2019 Buick Enclave Review
2019 Buick Enclave Review





+161
Used Enclave for sale
Appraise This CarSee Edmunds pricing data
Has Your Car's Value Changed?
Used car values are constantly changing. Edmunds lets you track your vehicle's value over time so you can decide when to sell or trade in.
Edmunds' Expert Review

byCalvin Kim
Vehicle Test Engineer
Calvin Kim is an automotive journalist at Edmunds.Pros
- Generous room for passengers in all three rows
- Quiet and smooth ride quality
- Plenty of standard features
Cons
- Some advanced safety features only available on the top trim level
What's new
- No major changes for 2019
- New front-wheel-drive-only Preferred trim slots below Essence
- Part of the second Enclave generation introduced for 2018
The 2019 Buick Enclave carries over from the redesigned 2018 model with only minor trim and options updates, and that's a good thing. We like the Enclave's long list of standard features and its high level of in-car technology. You can choose from either front- or all-wheel-drive versions of all trims, except for the new front-wheel-drive-only Preferred.
Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2019 Buick Enclave Preferred 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.12 per gallon for regular unleaded in Virginia.
Monthly estimates based on costs in Virginia
$181/mo for Enclave Preferred
Enclave Preferred
vs
$239/mo
Avg. Large SUV
Whichever version you get, know that you'll have a quiet and comfortable cabin that can seat up to seven passengers. The Enclave is one of the biggest SUVs in its class, in fact, and seat comfort and roominess are two of its strong points. Folding down both the second- and third-row seats provides up to 97.6 cubic feet of cargo space.
Equally big is the Enclave's corporate sibling, the Chevrolet Traverse. Besides styling, the main reason to get the Enclave is its considerably higher number of standard features. Even the base Enclave comes with keyless entry and push-button start, a hands-free liftgate, and excellent standard infotainment technology that includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability.
The Enclave doesn't have the road-hugging chops like some of its European rivals, and it's not the least expensive in the segment. But if a comfortable highway ride, a roomy interior and getting lots of features are priorities, take a look at the 2019 Buick Enclave.
Edmunds' Expert Rating
The Buick Enclave offers copious passenger and cargo space along with a touch of luxury. It doesn't have the road-hugging chops like some of its European rivals. But if smartphone connectivity features, comfortable highway ride, and roomy interior are priorities, take a look at the Enclave.
Trim tested
Edmunds has not yet driven any version of this vehicle, but we have experience with the related Chevrolet Traverse. The following is our take on what's significant about the Enclave and what you can expect.
Driving
The V6 provides a nice bit of thrust off the line when you put your foot down, but it tapers off at higher rpm. Expect a 0-60 mph sprint of about 7 seconds, which would be an average time for a three-row SUV. Handling capability should be similarly class-average.
Comfort
Active noise canceling reduces extraneous wind, road and powertrain noise. Automatic three-zone climate control is standard. And all trims aside from the base benefit from an air ionizer. The available adaptive suspension should further help smooth out the ride.
Interior
Buick's seven-seat configuration should provide ample room for second-row and third-row passengers. Getting in and out is facilitated by a tilt-up second-row seat that can provide quick access to the third row, even with a child safety seat installed.
Utility
With all rear seats folded down, you have a huge load floor. Standard roof rails can handle optional crossbars to load bulky and large items on the roof. Maximum cargo space is a healthy 97.6 cubic feet.
Technology
Smartphone integration is standard, but advanced driver assist functions are only available in higher trim vehicles. The Essence and the Premium can be optioned with a Bose speaker system, and the Avenir can be equipped with adaptive cruise control.
Which Enclave does Edmunds recommend?
The Enclave with the most bang-for-your-buck is the midgrade Essence. This trim benefits from the Enclave's already excellent standard technology features and adds leather seating surfaces and driver assist functions to make both highway and city driving safer.
2019 Buick Enclave models
The 2019 Buick Enclave is available in four trims. They all use the same 3.6-liter V6 engine (302 horsepower, 260 pound-feet) and a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Preferred is available only in front-wheel drive; the remaining trims are available in front- or all-wheel drive. The Essence features additional safety and comfort tech, while the Premium trim adds more luxury and safety amenities. At the top, the Avenir promises tech, safety and comfort features on par with what's offered in the best luxury crossovers. All Enclaves have seating for seven.
