Used 2018 Buick Enclave SUV Consumer Reviews
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Road Warrior, Great in Snow
We bought the 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir in February 2018, by September we had 17,000 miles. So have had some time to get to know the car. It is very quiet, capable and comfortable. It is outstanding on the road, handles well in all ice, snow, rain, black ice conditions, as well as on dry road. Evens out the bumps, very comfortable on road trips, ride and noise cancelling are exceptional. It is the least fatiguing car I have ever had, I arrive after 5 to 10 hours of driving relaxed. Averaging almost 27 MPG, have had several tanks that were over 30 MPG. The FWD works great and is more than adequate for most snow conditions. The AWD also works well and is good for snows up to 10-12 inches, over that it gets high centered. It is sure-footed and handling is very measured on icy and wet curves. I should add that my wife likes it much better than her BMW X5. Ride is vastly superior, oh and it burns regular! In short, a very happy owner. Oh be sure to buy the deep rubber all weather mats, they are great. March 2020 update, we now have 2 years diving experince with the car and have logged 51,000 miles. It is without any doubt the best car we have ever owned. Other than routined maintence it has been trouble free, with one exception. In May 2019, after pulling away from a parking lot, the car started to buck and surge llike a bronco. My wife and I were terrified, turned the car off and had it towed to the dealer. They said ithere was programming fix which GM hoped would fix the problem and it largly did. About 5 months later, there was some hesittaion in upshifting on hills at low speeds, once again. They reprogrammed the transmission control module with the lastest software update and there have been no issues since then. Overall, the vehicle is excellent, nimble and controlled when pushing it in tight curves, great highway cruiser. Great predictable handling in the ice and snow conditions of northern Wisconsin. One sugestion for GM, wtith the 20 inch tires, sometimes the snow will build up in the wheelwells. If they could add a heating element to the friont wheelwells, this would eliminate the bounching problem and the need to chop out the accumulated ice and snow. A heating element for the front windshield wipers would be useful as well. These are constructive comments, I love the vehicle and would buy another!
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It’s been 5 years
Still happy and enjoying the car but still cautiously optimistic that everything holds together for the next five years.
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- Essence 4dr SUVMSRP: $17,39117 mi away
- Essence 4dr SUVMSRP: $15,99516 mi away
- Essence 4dr SUVMSRP: $23,99813 mi away
In the shop!
Bought the 2018 Enclave last month. 2 days after purchase, vehicle would not engage out of low. Called and dealership immediately sent a tow truck to pick up the vehicle. Did not find out the cause, even though 8 error messages were recorded. Was told the vehicle was reprogrammed and had no problems when they drove it. 232 miles worth. Went 2 weeks without an issue. 3 days ago I could not back the vehicle out of the garage. After repeating putting the vehicle in reverse, then park 5 times, I decided to put the vehicle in D with my foot on the brake then transition to R. This procedure worked. I backed out of the garage and drove straight to the dealership. That was Thursday morning. This is Sunday. No solution yet. Both issues have to do with the transmission. I will NEVER buy a GM vehicle again. Update-Received a call from the dealership today. (Monday). GM engineers gave them instructions on what to look for. Dealership could not fix the problem. Engine light still displayed. Sent those results back to GM. Have to wait on GM for next step. Talk of putting me in a new vehicle because if they can’t fix the problem, the “Lemon Law” will take effect. Will update with final result.
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Enclave great size, power, poor engine lifespan
Just sold after 7 years. Read bottom of review. The 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir just arrived in AZ the last week of October. I had been looking for a car for a year to replace my 2012 Lexus RX 350. I was about ready to give up on finding a car with a good ride, that is quiet, has room for adults on long drives, and is still able to fit in a parking space. Oh yeah, and it had to have a decent engine. These are the attributes of the Lexus brand, but I find the new Lexus just mean-looking. I test drove all SUVs: Honda, Toyota, Porsche Cayenne, Audi Q5 Q7 SQ5, Chevy Traverse, Jaguar, Acura, GMC. I like to think I pretty much covered the universe and I liked the Buick best. It is extremely quiet and yet has the guts to handle a high speed pass 70 to 90 smoothly. The long wheel base and great suspension give it a very smooth ride. This was not the most fun car I drove, but it was the most practical. We don't need the 3rd row often, but I like the immense storage with easy parking. BTW, the most fun car was not the Porsche, but the Audi SQ5. I would highly recommend it for a sporty 2 row. Buick has upped its game and matched the prestige badges with a 4 year, 50,000 mile warranty. The Avenir trim is worth the money over the premium. Looks better and seems quieter. If any of my checklist matches yours, go drive the Buick. Update after 1 year of ownership: The weird shift pattern for the electronic shifter is just plain dumb. There was no reason to change. Way too easy to shift into Park while moving. Transmission can get lost on rare occasions while shifting. LOVE the car overall. I would buy it again. Update after four years: Software update has helped the transmission, but of course not the shift pattern. Some work done under warranty, water pump failed early, but overall not many trips to the shop. Personally, I am ready for something new, but this seems like I will get another 4 years and 50,000 miles out of it without much problem. The car, even in this crazy used car market, has depreciated 50% in 4 years. That is disappointing. Interior space, drivability, quiet, smooth are all still true. Would I buy again? Probably. However with the steep depreciation, I think a 2 or 3 year old car is a much better value. Update after 7 years. I have sold the car because my repair shop told me that it looked like repairs were coming, after only 60,000 miles. Very disappointing that the car could not make it past 60k miles without a significant investment. Paid $60,000, sold for $20k which was KBB Blue Book value. I still like the size and power, but build quality under the hood was not great. I am not purchasing again. I will purchase a Lexus/Toyota product, known for their reliability.
