2017 Buick Enclave Review
2017 Buick Enclave Review





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Edmunds' Expert Review
by the Edmunds Experts
Pros
- Smooth ride even when the road isn't
- Seating for up to eight and cargo space to match
- Peace of mind that comes with top safety scores
Cons
- It's a big crossover and drives like one
- Disappointing acceleration and fuel economy
- Infotainment and climate controls are behind the times
- Interior quality could leave some wanting more
Vehicle overview
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.
2017 Enclave Highlights
Convenience Group
- Combined MPG
- 18 MPG
- Cost to Drive
- $222/month
- Seating
- 7 seats
- Drivetrain
- front wheel drive
- Engine Type
- Gas
- Warranty
- 4 years / 50,000 miles
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.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
Do you need a big three-row crossover SUV that can shuttle lots of people and cargo? The 2017 Buick Enclave could be for you. Besides its utilitarian abilities, it's also pleasant to drive.
Driving
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.
Interior
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.
2017 Buick Enclave models
The 2017 Buick Enclave is a three-row crossover available in three trim levels: Convenience, Leather and Premium.
Every Enclave comes standard with second-row captain's chairs and seven-passenger capacity. A second-row bench seat, which increases passenger capacity to eight, is optional on the Leather and Premium models.
Standard equipment for the Convenience trim level, which is only offered on front-wheel-drive versions, includes 19-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon headlights, heated side mirrors, rear privacy glass, a power liftgate, rear parking sensors, remote engine start, tri-zone automatic climate control, an eight-way power driver seat (plus two-way lumbar adjustment), a two-way power front passenger seat, a leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, cruise control and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
The list of standard electronics includes OnStar telematics (with 4G LTE and onboard Wi-Fi hot spot), Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a rearview camera, a 6.5-inch touchscreen display, Buick's IntelliLink interface (which includes voice control and smartphone radio app integration), dual USB charge ports, and a six-speaker sound system that includes a CD player, an auxiliary audio input jack, a USB audio interface and satellite radio.
Stepping up to the Leather trim level adds leather upholstery, heated front seats, eight-way power adjustment for the front passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, driver memory settings and a blind-spot warning system with rear cross-traffic alert.
The top-of-the-line Premium model includes all of the above, plus 19-inch chrome-clad alloy wheels, adaptive headlights, power-folding mirrors (with auto-dimming on the driver side), forward collision alert, lane departure warning, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable steering column, a navigation system and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system.
Options on the Leather and Premium models include 20-inch alloy wheels, a dual-panel sunroof, a rear-seat video entertainment system and a towing package. The available Tuscan Edition and Sport Touring Edition packages provide distinctive trim and wheels with bronze and satin black finishes, respectively.
All 2017 Buick Enclaves come with a 3.6-liter V6 that produces 288 horsepower and 270 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard, and all-wheel drive is optional on Leather and Premium models. Properly equipped with the optional towing package, the Enclave can tow up to 4,500 pounds.
In Edmunds performance testing, an all-wheel-drive Enclave went from zero to 60 mph in 8.2 seconds, which is slower than average for large crossovers, some of which are equipped with more powerful V8 engines.
The EPA estimates that a front-wheel-drive Enclave will return 18 mpg combined (15 city/22 highway). Adding all-wheel drive brings that number down slightly to 17 mpg combined (15 city /22 highway). These are below-average fuel economy numbers for a large, V6-powered crossover.
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Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2017 Buick Enclave.
5 star(48%)
4 star(30%)
3 star(4%)
2 star(18%)
1 star(0%)
27 reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
5 out of 5 stars
Love this Car!
Ruby, 01/06/2018
2017 Buick Enclave Premium Group 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
We own a 2017 Enclave with all the bells and whistles. We bought it used. It is the best ride we have ever owned. Took it to Canada for a two-day drive both ways, my husband did the driving. He said it was amazing how easy it was to drive and he didn't feel worn out. My ride was so comfy.
2 out of 5 stars
Love the car but not reliable
Erik, 11/13/2017
2017 Buick Enclave Premium Group 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
We bought the car new with 24 miles on a Friday. Drove it on a roughly 200 mile road trip over the weekend and Tuesday the power steering goes out. We take it to the dealer and they keep it until Wednesday afternoon and tell us it was the power steering pump that was bad. They say they replaced it so we thought the problem was over. Thursday my wife says the power steering is out … again. I drove right to where she was and by the time I got there it was working. Friday morning everything worked great and then Friday afternoon around 2:00 it went out again. This time I was home and felt it. The dealership picked it up from the house because we refused to drive it until the problem is fixed. We have been very disappointed with the purchase because we love the car, the interior , the exterior, etc. but now we have a car that we payed a lot of money for that my wife is scared to drive!! We are probably about to start lemon law paper work as the dealership refuses to trade it for what we payed towards a different one. They are offering around $8,000 less to swap to a different Enclave.
4 out of 5 stars
Buick luxury
Marie, 09/11/2017
2017 Buick Enclave Leather Group 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
Beautiful car. Terrible gas mileage. $70 a month and I'm retired so don't use the car daily. REALLY wish that it had front end collision protection but that is on the next higher model. Lots of technical goodies that I don't understand. I have to take my eyes off of the road to make adjustments very dangerous. For example the rear windshield wipers are controlled by a switch UNDER the … radio. You have to look down to use it. Much worse than texting. Controls need to be moved up to within eyesight and radio needs to be moved down. NEEDS a bigger brake pedal. My foot is frequently slipping off of it. I'm 63 and 5'2" and might be different for others. The brakes have a problem with lag. If you press them gently they don’t react until you press harder. Very disconcerting. I actually love the car but it needs a redesign especially on the dash controls.
