Buick Enclave Presents Strong Competition

Anthony Fontanelle
June 11, 2007

As General Motors tries to turn around its flailing Buick division, it has injected its lineup with a new luxury crossover SUV in the form of the Buick Enclave. The said full-size crossover is the newest addition to the increasingly competitive segment of crossover SUV in the United States auto market.

One of the strong selling points of the Enclave is its ability to comfortably accommodate up to seven passengers. Among its competition is the already established model Acura MDX which has received a recommendation from Consumer Reports. The Lexus RX350 is also one of the toughest competitions for the Enclave and it too was given a recommendation by Consumer Reports. The Audi Q7 and the Volvo XC90 are its most successful European rivals.

But while the luxury crossover segment is filled with established models, the Enclave is touted to set a benchmark in its class. Its interior space is complemented by its sharp handling which is a very good improvement over previous Buick autos.

According to its manufacturer, the luggage capacity of the Enclave is 18.9 cubic feet even with the third row of seat in its upright position. The Enclave has an under-the-floor storage space which gives it a distinct advantage over some of its competition. With the third row of seats folded down, luggage capacity goes up to 115.1 cubic feet. The said space is 30 cubic foot more than the Volvo XC90 which has the second largest luggage space in its segment.

Aside from the cavernous luggage space and the sharper handling, the Enclave also has one of the quietest interior in its segment. Triple door seals and laminated glass reduces the amount of outside noise getting inside the vehicle. The engine’s sound is also lessened with the use of General Motors’ engine acoustics architecture.

From the outside, the Enclave is as good looking as its competitions. Inside, the Buick sports quality materials which in the past have not been present in a Buick. As far as entertainment is concerned, the CXL trim level of the Enclave is equipped with a six-disc Bose audio system. Other features include the telescoping steering wheel, a rear park assist system and a power side mirrors.

General Motors used the Lambda platform for the Enclave as well as the GMC Acadia and the Saturn Outlook. This means that these three newcomers share some components like the Saturn radiator hose and some electrical components.

Powering the Enclave is a 3.6-liter V6 engine which is designed to provide 275 horsepower and 251 lb-ft of torque. The engine reaches redline at about 6,000 revolutions per minute. It is coupled to a six-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave can come in a two-wheel drive or an all-wheel drive configuration. Its engine has a variable valve timing feature which reduces fuel consumption to some degree.

Along with the GMC Acadia and the Saturn Outlook, General Motors sees the Buick Enclave as one of the vehicles that will help the company tackle its financial woes. Aside from these three, General Motors is also rumored to come up with a new Chevrolet crossover which will also use the Lambda platform.

Source:  Amazines.com