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Buick has raised the bar
Purchased the 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir FWD after test driving the BMW X5 and Audi A7. Both the BMW and Audi are excellent vehicles but do not match the smooth quiet ride of the Avenir trim level of the Enclave. The interior gives the passengers an exceedingly quiet ride while moving effortlessly down the road. The sound system is just outstanding and the technology control panel is easy to learn and use. Passenger safety is enhanced with features that keep you at a safe distance from vehicles in front and blind spot awareness. Have not found a better value in this price range.
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The Best One Yet!
We've owned 2008 and 2012 Enclaves so we are familiar with the car. Coming from a series of minivans we loved the look of the 2008 Enclave, and the 2018 is a great improvement on the original. The Avenir is quieter, more luxurious, thriftier and more comfortable than the earlier versions. I particularly like the switchable AWD which lets us run in FWD most of the time. The technology is amazing: we especially like the 'birds-eye-view' and the camera rear view mirror, though both took a bit of getting used to 'em. A feature not available on any non-GM suv is the OnStar app which lets us remotely start the engine. Arriving at the airport and being able to warm the car while waiting for our luggage is a real plus. We looked at most of the 3-row suv's available and, for price, features, cosmetics, and overall quality, nothing bests the Avenir, IMHO! Update: Now that we have some miles on the car I can add some additional comments. The car has remained trouble-free and enjoyable to drive, especially long distances. We've got the 2018-9 Enclave-specific roof racks for our car top carrier...you cannot get a generic rack, btw. My wife really like the automatic high beams but is less interested in the trick rear view mirror or the adaptive cruise control. The automatic emergency braking works well and, as aging baby boomers we both like all the safety features. I'll buy an (electric?) 2021 Enclave!
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The Best One Yet!
We've owned 2008 and 2012 Enclaves so we are familiar with the car. Coming from a series of minivans we loved the look of the 2008 Enclave, and the 2018 is a great improvement on the original. The Avenir is quieter, more luxurious, thriftier and more comfortable than the earlier versions. I particularly like the switchable AWD which lets us run in FWD most of the time. The technology is amazing: we especially like the 'birds-eye-view' and the camera rear view mirror, though both took a bit of getting used to 'em. A feature not available on any non-GM suv is the OnStar app which lets us remotely start the engine. Arriving at the airport and being able to warm the car while waiting for our luggage is a real plus. We looked at most of the 3-row suv's available and, for price, features, cosmetics, and overall quality, nothing bests the Avenir, IMHO!
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A must test drive.....
Each person has their own personality and style and so do vehicles. You must match your personality to the vehicle to truly love your car. So why do I rate the 2018 Buick Enclave Essence a must test drive? As a disabled Veteran who (let's face it) hurts everywhere all the time, I find the Buick Enclave to be the most comfortable and luxurious of the SUV's. The seats envelop you and hug you like the warm embrace of a mother to her child. No exaggeration. When I open the door either front or back (except third row) I can slide into my seat without having to contort my body just to get in. In the third row once you fold the middle seat up you can get right in and the back seats are just as comfortable and roomy. It drives like a luxury vehicle should with little to almost no road noise. My advice is to ask the dealer to take it with you when looking at other vehicles to compare. When you test drive one get back into the Buick and drive it again. You will see what I am talking about. One draw back.....seatbelts in middle seat tend to not let you lean forward to adjust middle climate controls when moving. Oh...Get middle captain seats.
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A couple minor things Buick missed
We leased a the Buick Avenir about a month ago and there are a few things that Buick missed. 1. Rain sensing wipers. On a 60K car, you’d think this would be available but it’s not even offered. I have them on my 2017 Dodge Durango Citadel and it’s a great convenience. 2. Pre sets for driver power seats. Most cars have a button 1 and button 2 and the Enclave does. Issue is, you can’t just press the button like most cars, but you have to hold the button down until the seats gets to your programmed position. My wife is 5’-4” and I’m 6’-2” so it takes 15-20 seconds of me standing and holding the button until my seats go back to their pre set position 3. Driver seat is too narrow. I read a couple reviews that complained about it and I have to agree. If you’re over 200 pounds, it will be tight.
Gas gauge and transmission problem
Just ran out of gas for the second time in 4 months. The gauge reads over 1/8 of tank and digital reading over 65 miles till empty. First time thought it was a fluke as it happened with less than 2000 miles. Today same thing again with 7000 miles. Clearly a factory setting problem. Bigger issue is old behavior of transmission. Went into neutral going down the road. Would not engage several times into drive or reverse and required multiple attempts.
