2026 Buick Enclave

The 4th-gen Enclave (introduced for 2025, carried into 2026) uses GM's 2.5L turbocharged inline-4 (LK0, marketed 'Turbo-Max') rated at 328 hp across Preferred, Sport Touring and Avenir — a single-powertrain lineup with no output split by trim.

The 2.5L Turbo I4 produces 326 lb-ft — up substantially from the outgoing 3.6L V6's 266 lb-ft and delivered lower in the rev range.

No published Buick 0–60 claim; estimated from instrumented tests of the mechanically-similar redesigned 2024 Chevy Traverse (same 2.5T + 9-speed, ~4,500 lb curb weight), which run 6.5–6.9 s.

Reviewers of the shared 2.5T application find it torquey and generally smooth with quick throttle response, though it lacks the linear character of the outgoing 3.6L V6 and can sound coarse at full throttle; Buick adds extra sound insulation and active noise cancellation to soften it.

GM's 9-speed Hydra-Matic shifts smoothly around town and holds gears sensibly under load, though it can hunt between the top ratios on grades — a recurring note in reviews of the shared Traverse.

5,000 lbs when properly equipped with the available Trailering Package — unchanged from the outgoing V6 Enclave and competitive for a mid-size three-row crossover.

AWD is optional on Preferred and Sport Touring and standard on the top Avenir; the system uses a twin-clutch active rear differential capable of shifting torque side-to-side, plus a driver-selectable AWD-disconnect for efficiency.

Pavement-oriented three-row family SUV with ~7.0 in of ground clearance, no low-range, no dedicated off-road trim, and only a Snow drive mode — well short of an Explorer Timberline or Traverse Z71 equivalent in the Buick lineup.

Single powertrain — the 2.5L Turbo I4 — across every trim; no V6, no hybrid, no PHEV and no EV counterpart in the Buick showroom.

The redesigned Enclave carries the 2.5L turbo I4 with 8-speed automatic. EPA rates the volume FWD configuration at 23 combined MPG; AWD drops to 20.

Turbo-four in a ~4,600-lb three-row hauler yields modest city economy despite active fuel management.

Tall aero profile and mass hold highway economy back; AWD drops another 3 MPG on the freeway cycle.

Generous 21.7-gallon tank paired with 23 combined MPG yields nearly 500 miles of theoretical range on regular unleaded — competitive for a gas mid-size three-row.

EPA estimate at 23 combined MPG on 87-octane regular runs about $2,200/yr under 2026 assumptions; AWD is meaningfully higher (~$2,500/yr).

The 2.5T is engineered for 87-octane regular unleaded across all trims — no premium recommendation and no diesel/E85 complication.

The all-new third-generation Enclave launched for 2025 on GM's C1 platform and has not yet been fully retested by NHTSA; the outgoing 2024 Enclave carried a 4-star overall rating, and the platform-sharing 2024–25 Chevrolet Traverse earned 5-star overall — sitting between these outcomes is the best available estimate for 2026.

The redesigned Enclave has not been comprehensively tested by IIHS and is not a Top Safety Pick; the closely related Traverse under the newer moderate-overlap protocol has posted mixed results (rear-occupant protection is a known weak point), so a mid-band no-award score is appropriate until testing catches up.

Standard Buick Driver Confidence Plus bundles automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator, IntelliBeam auto high beams, rear park assist, and rear cross-traffic braking on every trim including base Preferred; adaptive cruise control is the notable omission, standard only on Avenir.

GM's current AEB with pedestrian detection has generally posted competent daylight vehicle-to-vehicle and pedestrian results in IIHS front crash prevention testing on sibling C1 vehicles, but the Enclave lacks a published Superior rating in the newer nighttime pedestrian protocol; solid but unproven at the top of the class.

Side blind zone alert with rear cross-traffic braking is standard on every trim in the redesigned Enclave — active-braking coverage rather than warning-only puts it a step above the mid-size mainstream, though there is no trailer-aware extension for towing.

Base LKA/LDW is competent but reactive; the real strength is that Super Cruise (Sport Touring, Avenir) provides confident, smooth lane centering rated among the best hands-free systems by reviewers — offset because that behavior is only available on upper trims and only on mapped roads.

Full-speed adaptive cruise with stop-and-go is available across the range and standard on Avenir, and when combined with Super Cruise on Sport Touring/Avenir it becomes a mature highway-assist system covering ~750,000 miles of compatible North American roads with automatic lane changes; a base Preferred buyer without the option pack gets only conventional cruise, which keeps this from scoring higher.

