Ever since the Buick Enclave debuted at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show, there's been one thought on everyone's mind: When did Buick get hot?
Seriously, we haven't seen this sort of style out of the famed Detroit marque since Eisenhower took office. With a sleek, upscale interior and a styling theme aimed at a younger, more hip (and less hip-replacement) market, Buick has created a new benchmark in design and packaging with this full-size crossover utility vehicle. Or is it a very large wagon? Or is it an SUV?
Who cares what it's called? The 2008 Buick Enclave manages to seat seven and sport a larger cargo volume than its full-size cousins, all the while providing a smoother ride and returning better fuel economy than a conventional sport-utility.
We knew right there on the show floor in 2006 that Buick needed the Enclave in the same way a grown-up former child star needs a reality TV show. To capture a new audience. To break new ground. To regain relevance. The Enclave serves to breathe new life into a once-great franchise and show a whole new generation what a Buick really is.
What We Bought
Taking a cost-conscious path, the process of outfitting our 2008 Buick Enclave was a game of give-and-take. We like leather upholstery. We like 19-inch rims. We like an eight-way power driver seat. We really like heated seats. These are all things that make a luxury vehicle a little nicer, but we didn't need them. Opting for the CX trim level voided all of these options, but put $2,200 back in our pocket.
Of course, that $2,200 wasn't going to last very long; the optional touchscreen navigation system with back-up camera, Bose speakers, rear-seat audio controls and satellite radio cost a cool $3,025. With the way the Enclave soaks up highway miles, we figured navigation and satellite radio were necessities.
The next item on the chopping block proved to be all-wheel drive (AWD). Crossovers are designed to be the kinder, gentler SUV and we wanted one that would tread a little more lightly. With an EPA fuel-economy rating of 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Enclave versus 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway for the AWD model, the FWD alternative sounded good to us. Besides, we live in Southern California, so we don't really need AWD.
Once we had the $2,000 savings in hand, we spent it on things you really need in Southern California. Like a sunroof! Handing Buick $1,300 gets you not only a power sunroof, but a nifty second-row skylight to entertain (i.e., cause motion sickness for) your second- and third-row passengers.
The sharp, blue-gold Crystal Metallic paint clashed with the stock wheel rims, so we shelled out $225 for a set of shiny polished 18s. Again, we only spent for what we needed. For the interior, we chose the ebony cloth upholstery, as we've had some issues with light-color seats in the past. A cargo net and a cargo cover were each $45 options that were well worth the price if they prevent one break-in or keep one gallon of milk from smashing around the spacious cargo hold.
The Enclave comes standard with second-row captain's chairs. They leave enough room for rear-seat riders to walk straight between them to the third row, and tilt forward to offer entry from the doors. Of course, if you opt for the second-row bench, you increase capacity to eight passengers and save $495 on the bottom line, a twisted reverse-pricing structure scheme that only a bureaucrat could love. We stuck with the captain's chairs to make the second row more suitable for adults.
Buick offers one engine option for the Enclave: a 3.6-liter V6 with variable valve timing that produces 275 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque. We picked that one.
When all was said and done, our well-optioned Buick that might otherwise have easily pushed $45 large instead rings the cash register to the tune of $37,430.
Why We Bought It
Crossovers are hot and Buick has generated an incredible amount of buzz for its new one — something that the Rendezvous never managed — or anything, for that matter, that didn't have a Nailhead V8 or turbo V6. We were excited at the Enclave's reveal in 2006, and our anticipation has been further stoked after a full test. As we said, "If luxury, safety and pleasant manners are the trifecta of road travel, the 2008 Buick Enclave is a good bet."
Stay tuned to our Long-Term Logbook for the next 12 months and 20,000 miles to see if Buick has, in fact, created the finest luxury crossover ever.