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Reliable 3-row — updated 7/31/21
In May 2019 we bought a 2018 Enclave Premium front drive demo with 4700 miles on it and $10,000 off the MSRP. Our other cars are a 2017 Cadillac CT6 and a 2010 Suzuki Grand Vitara. The dealer was Yates Buick/GMC in Goodyear, AZ, and I have no complaints with them — they do what dealers do (and they were only 2 miles away). I researched the Enclave for several weeks before buying: watched all the video reviews; read the printed reviews; checked out the comparison reviews. The new Kia Telluride was a consideration but they were new and hard to find. After 5 weeks of driving the Enclave around locally and one 250 mile circle (including 35 miles of rough dirt road), we took a one month, 5700 mile round trip to Florida, picking up 2 grandkids and son and baggage. (Filled it to the brim but really could’ve used a Suburban.) The Enclave ran well, averaged 26 mpg, accommodated all of us, WiFi took care of the kids, SiriusXM & a/c for the adults. No mechanical problems. reasonably comfortable, spacious, pretty quiet. Now it’s over 11,000 miles, had its first oil change, tire rotation, safety inspection, and so far so good. Things I don’t like: - glovebox doesn’t lock. - flimsy, fluttering, buzzing sunroof shade. - should have all around view camera and a front-view camera (probably on Avenier model). - could use a few more storage bins. A cubby in the left dash and a drawer under the passenger seat and captains chairs. Should be a bin in the rear of the console (GMC Acadia has that). - cargo area cover needs to be removed when using third row seats. There’s no specific area to stow it nor another place further back to install it and cover the rearmost cargo area. - Should have the camera rear view mirror (Avenier has it) for a wider view. - seats aren’t as comfortable as I hoped. Could be the a/c plumbing inside the cushions but they feel lumpy after several hours. Also, the lumbar support only moves in and out but not up and down. - no rain detecting, auto windshield wipers - pretty noisy with sunroof or windows open - I’ve had better sun visor from GM. Need a 2-piece, extending visor like the Cadillac DTS had. Or maybe a little wider. - can’t believe it doesn’t have cargo management system with sliding rails and bars like Cadillac and GMC. - not a flat cargo floor with all seats down. Too much gap between middle row captains chairs. Captains chairs slide fore and aft but not side to side. Things I like: - navigation (although it did take us through some doubtful routes 3 times). - the driver’s info screen. - plenty of USB charging ports - good headlights - good a/c with vents in the ceiling for the back rows - smooth ride, fairly quiet (my idea of ‘quiet’ is living room quiet, which I haven’t found yet — no road/tire noise, engine/trans noise, etc) - good turning-radius for something this big - the under console storage bin (other owners complain of the shifter but I like the lower storage bin that the electronic shifter allows) - the size (depth) of the console storage bin, 2-level storage. - regular gas and good highway mpg (26-28), OK in town (16-18). - reasonable power from FWD, non-turbo V-6 - access to the third-row seats Jul 2021 update: Still liking this Enclave. We took it on a 3rd run from AZ to NC (4000 mi). 26-27 mpg on interstate. At 2019 Phoenix auto show I went through other SUVs and realized the Enclave is a good package. (And I was looking for a reason to switch. It’s not perfect, but at it’s price point I can’t find a reason to change unless we moved up to an Avenir trim level.) Likes: Good headlights. WiFi when hauling kids. Too bad it doesn’t work when car is off and sitting in the garage — I’d cancel our twice-as-expensive home WiFi service. Gas range between fill-ups — 400 mi. Roominess. Storage bins. Push button start. Shifter — now that I’m habituated in using it. (But because it automatically shifts to Park when I turn it off, I forget to shift back to Park when driving other cars.) Quiet. Infotainment system ease of use. Power folding side mirrors because I always fit it into our garage. Trailer tow package. I use a folding rack to carry more stuff. Good option to have. Dislikes: Seat comfort could be better — it’s like a pipe under my left buttuck and is the same in our CT6 seats. Short trips are no issue so maybe any car gets uncomfortable after 4-8 hours. Lumbar support needs more range of motion. Cheap sunroof shade flutters when driving with open windows. Cargo area cover creaks and clicks. Chrome strip surrounding left side air vent annoyingly reflects on side window and mirror. Second row seats have wide gap between them. Good for accessing 3rd row or separating bickering siblings but not always so good when seats are lowered for hauling stuff. It’s a big car so I wish it had 360 view and front camera. Also a rear view camera in mirror. Update: Aug 2021, traded the 2017 Enclave for a 2021 Enclave Avenir because it was on sale, the dealer offered a decent trade-in price, and the Avenir model had the features I wanted. So no more updates on the 2018 Enclave -- it's been traded.
