Buick Enclave | Beyond appearances

With his squale head, there is no shortage of presence, the new enclave. However, it is likely that this vehicle will add its name to the (long) model of models that have vainly tried to find their place on the market.

There is like a misunderstanding around Buick. What is the deep nature of this more hundred -year -old brand? A generalist manufacturer among others or a singular signature capable of highlighting its attributes on models with a strong personality?

Stuck between Chevrolet's ready-to-wear and Cadillac tailor-made, Buick has long struggled to draw a strategy. Appeared in the automotive universe of the 1900s, Buick is only the shadow of itself, with the exception of the Chinese market, where it is venerated even more than everywhere else.

Sub-financed in America, this signature within the General Motors Empire returns from afar. Today, she seeks to find the chandelier of the years she made the urge. Not by revisiting the Riviera and Grand National GNX – undoubtedly the most emblematic models of its history -, but by offering a range of elegant and refined SUVs.

Michigan triplets

The enclave, third of the name, has a more offbeat style than the Chevrolet Cross and GMC Acadia, with which it shares engine, box and platform. Regarding architecture, precisely, it should be noted that it carries the seal of novelty. It staples, as standard, a four-wheel drive in the three aforementioned models.

Buick offers three declinations of the enclave. Only the one called a future (the most expensive) gives access to the suspension with adaptive shock absorbers, the leathers stretched over the seats and four other additional speakers with its Bose channel. The semi-autonomous Supercruise driving device, a first at Buick, is stored on the side of the optional accessories of all versions.

Lift the hood and say hello to the 2.5-liter four-cylinder supercharged by turbocharger. This animates the entire range and replaces the V6 responsible for moving the enclave since its birth. On paper, this mechanism gives the impression of having what it takes with gains as well in power (+18 horsepower) and torque (+60 lb-ft).

These benefits do not make the ENCLAVE 2025 a really efficient model than its predecessor, however. The explanation is more of the staging of the transmission than taking about twenty additional kilos to create this new model. A few tenths of a second, acceleration and recovery times are substantially the same.

On the other hand, the disparity between these two generations appears more obvious on the side of consumption. Especially if you regularly “walk” your enclave in town. The 2.5 liter ingets almost 2 l/100 km less than the old one. On the fast tracks, the difference is in a sewing die. Certain rival engines display performance and an ecoenergetic efficiency higher than those of this Buick, but require an essence with high octane index.

In terms of sensations, the four -cylinder engine appears more swift, it is true. But the V6 is a quieter force (especially if you use it to tow a load) which best corresponded to the expectations of a clientele in search of calm and voluptuousness. And on this point, the enclave keeps its promises. All the occupants will appreciate the silence of operation – apart from the cracking of the panoramic roof in the cold season – and the suspension whose sweetness generates a subtle effect “flying carpet or slide” depending on the quality of the coating.

Flexible and correctly weighted in its assistance, the management does not return any feeling of gravity, any more than the work of the front axle.

This SUV is first of all discreet and comfortable, if not balanced and fiery. Basically, this Buick is faithful to the image of his ancestors: he is a boulevardier. A vehicle that we drive, without any emotion, the elbow posed against the door and one hand on the steering wheel.

Discreet luxury

Almost as versatile as a van, the enclave can accommodate up to seven people on board. The slightly increased dimensions compared to the previous model allow you to stretch your legs more, but not too much. Especially the occupants of the third row, which will find that it is easy to access-especially with individual seats-, but cannot say that their comfort has been the subject of much consideration in the context of this overhaul. If they were entitled to speak, the luggage would make the same comment.

Completely at the front, the large buckets provide adequate support, nothing more. Tattooed on the elegant dashboard, an electroluminescent slab monitors to inform and entertain. Entertainment above all while eliminating several order buttons – not all, fortunately. The speed selector climbs on the steering column to give more space to the wireless charging tray …

This is a false good idea, since there are other solutions – within GM – which devour less space. This floating console (it is in no way connected to the dashboard) overlooks a storage that is difficult to access. Relaunched to embody a vision of “reasonable” luxury and climb into the restricted circle of the high -end, this brand should, as such, benefit from certain exclusives.

Alas, Buick is not yet there.