Avenir All-Wheel Drive
2020 Buick Enclave
The 2020 Buick Enclave is an attractive three-row SUV, aimed for families that want-or need-to transport as many as eight people. Redesigned for the 2018 model year, the Enclave sees only a couple of changes for 2020. A new Sport Touring styling package is available, as are massaging front seats. As before, four trim levels are offered: Preferred, Essence, Premium, and top-level Avenir.
In each Enclave, a 3.6-liter V-6 develops 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mating with a slick-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission. The base-level Preferred trim comes only with front-wheel drive. Essence editions may have front-drive or a basic all-wheel-drive system that applies brakes to reduce slippage. Premium and Avenir trims can have a more sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, with a twin-clutch rear differential that shuttles power between the wheels to maintain traction.
Valuable active-safety technology that's typically standard in the Enclave's class comes only on top trim levels. Automatic emergency braking is standard on Premium and Avenir versions, but not available at all for Preferred or Essence trim.
Crash-test results are incomplete. The NHTSA gave Enclave five-star ratings overall and for side-impact, but only four stars for the frontal collision. Rollover prevention (a calculated figure) also warranted four stars, which is typical for taller vehicles. The IIHS has not crash-tested Buick's Enclave, and results of testing the related Chevrolet Traverse are only partial, with two “Good” scores.
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Redesigned for the 2018 model year, the Enclave sees only a couple of changes for 2020. A new Sport Touring styling package is available, as are massaging front seats. As before, four trim levels are offered: Preferred, Essence, Premium, and top-level Avenir.
In each Enclave, a 3.6-liter V-6 develops 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque, mating with a slick-shifting 9-speed automatic transmission. The base-level Preferred trim comes only with front-wheel drive. Essence editions may have front-drive or a basic all-wheel-drive system that applies brakes to reduce slippage. Premium and Avenir trims can have a more sophisticated all-wheel-drive system, with a twin-clutch rear differential that shuttles power between the wheels to maintain traction.
Valuable active-safety technology that's typically standard in the Enclave's class comes only on top trim levels. Automatic emergency braking is standard on Premium and Avenir versions, but not available at all for Preferred or Essence trim.
Crash-test results are incomplete. The NHTSA gave Enclave five-star ratings overall and for side-impact, but only four stars for the frontal collision. Rollover prevention (a calculated figure) also warranted four stars, which is typical for taller vehicles. The IIHS has not crash-tested Buick's Enclave, and results of testing the related Chevrolet Traverse are only partial, with two “Good” scores.
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Engine | 3.6L V-6 |
MPG | 17 City / 25 Hwy |
Seating | 7 Passengers |
Transmission | 9-spd auto w/OD |
Power | 310 @ 6800 rpm |
Drivetrain | all wheel |