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Screwed in Kutztown
I had the 2013 Enclave. It was everything as advertised. I loved that car. The shaft bearings went on it and I should have paid the $5k to fix it. However, I thought why not just buy the new designed for 2018. Big mistake. I thought it was just an outside design. However, they changed the design of the front seats (and I guess the back). Made them smaller and you sit on the structural member of the outside bolsters. Structure pressure point creates pain in the legs and the Lumbar does not completely retract which causes back pain. I can not drive this car for more than 15-20 minutes without having to get out. I wanted to travel cross country with it. Not now. My better half complains about the passengers seat also. I am presently trying to figure out where to position seating pads to prevent different back and leg pains. DO NOT BUY THIS CAR if you are not young and narrowly skinny. Pretty automobile but everytime I look at it I see pain. Kinda like the first snow fall to the painful shoveling of the 10th. However I am very pleased with our Dealership. I traded in the 2018 Enclave "even-up" for a 2017 leftover XT5 Caddy. Nice people.
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Horrible front seats-
Beautiful car. Quiet. Many desirable features. Lots of storage room providing great utility. Drives nicely .Brakes are excellent. Reasonable ride . However the front seats are VERY poor being TOO narrow and a structural member in the side bolsters on each side catches one under the hips creating a uncomfortable pressure point. Seat backs are TOO narrow pressuring ones rib cage. I am 6"-3" 225lbs. My 2014 Enclave has perfect front seats that are very comfy . How Buick engineers could put these poor quality seats in a large luxury SUV is very surprising . Why Buick would completely redesign the seats to this new configuration ,when past seats were comfortable, is poor management and development. I am also disappointed in the lack of a CD player and the Start/Stop system ; but these are not deal breakers. I am now looking at other makes of full size SUVs after owning three Enclaves since 2008 but may drive my 2014 Enclave another year . Again very disappointed in BUICK.
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Uncomfortable front seats
I purchased a 2018 Enclave Avenir and was looking forward to the new features and comfort of this model. Car performance met my expectations. However after extended driving times the front seats are extremely uncomfortable. To the point that the circulation in the legs might be a problem. My wife experienced the same thing in the front passenger seat. The side bolsters in the front seats are narrowed to the point they hit you in the hip area and thighs. Due to the lack of concern or satisfaction from Buick or the dealer with a vehicle with 3,00 miles on it, I have had to purchase front seat cushions in order to use this vehicle. Goodbye GM.
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Engine Issues after having for a year
This car has started acting very strangely lately. Every day at random times when I start the car it doesn’t seem to want to turn over right away, and start. This has left me thinking it’s not going to. Took it to dealership and they said it was the high pressure filter, so they replaced it, that was 2 days ago. Today same issue but took even longer, I really thought I had a problem today. Now dealer is taking it again to check. Another issue is that the air conditioner has a loud hiss from time to time. Loud enough to hear over music.
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Not a van but plenty of room for moving
This replaced a 2005 Buick Terazza minivan that had 198765 miles on it. Being we are moving to the mountains of North Carolina, was not sure how many more of the 6 to 8% mountain grades the Terazza was going to be able to take. Purchased the Enclave new and have currently made 2 trips back and forth to the mountains, each time filling the cargo area full. While on the flatland from Illinois to Kentucky, kept it in FWD and upon hitting the mountains, put it into AWD and turn on towing mode. This works great for keeping the brakes from over heating when going down an 8% mountain grade. Last trip, which we just completed, averaged out to 27.5 MPG, for full trip. High we achieved was 34.9 MPG, while basically coasting down the mountains with towing mode on. Only issue currently, is I've noticed what seems to be transmission slippage between some of the gears.
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REALLY... no navigation!
$50,000+. Nice ride, but come on, I am not paying OnStar monthly to provide navigation. Will use my phone. $35,000 Ford Fusion we traded in had navigation, adoptive speed control, memory seats/mirrors that adjusted with the tap of a button. Enclave Premier doesn't have navigation nor adoptive speed control. In order to get to your memory seat/mirror position, you have to press and hold the respective memory button while the seat and mirror go through their jerky motions and finally quit. If you let go too soon, that's where you stay. If you mention you have read this observation and want an explanation, be prepared for "well that would seldom be necessary because the system recognizes your key fob and self adjusts". That is usually true, but not always. AND be sure your spouse stays back away from the car in the rain or the system is just as likely to pick up on his/her fob setting. In summary, I have found Toyota and Nissan to be light years ahead of GM in electronics capability. And Ford is then in third place. GM, still using buggy whips for driver convenience.
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9 speed to the curb
Bought this car new in 4/2018. 13,000 miles later I was parking and the car stopped, shifted into Neutral and parking brake came on. Tried everything to shift out of park to move out of the middle of the lot, but as soon as you got the car into neutral and released the parking break, both would re-engage. There is no way to manually over ride to push out of traffic and a special tool is required to physically move the shifter under the hood. Tow trucks came and dragged the car up the ramp because P break wouldn’t disengage. Car has been in shop for over a week and will likely require total tranny replacement.