Even in base Preferred trim, the Enclave comes with features that make it competitive in the three-row SUV segment. It comes standard with 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, rear parking sensors, keyless entry and ignition, remote engine start, three-zone automatic climate control, power-adjustable front seats with heating, adjustable second-row captain's chairs, and 60/40-split folding third-row seats. Standard in-car technology includes an 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a rearview camera, Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, OnStar communications (with 4G LTE and a Wi-Fi hotspot), USB ports (two in front and four for rear passengers), and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio.
The Essence includes a blind-spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alert, a cabin air ionization system and leather seating surfaces. Optionally, you can add all-wheel drive, a heavy-duty tow package that allows you to pull up to 5,000 pounds, a top-down parking camera system, and a sunroof.
Premium models add low-speed forward collision mitigation with pedestrian detection, front parking sensors, driver-seat memory settings, a 10-speaker premium Bose sound system, lane departure warning and intervention, a heated steering wheel, heated seats for outboard second-row passengers, ventilated seats for the front row, and power-folding third-row seats.
Top-trim Avenir models roll on 20-inch wheels and receive a navigation system (optional on the Essence and the Premium), a larger driver information display, a rearview mirror with integrated camera display, a sunroof, a top-down parking camera system, premium leather upholstery, upgraded interior trim, and a wireless device charging pad. Optionally, you can spec your Avenir with the Avenir Technology package that adds adaptive cruise control, upgraded automatic emergency braking and an adaptive suspension.
Advertisement
Also Consider

2024 Buick Enclave
Essence, Premium and Avenir
Starting MSRP$43,900
See All Trims
Buick.com
The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price excludes destination freight charge, tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Dealer sets final price. Click here to see all Buick vehicles’ destination freight charges.
Consumer reviews
Read what other owners think about the Used 2019 Buick Enclave.
5 star(40%)
4 star(17%)
3 star(10%)
2 star(8%)
1 star(25%)
40 reviews
Trending topics in reviews
Most helpful consumer reviews
1 out of 5 stars
Buick Enclave Transmission is still a Lemon
Gary Smith, 01/08/2019
2019 Buick Enclave Premium 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A)
A new transmission was installed by the dealer (Banks Chevrolet-Concord, NH) who provided outstanding service with our lemon. The original transmission failed and was replaced with a new transmission. Approximately 1 month later the second transmission developed a chuggling noise and is clunky and does not shift smoothly on hills going both up and down. I strongly recommend avoiding … Buick's with this transmission!
I bought a 2019 Enclave in October 2019. Immediately experienced transmission surging while driving down my moderately sloping driveway. Then on Dec 20,2018 I could not go over 27 mph nor shift gears. Towed by dealer to their shop and told they had to order a new transmission from N. Dakota if available. Which leads me to suspect that new transmissions must be in demand due to being a chronic problem. Web searching indicates 2018's had same problem and the 2019's have the same model number transmission as the 2018's. Hope to not have to go the Lemon Law route. Dealer has been very good. GMC, I am not so sure! You would think they would have corrected the transmission problems for the 2019 models, unless they had use up their transmission inventory.
1 out of 5 stars
Transmission Nightmare
Matt, 02/09/2019
2019 Buick Enclave Premium 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A)
I too have a 2019 Buick Enclave with transmission problems. Took it into the dealer after 2000 miles after it started shaking when accelerating. The dealership said it needed a new torque converter and we could drive it until the part was available. This was around New Years, we went back to get the Enclave and the dealer said they were later told by GM just to flush the transmission … as it had too much lubricant from assembly. We took it home and it still shuddered, called the dealer and GM said to flush it again. This time when we picked it up it was worse than when it started. So now GM told the dealership to replace the torque converter however they cannot locate one. So now 6 weeks after this started we are still waiting for a torque converter that may or may not fix this.
1 out of 5 stars
Lemon - 2018...Same issues with the 2019
JB, 05/06/2019
2019 Buick Enclave Avenir 4dr SUV AWD (3.6L 6cyl 9A)
Accelerating 17-20 mph the transmission shudders again at 27-30. The first vehicle had so many repair attempts that it had been repurchased by GM. I now have a 2019, Enclave Avenir which is demonstrating the same issues. This is of major concern, especially now reading the reviews of the same concerns. The service technicians have been wonderful, and we really want to like the … vehicle, but this is just ridiculous!
