer when they are viewed from the side, but there are differences here too. Notably, the upper crease line on the American Enclave rises slightly over the front wheels, falls gently as it crosses the B-pillar and then rises sharply at the C-pillar. The equivalent line on the Chinese Buick runs almost straight along the side of the vehicle.
Perhaps the most dramatic difference is the treatment around the D-pillar. The American Enclave has a window above the cargo area with a sharp upward tilt to its lower edge. On the Chinese model, the rear side window has a more level lower edge (providing superior visibility), while glass wraps round from the liftgate to the pillar.
At the rear, the American vehicle has a large chrome horizontal element joining the rear lights. The line starts in the center of the lights but then rises up, “pushed” there, in a sense, by the rising diagonal line marking the inner lower extreme of the lights themselves. On the Chinese model, the lights are more shallow, and the line between them is essentially straight for the full width of the liftgate. The lower lights are significantly higher on the American Enclave, and the bumpers once more have very different designs, like at the front.
The American Enclave is built on the long-wheelbase of the GM C1 platform, which it shares with the Chevy Traverse. Both of these vehicles are built at the GM Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan. The only available engine is the naturally aspirated 3.6L LFY V6, which produces 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. GM’s nine-speed auto does the shifting. Front-wheel-drive is standard, while all-wheel-drive is available.
The Chinese model also rides on the C1 platform, but this time on its regular-wheelbase, wide-track, long-rear-end form. It is therefore similar to the Cadillac XT6 and the Chinese-market three-row Chevy Blazer. All three are built at the Jinqiao Cadillac plant in Shanghai. For China, the Enclave is powered by the turbocharged 2.0L I4 LSY gasoline engine, which is rated at 233 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. Like the LFY, it is paired with GM’s nine-speed automatic transmission, with FWD standard and AWD optional.
Be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Buick Enclave news, Buick news and 24/7 GM news coverage.
Comments
Updated US Enclave looks ridiculous with the new DRL and taillamps. Buick’s “eyebrow” design, still used on the Chinese version, was inspired by Opel and is a beautiful design cue. Obviously GM wants a clam shell hood but the lamps could be lowered or, as a second choice, designed like those on Envision/Regal.
Chinese Enclave looks more modern even though the wrap around glass hatch isn’t exactly sexy. Looks a lot like Acura MDX. Envision GX or “plus” is the same size and a better looking auto. Pity Chinese Enclave can’t get a new front facada and be sold by Chevrolet as a Toyota Venza rival. Traverse is great but only ranks #3 or #4 each quarter meaning there is room to grow in this segment.
The communist version looks better. Cleaner design.
looking at the two I deff like the US version much better. Better flow of the character lines.
In my opinion, the US Enclave is one of a few vehicles that really pull off the floating roof design.
Variant management is probably still not required at GM to save costs. Marketing decides over it. OK then?
For my money, Chinese one is better, US version is not too shabby either but i like the other one better. I don’t know maybe the fake exhaust trim gets me.
I refuse to buy a premium vehicle that is built in China or Mexico. If you are going to sell them here, build them here
US version is made in Michigan.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/304367/vehicle-sales-of-general-motors-by-country/
Tom GM sold more cars in China than the United States last year. The Buicks they build in China will not be sold here. Most auto manufacturers produce vehicles in the market countries because it is much cheaper than shipping them long distances. Honda, Kia, Nissan and many other asian cars are built here for the same reason.
They are both nice looking. One thing the Chinese front end version is better looking than the American version.
Is it the shipping cost or the 25% tariff duty on imported vehicles as the reason why GM builds in China?
Buick is building the Envision in China and shipping it here. I don’t care how many cars they build to sell in China, I just won’t buy and automotive product that isn’t built here and that includes any of the rice burners. With the exception of Honda most of the rice burners are crap. Just my humble opinion. 🙂
Tom Morgan Buick is building them in China for the Chinese market only. GM sells more cars in China than they do here. You can’t buy a Chinese-built Buick here because they are not the same as the North American ones. Why would GM build cars in China and pay to ship them back here?
When I was in China two years ago I saw more Teslas and Land Rovers and BMWs there in the large cities I visited than in American cities. These cars have Chinese instruments and labels but they are (mostly) real. The market is HUGE and they love western vehicles. They used to make and sell unauthorized clones of BMWs and other European cars because they couldn’t inport their own! Now western auto companies have factories there to produce cars for sale inside China. Look it up…
https://www.statista.com/statistics/304367/vehicle-sales-of-general-motors-by-country/
Buick Envisions are built in China and shipped here. Check the VIN.
Most Toyotas and Hondas are built in the U.S. with higher domestic parts content than most domestic builders. The Tacoma was even designed here. Would you buy a Toyota or Honda? Toyota is not crap I assure you. Built in USA Tundra has highest reliability of any US truck for over ten years.
True, but this article is about the Enclave and the US market model is built in Michigan.
What might have been interesting is what the price for the Enclave is in China vs the US.
I’ll take two from column “A” and three from column “B”. Does the Chinese version come with fortune cookies?
Just askin’ for Melania…
No, because fortune cookies were invented in the US in San Francisco. The Chinese don’t know what a fortune cookie is. Of course ignorant democrats like yourself wouldn’t know that. The party of the uninformed.
LMAO LMAO LMAO that was a parody. Of course of Democrats know that they were invented in the states.
We are quite informed thank you. 😛
If you’re informed, why do you keep voting democrat? Keep watching CNN and let them spoon feed you leftist propaganda. America was not founded on leftism. Our founding principles are contrary to leftism. The DNC needs their voters to be uninformed to keep their power and their votes.
