The Buick Enclave features a luxurious solution to chauffeuring around up to seven passengers. Although much about the model hasn’t changed drastically in the last few years, this large SUV still manages to keep up with the pack. The Enclave is the largest of Buick’s SUV lineup, which also includes the smaller Envision and smallest Encore.
If you’re considering the 2021 Enclave, this guide will bring you information about trim specifications, fuel efficiency, and safety features. By the end of the article, you should have a better idea of how well the 2021 Enclave fits into your life. We encourage you to visit your local Buick dealership as well, because nothing gives you a better feeling about a vehicle than a few turns around the block behind the wheel.
Performance Specifications
Buick fits the 2021 Enclave with a single engine paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 3.6-liter V6 beneath the hood is capable of 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. Both front-wheel and all-wheel drive are available. Base Enclave models can tow up to 1,500 pounds, while those equipped with the optional trailer towing package can manage up to 5,000 pounds.
Available Colors
The 2021 Buick Enclave is available in the following colors.
- White Frost Tricoat
- Satin Steel Metallic
- Summit White
- Champagne Gold Metallic
- Dark Moon Blue Metallic
- Quicksilver Metallic
- Red Quartz Tintcoat
- Dark Slate Metallic
- Ebony Twilight Metallic
- Rich Garnet Metallic
Available Trimlines and Pricing
Buick offers the following trim levels on the 2021 Enclave. Official pricing hasn’t been announced yet, but we’ll give you the 2020 prices so you have a rough estimate. They shouldn’t be much different.
Preferred
Base 2021 Enclave models come from the factory with LED headlights, 18-inch wheels, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, heated front seats, Wi-Fi, and a power tailgate. Customers will also enjoy keyless entry and push button start, along with powered front seats. The 2020 base model started at $40,000.
Essence
Leather is one of the biggest upgrades you’ll see on this trim level, which also includes optional all-wheel drive and a cabin-air ionizer. This Enclave started at $42,000 in 2020.
Premium
If interior creature comforts are important to you, choose the Premium trim. Heated, ventilated, and massaging front seats will have you enjoying even the shortest of drives. A heated steering wheel and second-row seats are premium upgrades as well, along with an upgraded Bose 10-speaker sound system. Memory settings on the driver’s seat, a power tilting and telescoping steering column, and power-folding rear seats make life much easier, too. Last year’s Preferred Enclave was priced at $48,000.
Avenir
A moonroof and navigation are highlights of this top-tier trim level. Other features include a part-wood steering wheel, wireless charging, and 20-inch wheels. If you’ve never seen a digital rearview mirror, check out this trim level. You’ll be able to see more behind you than just what’s right outside the back window. The 2020 Avenir was priced around $54,000.
Safety
The 2021 Buick Enclave has not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, the 2020 Enclave was given an overall “Good” rating by the IIHS. We’d expect the 2021 model, with hardly any major changes, to score similarly. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration awarded the 2021 model with 5 out of 5 stars overall.
Standard safety features on the 2021 Enclave include rear parking sensors and not much more. To get the most out of the safety features on the 2021 Enclave, you’ll have to spend enough for the higher trims. There, you’ll have access to technology such as forward-collision alert, automatic emergency braking, rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and a surround-view camera. The Safety Alert Seat is also built into higher trims and alerts you via vibrations.
Fuel Efficiency
Gas mileage ratings on the 2021 Enclave are fairly straightforward, since there’s only one powerplant available. When in a front-wheel drive configuration, the 2021 Enclave achieves 18 city and 26 highway EPA-estimated miles-per-gallon (MPG). All-wheel drive models lose a point in both regards.
Competitors
Buick has done quite a bit of advertising within the last few years to distinguish themselves as a brand not just relegated to older folks. And with the 2021 Enclave geared towards large families who still have plenty of life ahead, it seems the brand’s been mostly successful in catering to a different age group.
There are a few areas, however, where experts didn’t quite give the 2021 Enclave top marks. For instance, one of the biggest gripes concerned the lack of more advanced safety features. If you want to take full advantage of the extent of the safety systems available on the 2021 Enclave, you’ll have to pay at least $50,000 for a Premium trim model. A more extensive list of safety features can be found at both Honda and Toyota. Even the Kia Telluride and Hyundai Palisade prioritize safety a bit more.
While the Enclave might undercut luxury competitors like the Cadillac XT6, Lincoln Aviator, Genesis GV80, and Mercedes-Benz’s GLE, Edmunds says there’s not enough quality distinction in the interior materials to warrant the price hike over more conservative alternatives. If you’re going to be paying for a luxury SUV, you want to be able to feel the difference when you get in the car. Add to that the lack of any major changes from the 2020 model and the newest Enclave doesn’t look quite as promising as it maybe could.
This semi-luxury SUV does redeem itself, though. The large cargo bay provides ample room for bountiful grocery trips. A quiet, smooth ride means you can get home without feeling every bump along the way. An integrated start/stop feature allows you to sip fuel while sitting at stop lights. Kelley Blue Book experts appreciated the “handsome look with rounded lines and a soft feel overall.” The 2021 Enclave is not necessarily an edgy or stylish SUV, but it certainly has a presence on the road. And while parked too.
The Last Word
As of the writing of this article, Buick has not yet updated their website to include official information about the 2021 Enclave. However, we anticipate models will be showing up to Buick dealerships near you very soon. When they do, take a few hours to check out in-person the features we’ve described above. You might just drive home with a new Enclave. But if you find yourself coming back empty-handed, check back for more in-depth reviews on the latest models.
Source: Buick
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