AWD Premium is the best choice compared to XT5
Originally went in for a test drive of the Cadillac XT5 and found the ride stiff and comfort was harsh for long distance drives - like a BMW 3 series / X1 feel. Then next to it was an Enclave 1SN AWD which was great because it had most of the luxury features from the Cadillac in this great 3 row CUV and priced $10,000 less. AWD is a must as I drive around curvy roads and snowy conditions. This may be my next vehicle! Loved the easy entry/exit feature which helps get older / back injured folks in/out of the car with ease by lowering the seats and pulling them back each time you park the car and then remains that way when you get back in. Seats would then raise and pull you forward to the steering wheel when you start the engine! Because this car is so similar to the XT5 without the price tag - it's a sure winner for a luxury CUV.
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Buick Warranty is a joke!
At 25,000 miles I'm missing paint in 4 places (2 identical areas on each side of the vehicle). These are not stone chips, but actual worn sections. We were told that due to the way we use the car, warranty won't cover this repair. I drive to work and to my children's school, nothing out of the ordinary, except that we live on a dirt road. We lived on this same dirt road while driving the previous 2 GMC Acadias that had NO PAINT ISSUES even at 90,000 miles. We have a Chevy Cruze that costs half the amount of the Enclave and at the same amount of miles, it does not have any paint issues either. On Day 4 of having the car, it would not accelerate over 15 mph. I should have known then that this car was a waste of money.
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Engine surge-scares me
We purchased a 2018 Buick Enclave this spring. We had a 2015 Chevy Silverado that we loved but my husband has back problems and it hurt him getting in and out of the truck climbing up. Besides that we loved it. We like the drive of the Buick and we never really used the air except to turn it on just to see how it worked. We should have tested it while we were sitting still. When we are using the air and are stopped-the vehicle will surge and try to take off. You better not let your foot off that brake for a second. When the air shifts on it will surge. I now you are to hold your foot on the brake but you need to really hold it down. I asked the dealer he said its just the way it is set up. It cuts off to save fuel and when the air cuts on the engine comes on. I still feel this is very dangerous. Also there is not enough places to but your drinks and the dash does not even lock! I never noticed that until we had purchased it. Oh well about that but I will say the car does have a smooth ride. Quiet. It has a lot of power for a 6 cylinder. The third row seat we put down for lots of storage. Love the button unlock as long as you have the key on you for quick entry. Love the auto hatch. It's a really nice vehicle in many ways but it should be for what we paid for it. But I'm still not happy about that surge problem. If it had done that when we test drove it-I would not have purchased it.
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Transmission and moon roof
I purchased my Enclave in July, 2018, fully loaded, black cherry color. As advertised, this is a quiet and comfortable ride with one exception, the flimsy sun/moonroof slide is made of fabric with a manual pull. It vibrates constantly causing a rattling noise. I have put a stack of small papers wedged in there to stop it....very cheaply engineered at this price point. Most importantly is the poor transmission performance. My transmission is leakind fluid and slips out of gear, the dealership cannot figure out the problem and suggested I keep driving it for now!!?? I will be trading in the Enclave this summer, no more Buicks for me!
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I got TAKEN for a ride
Expected to go from a 2016 Enclave ( which we loved ) to a 2018 Enclave, that we would have the same comforts and accessories as before , with around the same price. Not only was the vehicle more money, but we got less conviences. Hard to reach controls, or moving them farther away, and or not offering them in the package at all. It was our fault for thinking we would a least get as much as before, so we made the deal before actually seeing the vehicle. We are truly DISGUSTED with this vehicle. The new push button start and engine shutting off at every light is brutal. Shifter is bad. I also think by bringing a more luxurious vehicle on ( ESSENCE MODEL ) is where all the good stuff is. The next time I spend $ 50,000 , it. Will not be a BUICK ENCLAVE. Actually went back to the dealer 4 days after purchasing ( Buick ) and told the dealer we wanted are ‘16 Buick back . They quoted us a large figure to get it back. ( it had low mileage ) . Offered to get back to us - but they never called. Went to other Buick dealers, but they said are vehicle was now only worth $ 30,000 . ( with 43 miles on it.) I offered $ 7000.00 to go up to the Avenir model, but they said no. We are stuck with a vehicle we hate - literately HATE it . A bunch of controls that are hard to use and get to. They added 4 “ to the vehicle and the windshield pillars block your view. When you search for the seat controls, they are hard to use. I am 78 years old & after owning 68 vehicles in my time, this is not my “ FATHERS “ Buick. Anguish is all we think about when getting in this piece of - @ #* %- junk. Can’t write any more I am getting a headache.
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Disappointed
Leased several Enclaves, new one every 2 years since they came out. The 2018 gets poor ratings. Front seats very uncomfortable, to narrow. At 14,000 miles the knuckle broke stranding me in traffic waiting for a tow truck. Dealer has to order new driveshaft from factory. Would not buy or lease another one.
