Author: Steve Allen |
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Since its launch in 2007, Buick Enclave sales have totaled nearly 500,000 around the world and the luxury crossover that sparked the brand’s renaissance continues to earn accolades for its safety, dependability and value.

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

In 2015, the Enclave received a 5-star Overall Safety Rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also ranked high in J.D. Power 2015 Dependability StudySM, where it outperformed several luxury brands. Also, Enclave received Kelley Blue Book’s 5-Year Cost to Own Award in 2015 for the Luxury Full-Size SUV/Crossover segment.

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

For 2016, Enclave focuses on providing more connectivity than ever with the introduction on OnStar 4G LTE and a standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot that provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected all the time. The hotspot allows passengers to connect up to seven personal devices such as smartphones, laptops and tablets to high-speed wireless Internet whenever the vehicle is on.

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

Enclave offers three new exterior colors for the 2016 model year, which include Summit White and premium colors Ebony Twilight Metallic and White Frost Tricoat.

The Enclave is offered in three trim levels: Convenience (1SD), Leather (1SL) and Premium (1SN). All-wheel drive is available on Leather and Premium trims, and
all models are powered by a direct-injected 3.6L V-6 that delivers an EPA-estimated 24 mpg on the highway (FWD models).

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

Experience Buick Protection on all 2016 Buick models includes the first two visits of scheduled maintenance services for two years/24,000 miles, whichever occurs first. It complements Buick’s four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and six-year/70,000-mile powertrain limited warranty.

Enclave Tuscan Edition

2016 Buick Enclave Tuscan Edition © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave Tuscan Edition © General Motors

New for 2016, the Enclave offers a Tuscan Edition on the 1SL Leather and 1SN Premium trim levels. While every Enclave is designed to make customers feel special, the Enclave Tuscan Edition creates a sense of premium luxury that’s as unique – and colorful – as the region it’s named for. Available exclusively with premium paint choices White Frost Tricoat, Dark Chocolate Metallic or Ebony Twilight Metallic, the Tuscan Bronze Package includes 20-inch chrome wheels with bronze pockets and a waterfall grille clad in bronze.

Exterior design

2016 Buick Enclave Tuscan Edition © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave Tuscan Edition © General Motors

Signature design elements on the Enclave, such as sculpted styling and a black-chrome waterfall grille, are distinctly Buick. Complementary features including signature wing-shape LED lighting and monochromatic paint schemes accented with chrome, contribute to the Enclave’s premium appearance, along with large 19- and 20-inch wheel designs.

From first glance, LED daytime running lamps and accent lamps give the Enclave a strong presence on the road. Blue translucent rings around the standard Xenon HID headlamps are Buick design cues found on other models, adding distinction across the brand’s lineup. Articulating headlamps are part of the Premium model’s content package, which also includes power-folding, heated outside mirrors, as well as interior features such as power tilting/telescoping steering column and heated/cooled front seats.

2016 Buick Enclave Tuscan Edition © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave Tuscan Edition © General Motors

A chrome finish within the rear fascia frames the exhaust outlets, for an integrated appearance that exemplifies Buick’s attention to detail. LED-accented taillamps give the vehicle a distinctive signature at the rear that reflects Buick’s elegance. A power-operated liftgate is standard.

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

In addition to the three new hues offered on 2016 models, additional exterior color choices on Enclave include Crimson Red Tintcoat, Dark Sapphire Blue Metallic, Dark Chocolate Metallic, Midnight Amethyst Metallic, Quicksilver Metallic, Sparkling Silver Metallic and Iridium Metallic.

Interior comfort

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

Inside the Enclave, high-quality materials and the intuitive technology of Buick IntelliLink set the tone for luxury. Rich, saturated tones and contemporary color combinations enhance Enclave’s sense of style. An exclusive Dark Plum interior color, for example, offers a higher degree of visual warmth. It is complemented by the soft feel of Nuance sandstone leather, with characteristics similar to leathers used in premium home furnishings.

