2017 Buick Enclave

The 2017 Buick Enclave Leather trim is the one we recommend. At $45,765, it gets AWD, some extra usable features, and creature comfort features over the Convenience trim and also adds very necessary driver assistance features. Plus, the driver assistance features available on the Premium are available as optional as well. With the Leather trim, we recommend getting the towing package and the sunroof option.

The 2017 Buick Enclave is offered in three trim levels: Convenience, Leather, and Premium trim. The pricing for these trims starts at $39,065 for the base trim and goes up to $49,625 for the top trim. All trims come in FWD, whereas AWD is offered only on the top two trims. The AWD upgrade is available at a premium of $2,000.

The Leather and Premium trims also get some standalone optional features such as 20-inch alloy wheels, a rear-seat entertainment system, a dual-panel sunroof, and also a towing package. There are two packages as well, the Tuscon Edition package and the Sport Touring package that adds some exterior customization features.

"The Buick Enclave won't go anywhere very quickly, but it will be plenty comfortable wherever it goes." - TheCarConnection

2017 Buick Enclave Engine and Transmission

The 2017 Buick Enclave comes with a 3.6L V6 engine that outputs 288 hp @ 6300 rpm and has a torque output of 270 lb-ft @ 3400 rpm. This engine comes mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Convenience trim is only offered in an FWD version, whereas the Leather and Premium trims come in FWD as well as AWD. The engine is the same as seen on some other GM cars and earlier iterations of the Enclave.

The Enclave is not going to shine at drag races, but the available peak torque is slightly higher rpm levels does guarantee a maintained and composed ride with optimal cruising speeds. The 6-speed gearbox is smooth and precise, but it's far better suited to cars with better engine power and torque. On the Enclave, this automatic feels like it can predict the engine's behavior and shift accordingly. The FWD works well, but the AWD system provides better control and better performance as well. 

The Buick and the Acura are FWD cars as standard. The Murano comes with AWD whereas the Sorento is a 4WD car. The Murano and the Sorento both are priced lower than the Enclave and make more power as well. The Murano has the lowest power output, whereas the Enclave has the most torque output. The Murano's torque kicks in earlier than the rest giving it a slight advantage over the others. Also, the Murano is the only car here that gets a CVT.

2017 Buick Enclave Acceleration

The 2017 Buick Enclave with the FWD has a 0-60 mph time of 7.4 seconds with the quarter-mile coming up in 15.8 seconds. The AWD version of the Enclave is slower, with a 0-60 mph time of 7.9 seconds and a quarter-mile run time of 16.2 seconds. The top speed also sees a slight drop at 133 mph. 

The 3.6L V6 engine on the Enclave is not meant for number-crunching but is more focused on providing better cruising performance for long journeys. The AWD version also has an increase in curb weight over the FWD version and hence the drop in performance by 0.5 seconds.

The MDX has the best 0-60 mph time of 6.2 seconds thanks to its lower curb weight and the more powerful engine. The Sorento, the Enclave, and the Nissan Murano all differ by just 0.1 seconds at 7.3,7.4, and 7.5 seconds respectively. In the quarter-mile however, the Enclave is quicker than the Sorento and the Murano as well. 

2017 Buick Enclave Ride and Handling

The 2017 Buick Enclave offers one of the best ride quality in this segment. Even with the 19-inch wheels, and the AWD or the FWD, the ride comfort does not diminish and continues to be supple and composed. The suspension on the Enclave is well-tuned to match this car's driving dynamics, and there are no complaints on that front. While cruising on the highway, the quiet cabin just improves the experience.

Around turns, the Enclave's size does come into play, greeting the driver with some body roll. The steering also is reminded constantly of the car's size, but it's not bad at all. It is not as sporty as some rivals, but it's good nonetheless. The steering setup does lack some responsiveness. Also, we do not recommend the 20-inch wheels as these do make the ride slightly harsh.

2017 Buick Enclave Braking

The 2017 Buick Enclave's size and weight are supported by the powerful disc brakes set up at the front and the rear. This is the same setup seen on earlier Enclave models and sees no changes. Both the brakes have a ventilated setup. The brake rotor sizes stand at 12.8-inches and 13 inches in the front and rear respectively. 

The Buick Enclave's brakes do a fabulous job in terms of brake force, with a nosedive every time someone brakes hard but has a longer stopping distance compared to the rivals.