Super Cruise is available on Sport Touring and Avenir with driver monitoring, automatic lane change, and hands-free towing — one of the most mature and highest-reviewed hands-free highway systems on sale; it is not standard, which keeps it out of the very top band, and it remains restricted to mapped divided highways.

Standard LED headlights with IntelliBeam auto high beam are decent, and Avenir upgrades to adaptive/high-performance LEDs — no IIHS Good rating has been published for the new-gen Enclave, so this stays in the competent-but-unverified band typical of GM SUVs of this era.

The redesigned Enclave has a tall, upright glasshouse and generous forward sightlines, but thick D-pillars and a rising beltline compromise rear-quarter views typical of three-row SUVs; available HD Surround Vision and standard rear camera help mitigate the blind zones without eliminating them.

The three-row layout, wide rear-door openings, and captain's-chair second row (standard on Avenir; available across the range) make loading child seats easy, with two clean LATCH positions in the second row plus tether anchors for the third row; three-across seating requires the 8-passenger bench and gets tight.

Third-generation Enclave (redesigned for 2025 on GM's VSS-M platform) is a three-row mid-size SUV; 7-passenger seating with 2nd-row captain's chairs is standard, and a 6-passenger console-equipped configuration is offered on Avenir.

Front headroom is near the top of the mid-size SUV band; the 2025 redesign added meaningful headroom versus the outgoing second-gen car.

Class-leading front legroom shared with the platform-mate GMC Acadia — pins the top of the mid-size SUV normalization band.

Second-row headroom is at the top of the SUV band thanks to the squarer, taller 2025 redesign body.

Second-row legroom is generous for a mid-size three-row — adults sit comfortably behind adults with room to slide the captain's chairs.

The 2025 redesign grew third-row space usefully (roughly 38.5 in headroom and 29.8 in legroom on the shared VSS-M platform) with easier tilt-and-slide access via the captain's chairs; reviewers rate it kid-friendly with room for adults on short trips — still short of class leaders Palisade/Telluride and Grand Highlander for adult comfort.

Cargo behind the second row is competitive for a mid-size three-row and grew substantially in the 2025 redesign, though it trails the roomiest Palisade/Telluride cargo figures.

Maximum cargo capacity sits near the top of the mid-size SUV band after the 2025 redesign added significant interior volume.

Large center console with sliding armrest, deep door bins, standard wireless charging pad, and a covered under-armrest bin; Avenir's console-equipped 6-passenger layout adds a second-row storage/USB hub. Solid, well-thought-out storage but nothing genuinely innovative (no frunk, giga-console, or Pro-Power outlets).

Avenir gets 20-way power front seats with massage and 4-way lumbar; Sport Touring and Preferred use well-cushioned power seats widely praised for long-haul comfort. Second-row captain's chairs slide and recline for adult comfort — Buick markets Enclave as its comfort-flagship SUV.

Buick tunes the Enclave for a plusher ride than the Acadia/Traverse siblings; Avenir gets adaptive dampers and 20-inch wheels for composed body control. Overall ride is compliant on broken pavement, one of the segment's more comfortable — a notch below the plushest Palisade Calligraphy but above most three-row rivals.

Buick's QuietTuning package (acoustic-laminated windshield and front side glass, triple door seals, active noise cancellation) is standard; highway noise levels are among the lowest in the mid-size SUV segment. The 2.5T is a bit gruff under hard acceleration but muted at cruise.

Tri-zone climate is standard; heated front seats and heated steering wheel standard from Preferred; ventilated fronts and heated 2nd-row captain's chairs on Sport Touring and Avenir; Avenir adds 20-way massaging front seats, panoramic sunroof (standard on Sport Touring/Avenir), and remote start with cabin pre-conditioning.

2026 Buick Enclave Preferred FWD entry trim carries over the 5th-gen pricing with a modest MY26 uptick over the 2025 launch price of $45,895. Premium mid-size 3-row positioning keeps it well above mainstream rivals like the Traverse.

Sport Touring is the volume trim; AWD (a common add) plus common option packages puts real transaction pricing in the low-$50k range. Avenir tops the lineup near $63k.

Premium mid-size 3-row SUV with new 2.5L turbo I4 (replacing the naturally-aspirated 3.6L V6) and 9-speed automatic. Turbo powertrain and complex driveline drive maintenance costs slightly above the segment mean; long-run reliability is unproven for the new engine.