Other interior highlights include:

  • A wood-trimmed steering wheel is entirely heated for 2016 (standard on Leather and Premium models)
  • Ice-blue LED ambient lighting around the dash that highlights Enclave’s flowing lines, emphasizing the cabin’s spaciousness
  • Eight-way power front driver seat with power recline and lumbar support (standard on Convenience models)
  • Eight-way power front driver and passenger seats with power recline and lumbar support – and driver memory – (standard on Leather and Premium models)
  • Heated front seats standard on Leather models and heated/cooled seats standard on Premium models
  • Power-tilting/telescoping steering column standard on Premium models
  • Soft-touch materials, real stitching and chrome accents throughout the cabin
  • Available dual moonroof; power front, fixed rear
  • Standard storage system under the floor in the rear cargo area
  • Standard power windows with driver and passenger express up/down feature
  • Standard rearview camera
  • Standard remote vehicle starter.

Enclave offers three rows of seating, available in seven- or eight-passenger configurations. The second-row seats feature the SmartSlide system. With the pull of a single handle, SmartSlide allows easier entry to the third row. There is 23.3 cubic feet (660 liters) of cargo space behind the third row and a maximum of 115.2 cubic feet (3,263 liters) of cargo space available behind the front row of seats.

Buick’s signature QuietTuning engineering process, which uses laminated glass and extensive sound blocking and absorbing materials, makes Enclave’s cabin quieter than a Lexus RX350.

Connectivity and infotainment
Because customers’ daily lives are so entwined with personal devices such as cell phones, tablets and laptops, the addition of OnStar 4G LTE with a standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot is a welcome feature on the Enclave. It allows people to stay connected throughout the day because the hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on.

4G LTE is the most current and fastest mobile data network – 10 times faster than 3G and 100 times faster than the previous generation of OnStar hardware. And with OnStar, it also offers stronger, broader coverage than smartphones on the same network. OnStar 4G LTE comes with a three-month/three gigabyte data trial.

Buick’s IntelliLink color touch radio is standard on all models and enhances the driving experience with a higher level of wireless connectivity and customized options – all while building on the safety and security of OnStar.

IntelliLink is intuitive and easy to use, and includes the capability of setting up a “home page” for favorites. It integrates online services such as Pandora® internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio™ using hands-free voice and touch-screen controls via Bluetooth-enabled smartphones. This builds on the voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling capability offered in other Buick models.

Enhanced connectivity and convenience includes a Text Messaging Alerts feature for smartphone users with Bluetooth profile (M.A.P.), which reads incoming texts through the vehicle’s speakers, and Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users to enhance connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity, to help keep phones in pockets and hands on the wheel.

Additional features include:

  • 6.5-inch diagonal high-resolution color display with touch-screen control
  • Bluetooth with hands-free (for phone calls) and A2DP audio-streaming protocol support
  • Address book download and hands-free calling
  • USB port
  • Auxiliary audio input port
  • Steering wheel controls
  • Enhanced voice recognition powered by Nuance
  • AM/FM/HD Audio CD/MP3 CD
  • SiriusXM Satellite Radio and data services, including available NavTraffic
  • Selected smartphone apps can be controlled through the IntelliLink interface via the touch-screen, steering wheel controls or voice commands. The first apps to be supported are Pandora and Stitcher
  • Supports playback of MP3 files stored on flash memory drives.

IntelliLink is standard on all Enclave models, including those with the available navigation system and DVD capability. The IntelliLink screen also serves as the display for the standard rearview camera system.

A premium 10-speaker Bose audio system with 5.1 surround sound is available and is optimized for the Enclave’s refined interior acoustics.

Efficient, smooth driving experience

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

Enclave finds its power in a 3.6L V-6 engine featuring fuel-saving direct injection technology and continuously variable valve timing, matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. Direct injection helps the engine produce power comparable to a V-8 – SAE-certified 288 horsepower (215 Nm) and 270 lb-ft of torque (366 Nm) – with good efficiency. EPA fuel economy estimates of 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models are very competitive with other three-row crossovers and utilities.