Current Odometer: 3,590
Best Fuel Economy: 19.4 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 14.3 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 16.7 mpg
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
Seriously, we haven't seen this sort of style out of the famed Detroit marque since Eisenhower took office. With a sleek, upscale interior and a styling theme aimed at a younger, more hip (and less hip-replacement) market, Buick has created a new benchmark in design and packaging with this full-size crossover utility vehicle. Or is it a very large wagon? Or is it an SUV?
Who cares what it's called? The 2008 Buick Enclave manages to seat seven and sport a larger cargo volume than its full-size cousins, all the while providing a smoother ride and returning better fuel economy than a conventional sport-utility.
We knew right there on the show floor in 2006 that Buick needed the Enclave in the same way a grown-up former child star needs a reality TV show. To capture a new audience. To break new ground. To regain relevance. The Enclave serves to breathe new life into a once-great franchise and show a whole new generation what a Buick really is.
What We Bought
Taking a cost-conscious path, the process of outfitting our 2008 Buick Enclave was a game of give-and-take. We like leather upholstery. We like 19-inch rims. We like an eight-way power driver seat. We really like heated seats. These are all things that make a luxury vehicle a little nicer, but we didn't need them. Opting for the CX trim level voided all of these options, but put $2,200 back in our pocket.
Of course, that $2,200 wasn't going to last very long; the optional touchscreen navigation system with back-up camera, Bose speakers, rear-seat audio controls and satellite radio cost a cool $3,025. With the way the Enclave soaks up highway miles, we figured navigation and satellite radio were necessities.
The next item on the chopping block proved to be all-wheel drive (AWD). Crossovers are designed to be the kinder, gentler SUV and we wanted one that would tread a little more lightly. With an EPA fuel-economy rating of 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway for the front-wheel-drive (FWD) Enclave versus 16 mpg city/22 mpg highway for the AWD model, the FWD alternative sounded good to us. Besides, we live in Southern California, so we don't really need AWD.
Once we had the $2,000 savings in hand, we spent it on things you really need in Southern California. Like a sunroof! Handing Buick $1,300 gets you not only a power sunroof, but a nifty second-row skylight to entertain (i.e., cause motion sickness for) your second- and third-row passengers.
The sharp, blue-gold Crystal Metallic paint clashed with the stock wheel rims, so we shelled out $225 for a set of shiny polished 18s. Again, we only spent for what we needed. For the interior, we chose the ebony cloth upholstery, as we've had some issues with light-color seats in the past. A cargo net and a cargo cover were each $45 options that were well worth the price if they prevent one break-in or keep one gallon of milk from smashing around the spacious cargo hold.
The Enclave comes standard with second-row captain's chairs. They leave enough room for rear-seat riders to walk straight between them to the third row, and tilt forward to offer entry from the doors. Of course, if you opt for the second-row bench, you increase capacity to eight passengers and save $495 on the bottom line, a twisted reverse-pricing structure scheme that only a bureaucrat could love. We stuck with the captain's chairs to make the second row more suitable for adults.
Buick offers one engine option for the Enclave: a 3.6-liter V6 with variable valve timing that produces 275 horsepower and 251 pound-feet of torque. We picked that one.
When all was said and done, our well-optioned Buick that might otherwise have easily pushed $45 large instead rings the cash register to the tune of $37,430.
Why We Bought It
Crossovers are hot and Buick has generated an incredible amount of buzz for its new one — something that the Rendezvous never managed — or anything, for that matter, that didn't have a Nailhead V8 or turbo V6. We were excited at the Enclave's reveal in 2006, and our anticipation has been further stoked after a full test. As we said, "If luxury, safety and pleasant manners are the trifecta of road travel, the 2008 Buick Enclave is a good bet."
Stay tuned to our Long-Term Logbook for the next 12 months and 20,000 miles to see if Buick has, in fact, created the finest luxury crossover ever.
Current Odometer: 3,590
Best Fuel Economy: 19.4 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 14.3 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 16.7 mpg
The manufacturer provided Edmunds this vehicle for the purpose of evaluation.
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