Buick brand carries weak residual value versus Japanese and Korean rivals in the 3-row segment. Aggressive incentive spending and rental-fleet exposure further pressure resale; the new-generation redesign helps only modestly.

Buick's standard 4-year/50,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty is one year longer than most mainstream brands but shorter than Genesis/Hyundai/Kia's 5-year coverage.

Standard Buick 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain coverage is below the segment average and well short of Hyundai/Kia (10 yr / 100k) and Mitsubishi.

Buick includes only one complimentary maintenance visit in the first year (reduced from prior 2-visit programs), plus a modest OnStar/Buick Connected Services trial and 6-year roadside assistance tied to powertrain coverage — thin versus BMW/Genesis/Toyota multi-year programs.

$51,695 volume-trim price minus its estimated resale value after 5 years (44% retained, or about $22,746) leaves about $28,949 in depreciation. Add the projected $7,100 in 5-year maintenance and repairs, and owning this vehicle for 5 years costs about $36,049 in total.

Third-generation Enclave is only in its second model year on GM's new C1 platform with a first-generation 2.5L turbo I4 and 8-speed automatic, so Consumer Reports has no established predicted-reliability rating and J.D. Power's early data on the platform siblings has been mixed. Rating reflects a below-average outlook for a brand-new powertrain/platform combination.

Buick has consistently ranked in the top tier of J.D. Power's Vehicle Dependability Study over the past several years, frequently placing in the top 5 among mass-market brands. That legacy of above-average brand dependability offsets some of the risk of the new Enclave platform.

The redesigned 2024 Chevrolet Traverse and Acadia (mechanically identical to the 2025+ Enclave) accumulated several NHTSA recalls in their launch years covering the 2.5L turbo engine, transmission software, and safety-belt/interior items, and the 2025 Enclave has followed a similar early-life recall trajectory. Not systemic yet, but noticeably worse than the prior V6 generation.

The 2.5L turbocharged LK0 four-cylinder and its 8-speed automatic are unproven at long mileages and replaced the well-regarded naturally aspirated 3.6L LFY V6. Early Traverse/Acadia owners have reported cooling-system and turbo-related complaints, and boosted small-displacement engines pulling a 4,500-lb crossover carry inherent longevity questions.

Reviewers have consistently praised the redesigned Enclave's cabin as one of the richest in the mainstream three-row class, with quilted leather, real wood or metallic trim, and soft-touch coverage extending well down the doors and console — particularly in Avenir spec. Materials clearly out-punch its price class relative to the Traverse/Acadia siblings.

Assembly at Lansing Delta Township has generally been solid, but launch-year owner reports on the shared C1 platform have flagged scattered rattles, trim alignment, and infotainment glitches typical of first-year production of a heavily reworked vehicle. Expected to improve as the line matures.

Buick shares its retail footprint with GMC, giving it roughly 2,000 combined Buick-GMC dealers across the US — dense nationwide coverage with strong urban and suburban penetration. Service satisfaction in J.D. Power's Customer Service Index for Buick has historically ranked above the mass-market average.

Extensive parts commonality with the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, plus GM's mature US parts distribution, keeps availability strong and prices moderate. Turbocharger and 8-speed automatic service can be pricier than the outgoing V6/9-speed setup, keeping this from a top-tier score.

Fully redesigned for MY2025 and unchanged for 2026, the Enclave adopts GM's curved 30-inch diagonal freeform LED display standard across the Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir trims — an 11-inch reconfigurable driver cluster paired with a 16.3-inch infotainment touchscreen on a single continuous panel. That eclipses the SUV band's 15.5-inch top and pins the item at 100.

GM's Google Built-in stack running on the new VIP electrical architecture is generally reviewed as fast, familiar (Play Store apps, Google Maps as native), and easy to navigate, with retained physical volume and tuning knobs. It doesn't quite hit best-in-class polish but sits comfortably above segment average.

Wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard on every 2026 Enclave trim — Buick reversed GM's earlier plan to drop phone projection on non-EVs and kept both across the lineup.

Google Built-in bakes in Google Assistant natural-language voice and Google Maps as the native navigation system, with the first several years of connectivity data included. It's among the strongest OEM voice/nav integrations because it's essentially the phone stack running natively.

Base Enclave carries a competent multi-speaker system; upper trims (notably Avenir) upgrade to a Bose Performance Series setup that is respectable but not class-leading versus Burmester/Mark Levinson/Meridian premium options in the luxury mid-size set. Solid, not standout.