4 out of 5 stars
Best SUV
OB, 03/31/2019
2019 Buick Enclave Essence 4dr SUV (3.6L 6cyl 9A)
Entire family loves enclave. we had a 2010 and put 177000 miles which we replaced with 2019 essence trim - we always lease to buy as u will know during lease if a problem comes. It gives a lot for its price compared to competitors. Before getting 2010 enclave we had BMW X5. We sold x5 at 135000 miles. To be honest X5 cost way more in maintenance above 120000 miles than enclave. We liked … enclave better
2019 Enclave Highlights
Preferred
Base MSRP | $40,000 |
---|---|
Engine Type | Gas |
Combined MPG | 21 MPG |
Cost to Drive | $181/month |
Seating | 7 seats |
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place | 23.6 cu.ft. |
Drivetrain | front wheel drive |
Warranty | 4 years / 50,000 miles |
Safety
Our experts like the Enclave models:
- Following Distance Indicator
- Uses the radar cruise control system to let the driver know if the Enclave is following the car ahead too closely.
- Lane Change and Blind Zone Alert
- Alerts drivers of fast-approaching cars in adjacent lanes. Also warns drivers if there's a vehicle in a blind spot.
- Safety Alert Seat
- Warns the driver of a lane departure or imminent collision by vibrating the seat in the direction of the threat.
NHTSA Overall Rating
5 out of 5 starsThe National Highway Transportation Safety Administration offers independent analysis.
- Frontal Barrier Crash RatingOverall4 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger4 / 5
- Side Crash RatingOverall5 / 5
- Side Barrier RatingOverall5 / 5Driver5 / 5Passenger5 / 5
- Combined Side Barrier & Pole RatingsFront Seat5 / 5Back Seat5 / 5
- RolloverRollover4 / 5Dynamic Test ResultNo TipRisk Of Rollover16.9%
IIHS Rating
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety uses extensive crash tests to determine car safety.
- Small Overlap Front Driver-Side TestNot Tested
- Small Overlap Front Passenger-Side TestNot Tested
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – OriginalGood
- Moderate Overlap Front Test – UpdatedNot Tested
- Side Impact Test – OriginalGood
- Side Impact Test – UpdatedAcceptable
- Roof Strength TestNot Tested
- Rear Crash Protection / Head RestraintNot Tested
People who viewed this also viewed
4.2 average Rating out of 19 reviews. |
Starting at $33,400 |
4.1 average Rating out of 37 reviews. |
Starting at $35,900 |
3.4 average Rating out of 43 reviews. |
Starting at $35,890 |
Related Used 2019 Buick Enclave info
Vehicle reviews of used models
- Audi S3 2020 Review
- Audi S4 2021 Review
- Audi RS Q8 2021 Review
- Audi S4 2020 Review
- Audi RS Q8 2020 Review
Shop similar models
Shop used vehicles in your area
- Used Buick Enclave 2010
- Used Buick Enclave 2012
- Used Buick Enclave 2017
- Used Buick Enclave 2015
- Used Buick Enclave 2011
- Used Buick Enclave 2018
- Used Buick Enclave 2014
- Used Buick Enclave 2019
- Used Buick Enclave 2013
- Used Buick Enclave 2016
Popular new car reviews and ratings
- 2022 Honda Civic
- 2022 Ford Bronco Sport
- 2022 Blazer
- 2022 Mercedes-Benz GLC-Class Coupe
- 2023 Kia Niro
- 2022 Audi RS 7
- Ram 1500 Classic For Sale
- 2022 Kona
- 2024 911
- 2022 Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Research recent models from same make
- Used Buick Envision Essence
- Buick Envista Interior
- Used Buick Encore
- 2024 Buick Enclave
- Buick Encore GX Essence
- 2022 Buick Enclave
- Buick Envision 2022
- 2023 Buick Encore GX
- 2022 Encore GX
Research similar vehicles
- 06 Jeep Cherokee
- Id 4
- Mazda CX 50
- GLC Class 300
- Volkswagen Taos
- Car BMW X7
- Bronco Sport
- X6 BMW X6
- Honda Honda Passport
- Jaguar F Pace SVR
Other models
- New Mercedes-Benz Cls-Class for Sale in Rialto, CA
- New Jeep Wrangler-4Xe for Sale in Somerset, PA
- Used Scion Ia in Columbia, MO
- Used Ford Fusion-Energi in Mechanicsville, VA
- Used Chevrolet Trax in Bowling Green, OH
- New Honda Pilot for Sale in Williamsburg, VA
- Used Chevrolet Camaro in Jamaica, IA
- Used Pontiac G6 in Ames, IA
- Used Pontiac Bonneville in Fair Lawn, NJ
- Used Mercury Villager in Burlington, NJ