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Would not buy another buick
My Update after 3 years.... It's a rattle trap and though the service has solved some of the problems I would never advise anyone to pay this kind of money for a car that has so many rattles. Shopping now for a new car and it won't be a Buick. Now after having the Enclave for a month, I've found some things that are very disappointing and somewhere I think I was misled and some because I didn't dig deep enough. First, no auto-sensing windshield wipers as rain on and off on a road trip and very annoying to have to turn them on and off. My Lincoln and Acura had these as standard which I would expect on a car costing over 60,000. On this recent trip I found it necessary to call Onstar with questions on some of the things I didn’t understand and found they were totally knowledgeable as multiple times they put me on hold or transferred me to advisers who had to go to the manual to answer my question. Now, the biggie and the reason I would never have bought this care is the Nav and Info system. They pride themselves on having blue tooth connection in the car and was told you could connect 10 devices. A call to Onstar took that down to 5 so another misleading statement. So whats the most important device I want connected to the blue tooth, my cell phone of course. Now I understand you can only use one device at a time, however, if you're cruising along at 75 mph on the highway and you are listening or using another device other than the phone and you get a call it will not be answer through the cars system meaning you have to physically answer the phone which is not only dangerous but against the law here in Ca. Must say I had a Lincoln MDX and an Acura MKX and both paused the device being used and the call transferred to the car. Buick has been most unhelpful here. Thus connecting 5 or 10 devices through Bluetooth on your car real is useless and switching between one or the other is extremely difficult. Their answer is, if your using a Kindle or Ipad is to hard connect it through the head phone connection in the car meaning that all that wireless connectivity that they advertise is a bit of BS meaning you now have to deal with a hard wire. Buicks answer to this is put all the info you might use on your cell phone. Yes I was told that to my by one of the Onstar adviser. Really! again meaning they admit the 10 devices I was originally told I could connect would be useless as moving from one to another is so difficult or impossible that is would be dangerous which is the whole reason for the wireless connection which is safety. As many might agree there is a lot in all the new car manuals that you must learn which is why Onstar is important but as I found Onstar advisers a bit useless as they are not not trained very well mean I might as well pull of the road and go to the manual. Bottom line safety is what I want in a car and the connection to my cell phone is the most important device which I believe should always be active. Not so with Buick again as noted above. Very disappointed as I decided to try again to support an American manufacturer." After now having driven the car for 5 months I find it nice to drive and wife loves the seat heaters and ac seats so that's a nice benefit. Still disappointed with the items above but have gotten used to driving the car. However, the skylights which to open are manual and they snap open when you release them and when closed both of them make an annoying rattle so keep them open most of the time. Haven't been in for a service so will see what they can do about these rattles. All in all it's a nice car but some of the items such as auto-sensing windshield wipers should have been standard. Service people are knowledgeable as the wing mirrors as per the manual should fold back automatically as per he manual. My don't most of the time but do and 25% of the time because there is a problem yet they maintain that they are not supposed to fold back when the vehicle is shut down. Other than now after a few years it's become a rattle trap I should have known not to buy another American car but keep giving the doubt that our country can get back to the high standards we used to have. GM has certainly not convinced me that they are trying.
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2018 Romain Buick Enclave
Don Kipp the sales person at the dealer showed us how to work every part of the Enclave we bought at Romain, the hands fee tailgate is wounder full, I like it when the Buick Emblem lights up on the ground, and the comfort is great.
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Review at 28500
This Enclave ESSENCE is a beautiful SUV. It is a wonderfully quiet and smooth riding vehicle. It makes highway driving a true pleasure and around town it is equally as satisfying to drive. However, the GM navigation system is erratic and they charge $150 + for periodic updates. That is ridiculous. I use Apple play and Google. Getting 28 mph on highway.
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New Buick
Love the car but adaptive cruise control was not available on the premium model and i would have preferred that feature.
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Enclave review
Bought a 2018 Buick Enclave, while giving my 2015 to a friend. Like the 2015, the Enclave gives a great ride on the highway, it has improved video screen and climate controls. After owning 1/2 dozen SUV or AWD vehicles over the years, you can finally turn off the AWD. By going to two wheel drive your gas mileage improves from the high teens to the mid twenties, which is great for a vehicle that size. Mileage is BETTER than wife's Subaru , which is great from the days of Pathfinder or Acadia. Down side is; some reason Buick got to rid of the gas cap and only have a tab to push aside. If the gas hose is not fully inserted, gas will flow everywhere. Also, the new design has the "flared up" rear side windows, thus limited blinds spots is now increase.
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Favorite Vehicle to Date!
I work for a dealership and I have bought a number of vehicles over the past 4 years, this being the first Buick. A lot of reviews say the seats are too narrow and uncomfortable but I don't see that. I am five feet, eight inches tall with most of my height in my 33" legs. I am very overweight at close to 300 lbs and I find no issue with comfort. I owned the Mazda cx-9 and got rid of it after 8 months because it was so uncomfortable. The headlights on the SUV are BRIGHT, to the point where if you're driving with your low beams on, cars comming the other direction will flash their high beams at you, but I can see on the dark, country roads I have to drive at night.
