I try to go into vehicle reviews with a sense of neutrality and an open mind. After all, one bad car or even a history of lot dwelling lemons doesn’t always mean everything a company is ever going to produce is awful. But with Buick, I have a bit of a confession to make. The worst thing I’ve ever driven is a Buick.
It has some stiff competition too, including a Mercury Milan that controlled like a box car, and a Vauxhall Corsa that seemed to have an issue with even numbered gears. No, my father in-law’s Buick Rendezvous surpasses them all.
You can tell it was awful new. Everything from its stance, to the ride quality, to the materials in its interior single it out as a total shambles with no redeeming features. Near twenty years of questionable maintenance haven’t improved the situation any. I’ve driven a hyper car at close to 180 mph, and that is a serene experience compared to anything above 40 in the Rendezvous. If it were an animal, I’d be compelled to take it behind the shed and end its suffering.
So naturally, I didn’t have high hopes for the 2026 Buick Enclave. Fortunately for Buick, things seem to have improved since 2006 and they’ve produced a pretty impressive, premium-quality, three-row SUV.
It’s definitely in the GM family
Automakers are getting more and more consistent with their vehicles. This isn’t necessarily a good thing, as a lot of the originality that comes with certain marques is disappearing. However, it’s done wonders for the overall experience and quality control. It’s why you’ll find a lot of the same features in a sub $30,000 Kia K4 as you will in a $60,000 Palisade.
This is extremely evident in the 2026 Buick Enclave Avenir. I was impressed when I first sat behind the wheel as the interior could have been ripped from a GMC or Cadillac. There’s a well sculpted dash, featuring premium leather, quilted seats, and a touch of wood on the doors.
I’ll always advocate for more wood, and the Enclave doesn’t quite get to Cadillac Escalade levels, but at around half the price you can’t really expect the whole “yacht” experience from this mid-sized SUV.
The vehicle is also equipped with massage seats. GM’s massage seats are a little hit and miss for me. I feel like they could do more in a lot of vehicles. Oddly enough, the Cadillac Optiq is one of the worst examples as it has very limited massage settings and may as well not be there. They’re better in the Buick Enclave Avenir, and roughly on par with what you’d find in a GMC with the Denali trim. But still lacking compared to some Stellantis and Ford offerings.
The Buick Enclave is packed with tech
The Buick is rocking a half-dash length display which is visually appealing and a sweet spot for many drivers. As the 2026 Enclave is an ICE car both Android Auto and Apple Car Play are available. It’s worth noting that GM recently pulled a bit of a U-turn when it came to the third party infotainment systems, and is reintroducing both Apple Car Play and Android Auto to their EV lineup. But it’s nice that it never went away here, especially as GM’s native infotainment system is a bit sub-par.
According to the Moroney, $3,015.00 was spent on the “SuperCruise Package” which equips the vehicle with the hardware needed to run GM’s frankly excellent self-driving system. The package also includes three years of “OnStar One with SuperCruise,” which presumably means you’ll need to pay a monthly or annual fee for the service once that three-year period is up. While $3,000 is a lot, SuperCruise is one of the vehicle’s best features. I sing its praises a lot, as it covers a tremendous number of US roads including back roads and regular streets. It overtakes on its own, and it even managed to get me from the New Jersey border to Schenectady without me touching the wheel or pedals once.
The sound system comes courtesy of Bose, and it’s perfectly fine. Any music you play is clear, and you can adjust the system to match your exact preferences. Many manufacturers have partnerships with high-end audio companies, and that seems to result in high-quality audio in most vehicles. You’d have to be a hardcore audiophile to find fault here to be honest.
A 110-volt power outlet is also present. I used to overlook this feature, but once you start working on the road you realize how useful it is. Pair it with the WiFi hotspot (which is included with that OnStar One subscription) and you’ve basically got a mobile office. You can power a laptop and work anywhere with a 5G signal, provided you have enough gas to keep the vehicle idling.
The Buick Enclave is deceptively large
SUV classifications are a bit of a mess. The Enclave is clear evidence of this. Despite being longer than the Chevy Suburban and Ford Expedition, two card carrying, bona fide, full-sized, SUVs, it’s a “mid-sized” model. But being so large certainly comes with a few benefits. In terms of cargo space you get 22.9 cubic feet in the trunk when all three rows are up. This increases to a very impressive 57.1 cubic feet when you fold the third row down. Drop the second row, and it increases to 97.5 cubic feet.
Should you decide to use the third row, the overall vehicle length translates to a surprisingly comfortable amount of legroom. 38.27 inches in fact, almost as much as the 39.96 inches passengers will enjoy in the second row. Personally I’d have that third row dropped most of the time if I owned a 2026 Buick Enclave, but it’s nice to know I can fit an actual human in there without subjecting them to extreme discomfort.
A lack of power may be its only downside
Under the hood, you have a 2.5-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine capable of churning out 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. That may seem like plenty on paper, but compared to a number of other vehicles in its class the Enclave feels a touch sluggish. It isn’t alone here, the GMC Acadia drives exactly the same. But if you want a bit of punch when you get your foot down, then the Enclave may not be an ideal choice. However, it does pay off in terms of fuel economy, and looking at gas prices that may be a huge plus right now. According to the EPA, the Enclave averages 21 MPG, racking up 20 in the city and 24 on the highway. In reality, that depends on several factors, but it’s far from the biggest gas guzzler I’ve driven through the suburbs this year.
Going beyond engine performance, the handling is pretty solid in this mid-sized SUV. The “Premium Ride” suspension does a solid job, and the vehicle is very comfortable in most circumstances. You have to find a particularly bad stretch of road to shatter that comfort. The vehicle also has a pretty aggressive stance for a three-row SUV. As a result, you’re going to encounter less body roll than you would otherwise.
I can’t really comment on the vehicle’s aerodynamics as the AutoNotion budget doesn’t currently stretch to a wind tunnel. That is on the list though right after we get the private jet and executive party mansion. Until then I’ll just have to comment on the vehicle’s overall shape.
It does look pretty aerodynamic. Yes the front is that of a blocky (if slightly rounded) large SUV, but the roof kind of swoops back. Almost like an oversized hatchback. It’s a little bit space age, and stylistic enough to look unique. The silverish color of the test vehicle I spent the week in may have played into this a bit, but it is arguably the best looking vehicle on this platform right now.
It’s a spot of luxury in a competitive segment
If it’s “just another GM” you may be wondering why the Buick Enclave exists. After all, you can get a GMC Acadia Denali Ultimate for around $1,000 less than the Enclave Avenir I tested. At the moment, the “Denali” trim’s reputation carries a bit more weight than anything Buick can offer. You can also grab the top trim of the Chevy Traverse for around $8,000 less, which is significant. All of these vehicles are built on the same platform by GM, and many of their features will overlap.
Of all three, I actually prefer the Buick. The driving experience is essentially identical, the tech is basically the same (especially with the top trims) but the Buick’s interior just felt more comfortable to me. It has more of a “classy” vibe, closer to what you’d get from a Cadillac than the other two. The Denali’s tend to carry an outdoorsy vibe (including a topographic pattern on various trim elements) that may feel a bit too Bear Grylls for some. And the Chevy just feels “cheaper” all round.
As for its non-GM competitors, the Buick Enclave exists in that hyper competitive $45,000 to $65,000 bracket, and certainly sits towards the premium end. This is a bit of a copout, but I really do struggle to recommend a single vehicle in this price range as you have so many solid options. However, if you are looking for a new premium SUV I wouldn’t shy away from it. I’d put it on your shortlist and take one for a test drive.
