The Buick Enclave is the brand’s flagship, the largest in its lineup. Though officially considered a midsize SUV, Enclave has a big interior capable of carrying up to seven passengers and as much or more cargo than a large SUV. The passengers aren’t squashed. Even the third row is roomy enough for adults.
The Enclave is an outlier in another way. With a base price of $43,995 (including a $1,195 destination charge) it’s at the higher end of midsize SUVs. But Enclave’s elegant design, ride quality, and equipment put it closer to some premium midsize SUVs and from that perspective the pricing might look more attractive.
Twenty-inch wheels are a standard feature of the 2022 Buick Enclave’s top-level Avenir model. (Buick)
Enclave is refreshed for 2022 with exterior styling revisions to the front and back, including the grille, headlights, taillights, and bumpers. Inside, there’s a new steering wheel, and the previous shift lever has been replaced by an electronic push-button gear selector. Standard safety features have been expanded to include forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping assist.
There are three Enclave trim levels: Essence, Premium, and Avenir. The same powertrain is employed by all of them: a 3.6-liter V6 with 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, joined to a nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available for an extra $2,000.
The V6 moved my 4,685-pound Enclave AWD Avenir easily without breaking a sweat no matter what the demand. The nine-speed automatic was in perfect sync. Fuel economy ratings are 17 mpg city, 25 mpg highway, and 20 mpg combined. That’s not great, just average for this setup.
Enclave’s suspension provided excellent ride quality by absorbing bumps and dips, and insulation measures taken by Buick delivered a quiet cabin. Comfortable seating in the Enclave isn’t reserved for the driver and front passenger, it’s there for everyone.
A new steering wheel and a push-button shifter are among the changes to the Buick Enclave for 2022. The Avenir interior is shown here. (Buick)
Rear visibility is compromised by Enclave’s design along with the second- and third-row head restraints when they’re in upright position. A rear camera mirror mitigates the situation by providing an unobstructed view of what’s behind the vehicle, but the view has a different depth of field from what the driver ordinarily sees, which can be disconcerting while driving. Fortunately, the rear camera mirror can be switched over to normal setting if preferred (my hand is raised), leaving the camera for helpful use during slow backing-up situations.
2022 BUICK ENCLAVE AVENIR AWD
Base price, including destination charge: $58,295
Price as driven: $59,890
Mary Lowry is a member of the Motor Press Guild and a member and past president of the Northwest Automotive Press Association. She lives in Snohomish County. Vehicles are provided by automotive manufacturers as a one-week loan for evaluation purposes only. Manufacturers do not control content of the reviews.
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