I live in the country in a Civil War-era farmhouse, with acres of restored wetlands and native prairie grasses. Our big flower garden needed sprucing up with fall flowering plants, because the summer flowers were dying off, and the Buick Enclave was the best vehicle in the test fleet for the huge chrysanthemum buy at the local greenhouse. The Enclave's hatchback whips itself open with a tug of its handle. The third-row seat folds flat, opening up a big space that easily swallowed twelve gallon-sized potted mums. The cabin feels more like a full-sized SUV's than a crossover, but its superbly responsive 3.6-liter V-6 engine earns an EPA 16 city/24 highway mpg rating, which is quite an improvement from the fuel pains of a big SUV.
It just felt a little weird, though, doing farm chores in a vehicle dressed to go to the opera. For instance, the cargo area is thickly carpeted. The taupe-over-beige interior is all leather and shiny, shiny wood accents. We drove a 2008 CXL model, which is not that much more lovely than the very plush base model - you get better wheels and tires, better rearview mirrors, and better fronts seats (as in heated leather). For 2009, I note, heated-and-cooled front seats are a stand-alone option, so you can get them on the less-expensive CL model.
I certainly did not mind being treated to what Sam describes as one of the quietest SUV rides I've experienced. It just confuses people when the shiny new Enclave (in Red Jewel) pulls up and the woman in dirty blue jeans, tee-shirt, and Chaco's jumps out.
That last paragraph of Sam's, however, I don't get. What's not to like about driving such a well-composed, useful, beautifully appointed crossover?
Jean Jennings, President & Editor-in-Chief ...next page >>