Every 2026 Enclave gets the 11-inch reconfigurable digital driver cluster that forms the left portion of the standard 30-inch curved display — crisp, configurable, and standard across trims.

The new Enclave rides on GM's VIP electrical architecture, which supports over-the-air updates for infotainment, safety, and select vehicle modules — broader than maps-only, but not the whole-vehicle feature-adding OTA cadence of Tesla, Rivian, or Ford's newest platforms.

The myBuick app plus OnStar delivers remote start, lock/unlock, locate, and vehicle status. Core remote commands come with a multi-year trial of the Remote Access plan, then move to a paid OnStar subscription. No phone-as-key today.

Standard wireless phone charging and multiple USB-C ports across the first two rows, with charging available in the third row on the redesigned Enclave. No household 120V outlet, which caps the score short of the top band.

Proximity keyless entry, push-button start, and remote start are standard, with a hands-free power liftgate on Sport Touring and Avenir. No phone-as-key capability, which keeps this out of the top band.

HD Surround Vision (360-degree camera), front and rear park assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Braking are standard or widely available on the redesigned Enclave, with high-resolution imagery displayed on the wide center screen. Automated parking is limited relative to segment leaders.

A color head-up display is available but not standard, generally offered on Sport Touring and Avenir trims rather than the volume Preferred trim, which keeps this in the middle band.

Three-row layout with SmartSlide second row (tilts and slides with a child seat installed on some trims) plus captain's chairs standard from Preferred and up gives easy third-row access. Wide door openings, tall H-point, and clearly labeled LATCH anchors on the outboard second-row seats are family-friendly, though the sliding-row mechanism can complicate rear-facing seat installs versus Palisade/Telluride benchmarks.

Standard Buick Driver Confidence bundles auto emergency braking, forward collision alert, front pedestrian braking, lane-keep assist, blind-zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert, and Rear Seat Reminder across the range, and Super Cruise hands-free driving is offered on Sport Touring/Avenir — best-in-segment ADAS for a family-oriented mid-size SUV. IIHS crash ratings for the 2025 redesign are still being scored, holding this short of a top mark.

QuietTuning cabin, tri-zone climate with rear controls, heated second-row captain's chairs, panoramic sunroof, and wireless CarPlay/Android Auto on the 30-inch curved display make it a genuinely comfortable long-hauler for six adults. Roughly 23 cu ft behind the third row swallows a family's weekend luggage without folding seats.

New 2.5L turbocharged four with an 8-speed automatic delivers smooth, ample thrust (328 hp / 326 lb-ft) with much less hesitation than the old V6/9-speed. Quiet cabin and light steering make commutes low-effort, but the 205-inch length and wide turning circle keep it from feeling truly effortless in tight urban work.

EPA-rated roughly 19/26/22 mpg city/highway/combined FWD and 18/25/21 AWD — competitive for a 4,700-lb three-row but unremarkable per mile, and the turbo-four is rated on regular gas which helps. No hybrid option keeps running costs above the Toyota Grand Highlander and Kia Sorento hybrids that lead the class.

At about 205 inches long on a 121-inch wheelbase with an ~40-ft turning circle, the Enclave is a handful in city garages and street parking. Standard rearview camera plus available HD Surround Vision and reverse automatic braking help, but the raw footprint puts it below the class average for urban ease.

Tows a modest 5,000 lb properly equipped — enough for a small camper or a light dual-axle utility trailer — but there is no bed, no meaningful payload rating advertised, and the near-luxury interior isn't built for real work duty. It's a family SUV that can pull a boat on weekends, not a work tool.

Premium interior finishes (soft leatherette, open-pore wood, suede-look headliner on Avenir) are the opposite of wear-friendly, and the redesigned 2.5T LK0 engine is a new, unproven powertrain in this application. No fleet or work-oriented reputation — Buicks aren't spec'd for contractor use.

No 120V household outlet, no factory jobsite package, no upfit ecosystem, and no washable rubber flooring — just carpeted cargo floor with basic tie-down hooks. Roof rails and a trailer hitch cover the accessory basics but the Enclave has essentially no work-focused provisions.

One of the segment's better road-trip machines: QuietTuning insulation, standard adaptive cruise, and Super Cruise hands-free driving on 750,000+ mi of North American highway on Sport Touring/Avenir dramatically cut fatigue. ~22-gal tank at 26 mpg highway yields around 550 highway miles between stops.

