Buick is a middle child.
GM’s SUV brand isn’t as ritzy as Cadillac, isn’t as truck-y as a GMC, and isn’t as affordable as a Chevy.
Instead, it’s a cushy brand with a supreme focus on passenger comfort. The redesigned 2025 Buick Enclave is a great example.
I spent a week test-driving the highest-end version of the three-row SUV in New York City. The experience came with a complimentary tank of gas and coverage for the city’s endless tolls, leaving me with mixed impressions.
On the bright side, the three-row SUV’s design updates are a significant improvement over last year’s.
This model features a boxier and more assertive design compared to the previous rounder version. It boasts wide-spanning LEDs at the rear, an enormous front grille, and a side profile resembling a solid brick.
Inside, the SUV occupies a cozy, in-between lane that was much appreciated for stressful New York driving.
The wash of subway train clangs, honking taxis, and construction hammering melted away the second the door shut.
The newly sculpted Buick Enclave is a major upgrade over the outgoing, curvy family hauler
Comfort is a highlight, with nearly every seat offering exceptional comfort. The driver’s seat is positioned ideally for a clear view over the extended hood. The captain’s chairs in the second row provide excellent support, and even the rear seat is cozy.
But I wouldn’t recommend putting adults in the third row for extended road trips.
Priced starting at $46,200, the Enclave offers a more affordable option compared to other luxury SUVs with similar amenities, such as the Lexus RX, Audi Q7, or Volvo XC90, which range from $50,000 to $80,000.
We tested the Avenir trim, which includes features like self-parking, highway self-driving capabilities, Wi-Fi, a digital rearview mirror, and distinctive blue-painted cladding, with a price tag of $65,125.
Drivers who don’t need the tech and luxury updates can opt for the lower-priced Preferred and Sport Touring trims.
However, those drivers can wave goodbye to the second-row heated seats, dual-tone interior, and ambient door lighting.
However, the SUV does have several notable drawbacks. Despite its aggressive and truck-like exterior, the Enclave’s driving performance doesn’t quite match its looks.
Like so many large SUVs in today’s market, the Enclave receives inspiration from a turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
The Encore undercuts several luxury SUVs on price – but the powertrain won’t feel as refined
The Enclave features GM’s highway self-driving tech and dual-tone interior colors – but only on the top trim
The engine is prone to hesitation.
Multiple times, the power setup felt clunky off the line, and the transmission loudly searched for the right gear.
Despite the smaller engine, fuel economy also isn’t a bragging point: the Enclave returned 21 mpg in our test.
Still, the point of the Enclave isn’t to thrill. It’s to cocoon.
And, so long as drivers aren’t planning on winning drag races and skipping the gas station, it’s largely successful at what it sets out to do.
This is the kind of vehicle for buyers who want comfort, quiet, and technology wrapped in a handsome package – all without destroying the bank.