Here are the starting prices of the seven versions of the 2021 Enclave in China: 2021 Enclave Pioneer: 279,900 CNY (about $41,440 USD at the current exchange rate) 2021 Enclave Luxury: 299,900 CNY ($44,400 USD) 2021 Enclave Pioneer Luxury: 319,900 CNY ($47,360 USD)
Who cares about the superficial cosmetic plastic & chrome features ?
What are the durability, performance, safety, real material differences. They probably have same inferior quality issues as usual.
Rick these are not Buicks to be exported to North America. Please read the artivle carefully. It is comparing Chinese versions of Buicks to the American versions! You cannot buy a Chinese built Buick in America because they are compketely different cars. If GM had not started producing vehicles in China it would not be in business right now. GM sells more cars built in China to Chinese than it sells cars built in America to Americans. They have to go where the profits are and China is buying up American cars faster than Americans are.
Straight line on side windows of Chinese model is much prettier than the US version. I just can’t get into the sweep up in the rear that GM seems to be in love with currently.
I think they call that, style. Straight line, not so much.
As a retired GM employee (way back in 2004) with almost 40 years of service dating back to 1966, I am finding it hard to look at anything now days marked “Made In China”, and that includes any GM Product, of which GM does make in Communist Red China and imports into the USA for sale here. There was time that the US enjoyed some fairly decent relations with China, but over the years, they’ve really let it be known that they’re desire to “Rule The World” is becoming a reality, with China’s new Military buildup now threatening any country that dares get in their way, and their claims of The South China Sea as being a part of China, now with ocean based, human made islands for their military bases to claim as a part of China, is most certainly a real indication of where Communist Red China is going and what their intentions are.
The Chinese Military is the largest in the world, their Navy is now superior to the US Navy, they’ve got many more troops and ground based military fighting equipment than any other nation on earth…are you worried yet? You should be!
Fair Trade is an excellent Idea, and when it’s done right, all sides win….but today, Communist Red China is not to be trusted as a government in a country that has some serious problems with it’s treatment of some folks living there, when was the last time that you ever thought that any Communist Controlled Country could be trusted to be fair and impartial.
Bottom line, I applaud GM for being able to manufacture vehicles in foreign lands but….I also feel that GM needs to stop importing so many of it’s vehicles into the USA, and start to build more products using American labor. Build foreign to serve foreign and build American to serve America. GM sadly still builds a lot of it’s vehicles sold in the USA in Mexico & Canada and the last time I checked, Mexico and Canada are (still) “Foreign Countries”. Except for the high end big SUV’s with full frames and V8 engines, most of GM’s Crossovers, mid sized and small SUV’s are made in Mexico, and South Korea.
Guess which Buick Crossover is made totally in Communist China and…imported to the USA. Surprise! Well, not really.
Time to regroup GM, time to stop importing so many of your vehicles and many built in The USA vehicles with a high percentage of foreign made parts….if Honda and Toyota can do it, then there’s no reason that General Motors can’t do it.
Take the time to look at the list of “The Most American Made Vehicles with American Made Parts” and I can tell you that sadly, except for new C8 Corvette Stingray you’ll not find many GM products on this list. Even it’s newer EV’s are using foreign designed and made technology, plus many of GM’s electrical needs, are foreign based. These new EV’s, while “Manufactured in America” have less “Made in America” components within it’s structure, but in truth GM has been assigning GM plants to start to build more batteries here, it’s a start…but GM still has a long way to go. So wake Up, GM, lets keep on making more products in the USA, lets not give in to Communist China and lets keep America Working!
These cars are not for export to America. They are China-only. The article is comparing the two versions. 🙄
Not true. The China version is for China. The American version is built in China and imported to the US.
So you’ve been away from GM for almost 29 years, things have changed a little…
https://www.statista.com/statistics/304367/vehicle-sales-of-general-motors-by-country/
Our version is by far more attractive. Its 4 year-old design is sharp, clean and distinctive, and as I commented elsewhere in GMA, there’s a reason why the (U.S.) Enclave outsells the Caddy XT6 by almost 2 to 1, while outselling the XC90 and Q7, but I digress. The Chinese Enclave looks like a knock-off CX-9. Pun intended.
The US Enclave is the new for 2022 model year refresh.
Why build two completely different yet remarkably indistinguishable vehicles on the same platform? Doesn’t it seem inefficient to design and build two distinct vehicles with zero parts interchangeability when one design could be adapted to serve both markets? Is that not the case with the Envision? Why then is it necessary to have two Enclaves?
Good article pointing out the differences between Chinese and american-made enclaves but the truth of the matter is in America all the SUVs look the same going down the road and sitting in the Walmart parking lot they look the same hardly no difference in them . Just different colors.
“On the Chinese model, the rear side window has a more level lower edge (providing superior visibility), while glass wraps round from the liftgate to the pillar.”
Look closer – that is not glass wrapping around the D pillar – it is a black plastic panel “connecting” the side glass with the rear hatch glass.
I wouldn’t let China China have another plane coming in this country they’ve just about stolen everything from this country and Americans are getting tired of the crap made in China is all you see anymore it ought to be made in America not China I don’t care who you are out there but if you start letting China bring this stuff in we won’t be American never again thank you for listening
I have one 2016, the “New” US/México versión look equal, they just change the covers ( front & back ), still with the same línes, nothing chance. I am waiting and still for the Chinese versión, lines more cleans …… May be for 2023, is the real new line
I’m trying to gather information about Enclaves. I’m not interested in the political garbage. I’m disappointed that so many U S cars are made in other countries. But in the final tally, I still prefer Buicks.