PORTLAND – Buick’s flagship Enclave three-row SUV adds features, power and fuel economy for 2025, along with a sleek new look that brings the midsize family hauler into harmony with the rest of the brand’s lineup.
The new Enclave is also slightly larger than the ’24 model, though passenger and cargo space are largely unchanged.
Buick also simplified the Enclave model line, reducing the number of options available and cutting back to three trim levels: Preferred, ST or Sport Touring and Avenir.
The 2025 Enclave is in dealerships now.
2025 Buick Enclave trim levels and prices
- Preferred: $44,400
- Sport Touring (ST): $46,800
- Avenir: $57,940
All-wheel drive adds $2,000 to all models.
Source: Buick. Prices exclude $1,995 destination charge.
New inside and out
Nearly all the Enclave’s exterior sheet metal is new, but the grille and new LED lights are the attention grabbers. Each trim gets its own grille, but the lights are shared across line, including a full-width light bar connecting the tail lamps.
The latest version of Buick‘s traditional "tri-shield" badge ornaments the hood, and gets an encore as a lighted red Easter egg on the tail lights. Preferred and ST models get 20-inch wheels while the Avenir gets 22s.
Interior changes start with a 30-inch screen that extends from in front of the driver to the middle of the dashboard. It contains an adjustable high-resolution instrument cluster and a touch screen.
The infotainment system uses Google Plus for connected navigation, app store and voice recognition of many features. The system is compatible with Apple CarPlay.
Physical controls consist of a handful of switches for temperature, fan speed, defrost and the like, a volume dial on the center console and buttons on the steering wheel.
They’re all easy to see and use in a moving vehicle.
The shifter moves from the center console to the steering column. That helps create a “floating” center console that offers wireless charging, cupholders, storage, with an accommodating space for purses underneath.
2025 Buick Enclave top new features
- 30-inch display screen
- Standard noise cancellation
- Standard Bose audio
- “Floating” console adds storage space
- Super Cruise hands-free driving available
- Animated approach and departure lights
- Seven camera views (nine with towing package)
- New grille and LED exterior lighting
Driving impressions
I drove both an Enclave Avenir and ST over highways and city streets from downtown Portland to charming Netarts Bay, a tidal estuary rich in crabs and shellfish.
Both vehicles had the Enclave’s new powerplant, a 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive.
The turbo produces more power and gets better fuel economy than the Enclave’s previous engine, a 3.6L V6 also linked to an eight-speed.
The drivetrain delivers plenty of power for highway cruising, passing and maneuvering through traffic. Engine noise is bit less noticeable in the Avenir, which gets a bit more physical insulation in addition to the Enclave’s standard active noise cancellation and acoustically treated windshield and front windows.
The Enclave’s steering is responsive, making it easy to place the 207.6-inch long SUV in traffic and following winding forest roads.
The interior is comfortable, with plenty of leg room in all three rows. Access to the back row was easy between the second row captain’s chairs. Storage behind the rear seat is acceptable.
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Selected competitors
- Acura MDX
- Infiniti QX70
- Hyundai Palisade
- Jeep Grand Cherokee L
- Lincon Aviator
- Lexus TX
- Kia Telluride
- VW Atlas
Hands-free driving, improved fuel economy
The Enclave is the first Buick to offer Super Cruise, the best hands-free driving system on the road. Its database has been expanded to include more roads, including some with traffic lights and intersections.
The system requires the driver to take over when approaching traffic lights. It gave plenty of notice, but I think I’d be most likely to use the features in open country, where traffic signals are uncommon.
The system managed hands-free lane changes to pass slower vehicles flawlessly.
The EPA rates the front-drive Enclave at 20 mpg in the city, 27 on the highway and 23 combined using regular engine. AWD fuel economy is 19/24/21. Those figures are several mpg better than the previous model’s V6.
Why get a Buick Enclave?
The 2025 Enclave is a handsome and efficient SUV that offers usable room in all three rows of seats.
Its distinctive lights and sleek shape stand out, while the interior is comfortable and easy to use. From the big new driver display to hands-free driving, it’s an appealing three-row people hauler.
Enclave prices are competitive with three-row SUVs from other mid-luxury brands.
2025 Buick Enclave at a glance
Front- or all-wheel drive six or seven-seat midsize SUV.
Base price: $44,400 (All prices exclude $1,995 destination charge.)
Model tested: Enclave Avenir AWD
Price as tested: $59,400
Specifications as tested:
Powerplant: 2.5L turbocharged four-cylinder engine
Total system output: 328 horsepower 5,500 rpm; 326 pound-feet of torque @3,500
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
EPA estimated fuel economy: 19 mpg city/24 highway/21 combined. Regular gasoline.
Wheelbase: 120.9 inches
Length: 207.8 inches
Width: 79.6 inches without mirrors; 81.7 mirrors folded; 87.9 mirrors out.
Height: 70.1 inches
Ground clearance: 6.9 Preferred and ST; 7.3 Avenir.
Cargo room: 22.9 cubic feet, rear seats up; 57.1 rear seats folded; 97.5 second and third row seats folded.
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
Assembled in Lansing, Michigan
Contact Mark Phelan: 313-222-6731 or mmphelan@freepress.com . Follow him on Twitter @ mark_phelan . Read more on autos and sign up for our autos newsletter . Become a subscriber .
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 2025 Buick Enclave’s 30-inch screen is only the beginning of what’s new for family hauler
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