3 out of 5 stars
4th Enclave a curse?
paul berntson, 10/05/2017
2017 Buick Enclave Premium Group 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A)
We drive about 40,000 miles a year. just traded a 2016 Premium (66,000 miles) for a 2017 Premium. While driving home with the new car, only 4 miles of gravel road, a rattle developed somewhere in the dash (at 80 miles). The following morning at 65 mph, against a 25 mph wind, the wind noise was so bad, my wife turned on her cell phone recorder to record the roar so was hearing. The … 2016 was MUCH quieter!! So, with only 300 miles on this one, we are extremely disappointed with the cabin quality! Are we the only ones? Or did Buick cheapen up the 2017's to begin building the 2018's (that won't be out for a couple months yet)?
2017 Buick Enclave video
BRYN MACKINNON: I'm Bryn MacKinnon from Edmunds, and this is an Edmunds expert rundown of the 2017 Buick Enclave. The first thing to know about the 2017 Enclave is that it's not an all new vehicle, unlike its corporate cousin the 2017 GMC Acadia. Instead, the Enclave soldiers on as essentially the same vehicle we had in for a long-term test way back in 2009. On the bright side, that means it's still a remarkably spacious crossover with much more cargo room than the new Acadia. If you want more space, a minivan is just about your only option. The Enclave also offers a smooth ride and seating for up to eight, although we're less impressed by the V6 powertrain's fuel economy and performance. Pop inside the Enclave, and you'll see there's ample passenger space in the second row. You'll also find a roomier third row than what the new Acadia gives you. This isn't the SUV for you if you're looking for the latest features and technology. Upfront, Buick's tried to keep this thing up to date, but there's just no hiding its age from the uninspired dashboard design to the outdated infotainment interface. The bottom line is that the 2017 Enclave's on its last legs. So we'd be remiss not to recommend its newer and more competitive rivals, including the Honda Pilot and the Mazda CX-9, as well as that Acadia we keep mentioning. But the Enclave does have the distinction of being a very roomy crossover. So it has a lot of utility if that's what your family needs. For more Edmunds expert rundowns, click the link to subscribe.
2017 Buick Enclave Expert Rundown
Do you need a big three-row crossover SUV that can shuttle lots of people and cargo? The 2017 Buick Enclave could be for you. Here's a quick rundown of what we like, what we don't and the bottom line from the Edmunds editors.
More about the 2017 Buick Enclave
Used 2017 Buick Enclave Overview
The Used 2017 Buick Enclave is offered in the following submodels: Enclave SUV. Available styles include Leather Group 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A), Convenience Group 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A), Premium Group 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A), Leather Group 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 6A), and Premium Group 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 6A). Pre-owned Buick Enclave models are available with a 3.6 L-liter gas engine, with output up to 288 hp, depending on engine type. The Used 2017 Buick Enclave comes with front wheel drive, and all wheel drive. Available transmissions include: 6-speed shiftable automatic.
What's a good price on a Used 2017 Buick Enclave?
Price comparisons for Used 2017 Buick Enclave trim styles:
- The Used 2017 Buick Enclave Leather Group is priced between $20,589 and$29,998 with odometer readings between 24729 and95676 miles.
- The Used 2017 Buick Enclave Premium Group is priced between $15,995 and$28,998 with odometer readings between 24541 and144455 miles.
- The Used 2017 Buick Enclave Convenience Group is priced between $18,990 and$21,589 with odometer readings between 59593 and88501 miles.
Shop with Edmunds for perks and special offers on used cars, trucks, and SUVs near Ashburn, VA. Doing so could save you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Edmunds also provides consumer-driven dealership sales and service reviews to help you make informed decisions about what cars to buy and where to buy them.
Which used 2017 Buick Enclaves are available in my area?
Shop Edmunds' car, SUV, and truck listings of over 6 million vehicles to find a cheap new, used, or certified pre-owned (CPO) 2017 Buick Enclave for sale near. There are currently 26 used and CPO 2017 Enclaves listed for sale in your area, with list prices as low as $15,995 and mileage as low as 24541 miles. Simply research the type of car you're interested in and then select a used car from our massive database to find cheap prew-owned vehicles for sale near you. Once you have identified a used vehicle you're interested in, check the AutoCheck vehicle history reports, read dealer reviews, and find out what other owners paid for the Used 2017 Buick Enclave.
Can't find a used 2017 Buick Enclaves you want in your area? Consider a broader search.
Find a used Buick Enclave for sale.
Find a used Buick for sale.
Find a used certified pre-owned Buick Enclave for sale.
Find a used certified pre-owned Buick for sale.
Should I lease or buy a 2017 Buick Enclave?
Is it better to lease or buy a car? Ask most people and they'll probably tell you that car buying is the way to go. And from a financial perspective, it's true, provided you're willing to make higher monthly payments, pay off the loan in full and keep the car for a few years. Leasing, on the other hand, can be a less expensive option on a month-to-month basis. It's also good if you're someone who likes to drive a new car every three years or so.
Check out Buick lease specials
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