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Great car for long drives
We live in Mississippi and commute to Virginia where we have an apartment, a trip of 850 miles. We do this several times a year so a comfortable car is important. We have made the trip in two different Limited Highlanders, one a platinum, and a Jeep Grand Cherokee Summit. This Enclave Avenir beats them all. The long wheelbase helps it track well on the interstate and the 20-inch wheels absorb the bumps when you detour on two-lane roads. The front seats are fantastic and our friends rave about the back seats. There is more room than we ever need behind the seats, so it packs well. The car is quiet and the engine is smooth. The adaptive cruise control will take you to a dead stop and start you back up with the push of a button or a touch of the accelerator. The navigation and entertainment are great, but we use Apple Car Play with Waze and Pandora most of the time. The high-definition Pandora music sounds great on the sound system. I use the hands-free functions for calls and texts, so I never have to touch my phone which rides along with the screen off. Visibility is good and the controls are easy to use. Consumer Reports does not like the shifter. It is different, but only took me about three days to get accustomed to it. I do not understand their complaint. The only thing that I would add to it is rain sensing wipers. My last two vehicles had them and I was spoiled to them. However this remains the best road car that I have ever owned. UPDATE: We have had this vehicle for almost three years and I would not change a word of this review. It remains the best vehicle that we have ever owned. I typically trade ever year or two, but will probably keep this Enclave until the tires dry rot.
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Transmission defect
Have 15000 miles on 2018 Buick Enclave and for the second time the gears have locked up. Had new part installednat less than 5000 Miles and this morning I again had difficulty getting gear into reverse. Transmission light comes on again as it did the first time,,I am going to have to take car back again for repair.
Lengthy Test Drive Before You Buy
We purchased as a pre-owned Buick Avenir certified with 15k miles. This replaced our loaded out 2011 Enclave. In previous reviews it was pointed out how the front seats are narrower causing discomfort in my case on road trips one hour or longer as I'm the main driver. As stated the bolsters are the issue particularly the left side on drivers side. There's a rounded hard like piece under the leather running parallel with the bolster. Supposedly is part of the vibration mechanism when you enter lane departure. I'm a large man 5' 10" at 300# therefore use every inch and then some of the seating surface. The little round piece I described begins to become very uncomfortable on long road trips. Now my wife doesn't have that issue with the seat as she is a small person. She loves the comfort of her vehicle she drives everyday. All I can say if you're a large person you should test drive for a good long drive. You can feel this round thing by pressing on the outside bolster, it's just under the surface of the leather. She's had one hiccup with the camera system going dark for a day. I set up an appointment with the dealership the next morning. That next morning when she started up the camera system was working as designed. That issue hasn't happened since. The internal moonroof slide cover is cheaply designed and made. It sometimes has a tendency to rattle on bumpy roads. The latch is cheap. The other thing that makes me wonder about the engineering is when you fold the third row down via electrical switch located behind the third row is they hang up on the back of the second row Captain seats if they aren't pulled forward to clear to lay flat. One last marvel idea is the on off start when you stop to turn or stop go traffic. I know this design is to improve the overall average gas mileage that is mandated by EPA. This feature is being implemented more and more in the newer vehicles. You can't override this as an option in the vehicle settings. There is talk that an option may be available in the newer models to come. I've found the workaround is when you come to a stop and the engine turns off just slightly release and repress the brake pedal as it will restart continuing to idle. Now for the positive. The vehicle drives great, transmission shifts very smoothly and the engine has plenty of power to get you around someone or entering the highway. The cabin is very quiet and comfortable outside of the driver's seat as mentioned before. It's not perfect but for a 3rd row SUV with all the cargo space it's a great bang for your buck.
Really isn’t my father’s Buick!
My dad had a Buick when I was little. I always bought Chevys until my dealer suggested trying a Buick. After 6 months my wife and I love this car. Very quiet on road trips. Very comfortable to drive. Coordinates with my Apple cell phone for a great navigation and music experience.
GREAT SUV
It handle great in rain and snow, plus strong winds. Handle great on turns. It know how to turn on the high light on dark roads. Great on gas and mileage.
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Not what I expected
The interior design as far as plug ins ,storage, compartments are non existent....I was very surprised with lack of quality as far as carpets and finish.....
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This is my third Enclave
I have loved the Enclave since it came out. I have owned a 2011 which I loved. When the 2015's came out I had to have one. Loved everything about this one. Had A LOT of upgrades from my 2011. I have always liked the luxury feel of the Enclave. With each year they seemed to get better until the 2018. I traded my 2015 because of the milage and the 2018 seemed sleeker and more streamlined. I bought with my romance of the vehicle and should have looked it over a little more before pulling the trigger. They have taken the luxury out of this vehicle. From the interior to the exterior. After having it for the past couple months I have found the transmission to be clunky and jumpy. Especially sitting at a full stop to accelerating the vehicle can lurch and feel like something is not shifting right. I took it into the dealer and the put a computer upgrade into it, but it still does the same thing, so I will be taking it back. I believe Buick has missed the mark on this one. The interior is not as comfortable and has a more Toyota, Honda, and other foreign car sanitized feel to it (More cheaply made). If I were wanting to buy another one or if a friend I knew wanted one. I would tell them to stay away from a new one and look for a 2015 model with low mile. TEST drive this vehicle before buying!