The Murano has the quickest stopping distance of 122 feet with 12.6 inches and 12.1 inches. The MDX boasts a similar stopping power as well. The Sorento despite being lower in weight has a longer stopping distance of 132 feet. The Enclave comes in at last with its 134 feet stopping distance. 

2017 Buick Enclave Maximum Towing capacity

The 2017 Buick Enclave has a maximum towing capacity of 4500 lbs, among the most offered in this class. It also has a maximum payload capacity of 1687 lbs. 

The Acura MDX has the most towing capacity at 5000 lbs. The Sorento also offers a respectable maximum towing capacity of 3500 lbs, whereas the Murano has the least at 1500 lbs. 

The 2017 Buick Enclave FWD has a fuel economy of 15 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway, and 18 mpg combined. The Enclave AWD car returns the same city and highway mileage, but the combined mileage sees a drop of 1 mpg at 17 mpg. The car has a fuel capacity of 22 gallons and offers a combined range of 396 miles. This is much behind what the segment standards are and is lower than the rivals.

The Murano has a combined mileage of 24 mpg, with the MDX coming in second at 22 mpg. The Kia Sorento has a 21 mpg combined mileage. The Murano benefits from its V6 engine with lower power output and a precise gearbox that helps it deliver best-in-class mileage figures. The Murano also has the most range on offer at 399 city miles and 532 highway miles. The Enclave has a range of 330 city miles and 484 highway miles. However, it's the least range among the four, despite the Enclave having the highest tank capacity. 

The 2017 Buick Enclave offers one of the best interiors in this segment of cars. The Enclave's interior is not exactly premium, but it's premium enough for this class at this price point. In terms of material quality, fit, finish, and overall ambiance, the Enclave does not fail to impress at all. Excellent is the word to describe the car's interior levels. The buttons and knobs are well placed, and do not feel cheap at all. The dash layout is uncluttered, with details such as padded vinyl trim on the dash that has contrasting stitching and the other wood and soft-touch materials. But despite all this, the car's age is seen on this interior as well, with some of its premium features now losing their touch and becoming old in this modern age.

The Enclave can accommodate a minimum of 7 people. The front seats have tremendous comfort on offer and can fit people of various sizes and shapes. There is good lateral support as well. The second-row seats, which come as captain chairs as standard, have long legroom and tall headroom on offer. There is an optional bench seat as well. The third row is surprisingly spacious for adults, with some adjustments to the second row. That opens up some decent legroom and can make short journeys less cumbersome. Getting in and out is not a problem, but requires some effort for the third row. Visibility is decent but limited at the rear with all seats up.

The Enclave, with its long wheelbase and wide body, does a good job in the front row with a headroom and legroom space of 41 inches and 41.2 inches respectively. The second row is well-proportioned as well, but the Sorento has more legroom on offer at 39.4 inches. The Murano is a five-seater car. In the third tow, the Enclave again offers the best space with headroom of 37.6 inches and legroom of 33.5 inches. The Acura and the Sorento also offer good front row and second-row space, but it's not as much as the Buick. Some exterior features on the Enclave are:

• Remote engine start
• Tri-zone climate control
• Cruise Control
• Leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
• Leather upholstery
• Auto-dimming rear-view mirror

2017 Buick Enclave Infotainment System

The 2017 Buick Enclave comes with Buick's IntelliLink infotainment system as standard. This system has a slightly lower mounting point that makes accessing the system slightly problematic. The system is complex, and the slow touch responses delay functionality. However, the logically arranged controls make things slightly better.  Some standard features include a 6.5-inch touchscreen, voice recognition, satellite radio, auxiliary input, and some other features.

These features have been listed down below:

• OnStar telematics
• Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity
• Dual USB ports
• Navigation system
• 10-speaker Bose surround sound system
• A rear-seat video entertainment system

2017 Buick Enclave Cargo Capacity

The 2017 Buick Enclave has a standard cargo capacity of 23.6 cu-ft. With the third folded, this increases to 58 cu-ft, and with the second row folded, the maximum cargo capacity offered stands at 97.6 cu-ft.

The Enclave's cargo loading height is not too tall as well, thus simplifying the process. A power liftgate comes standard.