The strong V-6 engine also enables Enclave to tow up to 4,500 pounds (2,045 kg) when properly equipped, and it can be flat-towed in both FWD and AWD configurations. The available intelligent all-wheel-drive (AWD) system provides increased traction on slippery roads by actively managing the torque distribution between the front and rear axles, based on factors such as wheel speed, throttle and surface conditions. There is no driver intervention; the system automatically decides how much torque to apply and delivers it to the wheels that have the best traction.

Enclave has a long 118.9-inch (3,021 mm) wheelbase, with a wide 67.3-inch (1,709 mm) front track and 67.1-inch (1,704 mm) rear track – a combination that enables smooth, stable ride and handling characteristics. Additional chassis and suspension features include:

  • MacPherson strut front suspension, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar and aluminum knuckles. Isolated mounting points help reduce noise and vibration
  • Compact linked “H” design rear suspension, with an isolated mounting system to reduce noise and vibration transmitted to the passenger compartment
  • Power-assisted, variable-effort rack-and-pinion steering
  • Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock are standard on all models, with additional brake features including dynamic rear proportioning, hydraulic brake boost and panic brake assist
  • Nineteen-inch wheels are standard and 20-inch wheels are available.

Safety features

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

The Enclave includes the industry’s first standard front center side air bag. It was developed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes. It deploys from the inboard side of the driver’s seat and positions itself between the driver and front passenger, delivering a more comprehensive occupant restraint system.

Standard safety features also include StabiliTrak, traction control, panic brake assist, rearview camera system and seven air bags – including head-curtain side air bags covering outboard occupants in all three passenger rows.

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

A number of camera- and radar-based safety features are offered on Enclave. They monitor areas around the vehicle and provide alerts to help the driver avoid collisions. Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are radar-based, while Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning are camera-based.

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

2016 Buick Enclave © General Motors

Forward Collision Alert detects a possible crash threat and alerts the driver, giving him or her extra time to stop and/or change course. With Side Blind Zone Alert, the driver is alerted to vehicles in the blind sport during a lane-change or merging maneuver.

OnStar details

Six months of OnStar Guidance service is standard on Enclave. OnStar is the global leading provider of connected safety, security and mobility solutions and advanced information technology.

OnStar’s RemoteLink Mobile App allows smartphone users to control vehicle functions, access vehicle information and send directions directly to the vehicle. An opt-in service called FamilyLink allows subscribers to stay connected to loved ones by checking the location of their vehicle online or by signing up for vehicle location alerts.

Five years of OnStar Basic Plan includes RemoteLink Key Fob Services, allowing owners to remotely start and lock/unlock a car (if properly equipped), and activate the horn and lights from anywhere with a data connection. It also includes OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, which runs monthly checks of a vehicle’s engine, transmission, antilock brakes and more, and Dealer Maintenance Notification, which sends diagnostic report directly to a preferred dealer to make service scheduling simple.

Price

Recommended retail price (MSRP) starts from $39,065

Overview

Models:


Buick Enclave FWD/AWD 


Body style / driveline:


crossover / front-engine; front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive


Construction:


body-frame integral


EPA vehicle class:


sport-utility vehicle


Manufacturing location:


Lansing Delta Township Assy. Plant, Lansing, Mich.


Key competitors:


Infiniti JX, Acura MDX, Lexus RX350,Volvo XC90 and Audi Q7


Engine

Type:


3.6L V-6 VVT DI


Displacement (cu in / cc):


217 / 3564


Bore & stroke (in / mm):


3.7 x 3.37 / 94 x 85.6


Block material:


cast aluminum with cast-in bore liners


Cylinder head material:


cast aluminum


Valvetrain:


dual overhead camshafts, four valves per cylinder, continuously variable valve timing


Fuel delivery:


direct injection


Compression ratio:


11.3:1


Horsepower (hp / kW) @ rpm:


288 / 215 @ 6300 (SAE certified)


Torque (lb-ft / Nm) @ rpm:


270 / 366 @ 3400 (SAE certified)


Recommended fuel:


regular unleaded


Max. engine rpm (fuel cutoff):


6700


EPA-estimated fuel economy (city / hwy):


17 / 24 (FWD)

16 / 22 (AWD)


Transmission

Type:


Hydra-Matic 6T75 6-speed FWD/AWD automatic transmission


Gear Ratio (:1)


 


     First:


4.48


     Second:


2.87


     Third:


1.84


     Fourth:


1.41


     Fifth:


1.0


     Sixth:


0.74


Reverse:


2.88


Final drive ratio:


3.16 (FWD)

3.16 (AWD)                                                                                


Chassis/Suspension

Front:


coil-over strut; direct acting stabilizer bar; full perimeter isolated cradle


Rear:


linked H-arm independent suspension; coil springs with twin tube shock absorbers mounted on isolated sub-frame


Steering type:


hydraulic rack-and-pinion; straight ratio and variable effort


Steering ratio:


16.1


Steer wheel turns, lock-to-lock:


2.89


Turning circle, curb-to-curb

(ft / m):


40.4 / 12.3


Brakes

Type


four-wheel disc


Rotor diameter (in / mm):


front: 12.8 x 1.1 / 325 x 29, ventilated

rear: 13 x 0.8 / 331 x 20, ventilated


Anti-lock braking system (ABS):


Bosch 8.0 Chassis Controls: ABS / ETC / ESC w/rollover mitigation


Wheels/Tires

Wheel size and type:


19 x 8-in; machined aluminum (std on 1SL)

19 x 8-in.; chrome-clad aluminum (opt on 1SL, std on 1SN)

20 x 7.5-in; machined aluminum (opt on 1SN)

20 x 7.5-in; chrome-clad aluminum with bronze pockets (std with Tuscan Edition and opt on 1SL and 1SN)


Tire size and type:


P255/60R19 ALS blackwall

P255/55R20 H-rated blackwall


Dimensions

Exterior

Wheelbase (in / mm):


118.9 / 3021


Overall length (in / mm):


201.9 / 5127


Overall width (in / mm):


79 / 2006


Overall height


 


     With luggage rack (in / mm):


71.7 / 1822


     Without luggage rack (in / mm):


70.3 / 1785


Track


 


     Front (in / mm):


67.3 / 1709


     Rear (in / mm):


67.1 / 1704


Curb weight (lb / kg):


4724 / 2108 (FWD)

4922 / 2233 (AWD)


Ground clearance (in / mm):


 7.6 / 194


Interior

Seating capacity:


7 or 8


Headroom


 


     First row (in /mm):


40.4 / 1026 (w/o moonroof); 38.6 / 979 (w/ moonroof)


     Second row (in / mm):


39.4 / 1000 (w/o moonroof); 38.8 / 984 (w/ moonroof)


     Third row (in / mm):


37.8 / 959


Legroom


 


     First row (in / mm):


41.3 / 1050


     Second row (in / mm):


36.8 / 934


     Third row (in / mm):


33.2 / 843


Shoulder room


 


     First row (in / mm):


61.6 / 1564


     Second row (in / mm):


61.3 / 1558


     Third row (in / mm):


57.4 / 1458


Hip room


 


     First row (in / mm):


57.2 / 1452


     Second row (in / mm):


57 / 1448


     Third row (in / mm):


48.3 / 1227


Cargo volume (cu ft / L)


 


Behind first row with second seat folded and third-row seat and cargo management system removed:


115.2 / 3263


Behind second row with third-row seat and cargo management system removed:


68.9 / 1951


Behind third row with cargo management system removed:


23.3 / 660


Capacities

EPA passenger volume (cu ft / L):


151.1 / 4277


Fuel tank (gal / L):


22 / 83


Engine oil (qt / L):


5.5 / 5.2


Transmission fluid (qt / L):


9.5 / 9.0 (Dexron VI only)


Cooling system (qt / L):


11.8 / 11.2


Max towing capacity (lb / kg):


4500 / 2045


GVWR (lb / kg):


6411 / 2908 (FWD) 

6459 / 2930 (AWD)


4.2 Out of 5
EXTERIOR STYLE / DESIGN
INTERIOR & SPACE
EQUIPMENT & FEATURES
LUXURY FEATURES
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE
COMFORT & QUALITY
HANDLING & BRAKING
PRICE & FUEL EFFICIENCY