AWD is optional across the range (not standard), ground clearance is roughly 7.7 in, and there's no drive-mode terrain calibration or hill-descent for anything past graded gravel. Roof rails, 5,000-lb tow, and a big flat cargo hold make it fine for weekend cabin and bike-rack duty, but it isn't a Bronco/4Runner-style adventure tool.

Roughly 23.6 cu ft behind row three, 57.9 behind row two, and 97.6 behind row one with power-folding third row and 60/40 second-row bench on Preferred trim, plus a deep underfloor bin and standard roof rails. Flexible for family gear but a step behind the Palisade/Telluride and the Grand Highlander for outright capacity.

Fully redesigned 2025 platform (carried into 2026) is longer, wider, and lower with better body control than the outgoing model; Avenir's available air-ride adaptive suspension improves composure. Still tuned for isolation over agility — secure and predictable, not sporty.

Buick's electric power steering is light and precise enough for parking-lot maneuvers, but numb and feedback-free on center — deliberately isolated to match the luxury-comfort mission.

Progressive pedal with adequate stopping power for the ~4,700 lb curb weight; no reported fade issues in family-SUV duty. Pedal action is on the softer side, consistent with Buick's comfort tune.

The 2.5L turbo I4 (LK0, 328 hp / 326 lb-ft) paired with the 8-speed automatic delivers strong midrange but exhibits mild off-idle turbo lag and less linear tip-in than the outgoing 3.6L V6. Transmission calibration is smooth in normal driving.

Buick QuietTuning (active noise cancellation, acoustic laminated glass) keeps cruising refinement good, but the turbo-four is coarser and more audible under hard throttle than the V6 it replaced — a common criticism of the redesign.

Curb-to-curb turning diameter of the redesigned 2025+ Enclave with its 121.0 in wheelbase — mid-pack for a three-row mid-size SUV, wider than the previous generation.

Commanding SUV seating with excellent outward visibility, generous seat and wheel adjustment (up to 20-way on Avenir), and low step-in. New raised console and 30-in curved display are within easy reach; some HVAC functions moved into the touchscreen.

Composed, quiet, comfortable — but deliberately isolated with numb steering and comfort tuning. It is a serene long-distance mover, not something enthusiasts seek out.

Base Preferred is well-equipped for the premium segment: standard 30" curved dashboard display (dual 11" driver + 16.8" infotainment), wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, Buick Driver Confidence suite (adaptive cruise, auto emergency braking, blind-spot), tri-zone climate, LED lighting and heated front seats. Generous versus other near-luxury three-rows, but mainstream rivals like Palisade/Telluride still bundle more content at similar prices.

At roughly $46K start / $60K+ loaded, the Enclave is priced above mainstream three-rows (Palisade, Telluride, Grand Highlander) that match or exceed its equipment. Content-for-price is fair for a premium positioning but not a bargain; the fresh tech and cabin help, the four-cylinder in a 4,700-lb SUV hurts perceived value.

Three trims — Preferred, Sport Touring, Avenir — with FWD standard and AWD optional across the line, and 7- or 8-passenger seating. Reasonable breadth with no work-grade base and no true flagship-only options beyond Avenir; single powertrain limits configuration flexibility.

Enclave is a steady mid-pack seller in the mid-size three-row segment — roughly 40–50K US units annually in recent years, well behind Palisade/Telluride/Grand Highlander (100K+ each) and its own Traverse sibling. Redesign for 2025 lifted attention but not into segment-leader territory.

Buick's rebrand (new tri-shield logo, minimalist design language) has modernized the image, but the marque still skews to older buyers and lacks the aspirational pull of Acura, Lexus, Genesis or the German luxury brands. Neutral-to-slightly-positive perception in the near-luxury tier.

GM/Buick routinely bundles competitive incentives on the Enclave — promotional APRs, lease cash, conquest and loyalty rebates — making transaction prices notably below MSRP without signaling desperation. Better real-world deal availability than most direct luxury rivals.

2026 is year-two of the all-new third generation redesigned for 2025 — new architecture, new 2.5L turbo I4 replacing the V6, standard 30" curved OLED and updated Google-built infotainment, revised styling inside and out. Among the freshest three-row SUVs on sale.

Redesigned Enclave has been well-reviewed for cabin quality, tech, and available Super Cruise, but reviewers question the 2.5T's suitability for a 4,700-lb three-row and it is not a comparison-test winner over Palisade/Telluride/Grand Highlander. No major awards (10Best, Top Pick, NACTOY) to date.