The Acura MDX offers the second-best maximum cargo capacity at nearly 91 cu-ft. The Murano might offer the least maximum cargo space, but it has the highest standard cargo capacity at 31.1 cu-ft. The Sorento offers a tiny standard space of 11.3 cu-ft, and a decent maximum space of 73 cu-ft. 

"The 2017 Buick Enclave still has a good-loooking exterior and richly appointed interior." -TheCarConnection

2017 Buick Enclave Dimension and Weight

The 2017 Buick Enclave came out in 2007 and has received only some minor changes over the years. It had a major restyling way back in 2013, and that continues till today. The 2017 Buick Enclave's design history for the past 10 years reminds us of the Audi Q7 which shares a similar journey in terms of body design. Coming back to the Buick, although this design does look old against the rivals, it still has a unique flair unmatched by other cars in the GM line-up. The sweeping body is still a part of the initial Enclave, and that does not bother much. The Enclave has a massive but rather curvy body.

The front-end looks might not appeal to everyone, but they do tend to grow on you. Especially the chrome-finished grille that sits in between those two large pulled-back projector headlamps complemented by the huge bumper. Along the side, most of the car look proportionate except at the rear where the third-row window looks rather small. The blacked-out C-pillar is a nice touch that helps maintain continuity. The rear sports two chrome finished tail-ends and a V-cut rear glass with taillights similar to the front headlamps. The Buick Enclave is 204 inches long, with a massive width of 78.8 inches and a height of nearly 70 inches. It weighs 4359 lbs and has a wheelbase of 121 inches. Its 7.7-inch ground clearance helps overcome most obstacles with ease.  

The 2017 Buick Enclave is massive in terms of dimensions against the other three cars. It has maximum dimensions in all parameters. The Sorento is the lightest car at 3968 lbs. It also has the least length and the least width. The MDX comes close to the Enclave with a width of 77.8 inches. The Sorento has a 7.3 inches ground clearance, just 0.4 inches behind the Enclave. The Enclave also has the most wheelbase at 120.9 inches that facilitates a very balanced interior and cargo space.

The Enclave comes with exterior features such as:

• Alloy wheels
• Power liftgate
• Xenon headlamps
• Power-folding mirrors
• Rear privacy glass
• Roof rails

The 2017 BUick Enclave scored extremely high in the safety crash tests conducted by the NHTSA and the IIHS. The NHTSA rated the Enclave with 5-stars overall, with 4-stars in the rollover test. The IIHS also rated the 2017 Enclave with their highest rating of 'Good'. We'd like you to know that the Enclave has not been tested for the small-overlap test from the IIHS. All Enclave models come fitted with standard safety equipment such as airbags, traction control, stability control, rearview camera, and the OnStar system that adds a few emergency telematic systems. Some other safety features are:

• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Blind-spot warning system
• Forward collision alert
• Lane departure warning system
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• LATCH System

2017 Buick Enclave vs 2017 Acura MDX

The 2017 Acura MDX is among the major competitors to Enclave. The Acura MDX is far more superior in a lot of factors over the Enclave. It comes with a more powerful engine that has better initial acceleration and can cruise at highway speeds with ease. It offers a decent economy as well, for a crossover SUV. The interiors of the MDX are impressive as well, but its infotainment system is similar to the Enclave's.

The MDX looks super stylish and has better safety scores than the Enclave. It also boasts of the best stopping power. At $44,050 for the base MDX, it is priced over the Enclave but it is worth the extra few thousand dollars even at the base trim.

2017 Buick Enclave vs 2017 Kia Sorento

The 2017 Kia Sorento is priced lower than the Enclave but the top trim goes as much as nearly $46,000. It is powered by a smaller V6 but makes more power and torque. In terms of performance, it is slightly quicker than the Enclave and has more fuel economy than the Enclave. However, it is only a few miles ahead in terms of range.

The interiors of the Kia are quiet and well-finished. However, the Enclave is much better in terms of the interior with its premium offering. Both cars have great safety ratings as well. If budget is a constraint, then Sorento is the right choice. 

The 2017 Buick Enclave offers an aging but classy exterior, with spacious and premium interiors, and a safe, composed ride. However, the car is due for a major upgrade probably next year, and that means buying a new one might not be the right decision. The car is the same as the 2016 model, and a used car will be more affordable. The Enclave is low in terms of fuel economy and performance, out of which economy is an important feature as a family car. In our opinion, we suggest that some other rivals might be the better car for you than the Enclave as a family hauler.