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This is my third Enclave
I have loved the Enclave since it came out. I have owned a 2011 which I loved. When the 2015's came out I had to have one. Loved everything about this one. Had A LOT of upgrades from my 2011. I have always liked the luxury feel of the Enclave. With each year they seemed to get better until the 2018. I traded my 2015 because of the milage and the 2018 seemed sleeker and more streamlined. I bought with my romance of the vehicle and should have looked it over a little more before pulling the trigger. They have taken the luxury out of this vehicle. From the interior to the exterior. After having it for the past couple months I have found the transmission to be clunky and jumpy. Especially sitting at a full stop to accelerating the vehicle can lurch and feel like something is not shifting right. I took it into the dealer and the put a computer upgrade into it, but it still does the same thing, so I will be taking it back. I believe Buick has missed the mark on this one. The interior is not as comfortable and has a more Toyota, Honda, and other foreign car sanitized feel to it (More cheaply made). If I were wanting to buy another one or if a friend I knew wanted one. I would tell them to stay away from a new one and look for a 2015 model with low mile. TEST drive this vehicle before buying!
Wolfgang
Never buy this car always problems with the electronics 3rd time in 2 years gm don’t know what it is the other things lausy Radio receptions for a 60000$ car I can expect more sorry for everybody buy so a car
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Finally Bought the "Big B"
After driving a Durango, Explorer, Acura, and Highlander, I drove the Buick. It smoked the other cars as far as driver engagement, performance and feel on the highway, and it was by far the most QUIET of all the SUV's, by a wide margin. We bought one 3 years old with 21K miles and added a 5-year 75K bumper to bumper warranty so we can enjoy it. The warranty is only 45 bucks a month and covers everything with great benefits if it is ever needed while on a trip. Buick upped their game. I am very happy, a great touring SUV
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Love my Enclave
Buick builds a great SUV
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Found a beauty
You can find a great car with low mileage...
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My second Enclave
Overall love the car including the gas mileage of up to 28 mpg on long trips. My only issue of the car is that I do not like that the engine will turn off at times when idling. I realize that this was designed to improve gas mileage which I feel was accomplished, but the engine turning off and on can become annoying especially when at times it can be abrupt as opposed to a smooth transition. Another minor issue is that on both the enclaves ive owner, the bottom on the driver and passenger seats have poor support and become somewhat uncomfortable on longer trips. 68000 miles with no issues. UPDATE: Love the car but have a few recommendations . Upgrade seat bottom support, add a little more horsepower, provide an override switch for engine start/stop function.
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Newly purchased Buick
Buick continues to improve the car. My Enclave mileage went from 19 mpg for a 2015 to average of 27 mph, which is a lot better than my wife's Subaru Ascent. Buick (or GMC) has learned how to turn off the AWD when not needed. The electronics in the car continue to improve.
Love everything about my Buick Enclave
2018 Buick Enclave I love the new body style, the technology and safety features. I had my first (and I hope last) accident that totaled my Enclave. Onstar came on as soon as my accident happened. I walked away without a scratch, if you saw my car you wouldn’t believe it. The seatbelt pulled tight and locked me in place and the airbags wrapped around me. I would definitely buy another Buick Enclave
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Enclave,my mancave
That you never want your destination to be reached. It is as comfortable as sitting in your favorite recliner at home.
Room for improvement-interior, safety, transmissio
Interior: Although the Buick Enclave has ample passenger and cargo space, it pales in comparison to even a small car for cup holders and "cubbies". The cupholders are useless because they are so small and add odd angles. Obviously the engineers never actually tried to use them. The same goes for "cubbies". The area in front of transmission joystick is so small I cannot even fit my hand in to retrieve a phone. The USB charge points are pulled forward in this same space, but when a cord is plugged in, it blocks the little access that is available. There is a space under the center console that has opening between both the driver and passenger seats. This is also hard to reach and have to be careful what you place in there so it does no fall out and under the gas or brake pedal. Also when equipped with the power fold down third row seatbacks, there is only one way to raise and lower them. The power buttons are located in the rear of the vehicle and you must open the rear liftgate to get to them. There is no other way to do this from any place else in the car or on the key FOB. Safety: This is a 7 passenger vehicle and equipped with only 6 head restraints - there is not one in the middle 3rd row seat. Transmission: We purchased with only 25,000 miles and began noticing there is a shudder in transmission when accelerating from a stopped position.
Great for tall people!
I’m 5’10” and my husband is 6’5”; we have a hard time finding vehicles we like AND fit in. We would have given it 5-stars but have an issue with door molding by the door handles. The doors have a protruding edge which hinders the ability to put your hand behind the door handle without rings etching the top of the hand hold. I brought this to the dealers attention to see if they had a protective barrier to prevent further etching. They stated I was the first to ever say anything about it, but immediately after examining the door handle, they had the same issue.
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Beautiful Premium
I just purchased my second pre-owned Buick Enclave Premium. I love it! It rides smooth, looks great and has all of the bells and whistles. I needed the extra room to fit grandkids car seats and boosters. It fits the bill.
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Very well loaded
Very nice, lots of options. Has the WOW factor. I couldn’t imagine any else to put on the vehicle