2017 Buick Enclave Review

If all you're looking for is something to help you fulfill your day-to-day family-schlepping obligations, there are a number of viable choices. But if you're searching for a crossover SUV with seating for eight and a premium interior, your options are more limited. That leads us to the 2017 Buick Enclave, an upscale yet still practical crossover that undercuts luxury-branded rivals on price.

Aside from its distinctive styling, the main differences between the Enclave and the mechanically related Chevrolet Traverse (the GMC Acadia is redesigned this year) can best be experienced from inside the Enclave's remarkably quiet cabin. It rolls down the open road as a big Buick should, with the comfort-tuned suspension soaking up pavement irregularities and the added sound insulation keeping wind and road noise nicely subdued.

The interior has a third-row seat that provides suitable accommodations for larger kids and smaller adults, something few rival three-row models can claim. Getting back there is made easier by wide-opening rear doors and the standard second-row captain's chairs that can slide up and out of the way. If it's hauling capacity you're looking for, the Enclave offers a generous 23.3 cubic feet of space behind the third row and a downright cavernous cargo hold with all the rear seats folded down.

Though the Enclave excels on the highway, it isn't exactly nimble in everyday driving. It's also one of the oldest models in this segment, and this shows up in the Buick's dated infotainment interface and less-than-stellar acceleration and fuel economy. In contrast, the updated 2017 Acura MDX is sportier to drive, has fresher tech features and gets superior fuel economy. You could also shop the Infiniti QX60 and Volvo XC90 for their more luxurious style or top-end versions of the Dodge Durango and Ford Explorer if you want more power. Overall, though, the 2017 Buick Enclave is hard to beat when it comes to affordably transporting multiple passengers in both style and comfort.

The 2017 Buick Enclave is equipped with antilock brakes, stability and traction control, front seat side airbags, side curtain airbags, rear parking sensors and a rearview camera. Also standard is a large airbag that deploys between the front seats; it's designed to protect occupants from colliding with one another in the event of a side impact. The standard OnStar system includes automatic crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, an emergency button, stolen vehicle locator and active intervention, and remote door unlock.

The Leather and Premium models include rear cross-traffic alert and a blind-spot warning system. The Premium trim also gets forward collision alert and lane departure warning systems, both of which are available on the Leather trim level as extra-cost options.

In Edmunds brake testing, an Enclave with the standard 19-inch wheels came to a stop from 60 mph in 120 feet, which is a few feet better than average for this class. An Enclave with the optional 20-inch wheels halted in 126 feet.

In government crash tests, the Enclave earned a top five-star rating for overall crash protection, with five stars for total front-impact protection and five stars for total side-impact protection. The Enclave also did well in Insurance Institute for Highway Safety tests, earning the highest possible rating of Good in the moderate-overlap front-impact test as well as the side-impact, roof strength, and head restraint (whiplash protection) tests.

The 2017 Buick Enclave is a three-row crossover available in three trim levels: Convenience, Leather and Premium.

The Enclave's 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic powertrain is adequate in everyday driving, but it runs out of juice in situations where full-throttle acceleration is called for, such as passing a slower vehicle on a two-lane road. Some rivals, particularly those with turbocharged or V8 engines, are noticeably stronger.

Around town, the 2017 Buick Enclave generally feels like the big, substantial vehicle it is. Maneuvering in tight parking lots can be a challenge, especially because of the hampered rear visibility. On the highway, though, the Enclave excels thanks to its smooth ride and library-quiet cabin.

Inside the 2017 Buick Enclave, you'll find a space that's attractively designed. It's not as plush as some true luxury models, but there are few touches (such as the padded vinyl trim on the dash with its contrasting stitching) that help establish the upscale vibe.

From the driver's perspective, the dash is centered around the 6.5-inch touchscreen of Buick's IntelliLink infotainment system, which allows for smartphone and app integration. The screen is mounted a little lower than the pilot's natural sightline, making it necessary to take your eyes off the road for longer than we'd like. The system's built-in menus are intuitive, though the touchscreen can be slow to respond to some inputs and the inherent complexity means it can take awhile to get comfortable with finding what you're looking for. Climate controls use three easy-to-manipulate knobs, though some of the surrounding buttons are on the small side.

As for the rest of the occupants, those in the first and second rows have more than enough head- and legroom. That said, the bottom cushions on the second-row seats are a bit low, which can make taller adults a tad uncomfortable unless they slide their seats all the way back. Of course, doing so puts a serious dent in third-row legroom.

Speaking of that third row, it offers decent legroom for teens and small adults as long as those second-row occupants are willing to forgo sliding their seats back. One downside is that rear visibility is extremely limited when all seats are occupied.

The Enclave's spaciousness extends to its cargo hold. For starters, there's more space here behind the third-row seat than most rivals. Fold down the second and third rows of seats, and you have a cavernous space that's ideal for hauling bulky items such as furniture.