Rumour has it Buick is working up a new version of its largest vehicle for the 2021 model year, which will likely become the brand's next made-in-China import to North America.
For 2020, however, the Enclave is carried over unchanged as the brand's flagship. It competes with posh crossovers like the Infiniti QX60, Lexus RX, Acura MDX, Volvo XC90, Audi Q7, Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class and BMW's new X7. Whether the Enclave is a true competitor to those European models is up for debate -- the Buick is a lot less expensive -- but it is definitely an alternative to those Japanese models.
Buick faces some new competition from Lincoln this year, as Ford's luxury brand launches its all-new Aviator mid-sizer.
Like last year's model, the 2020 Buick Enclave comes in three trims -- Essence, Premium and Avenir -- powered by a 3.6L V6 engine that gets a nominal boost in power to 310 hp and 266 lb-ft of torque. A nine-speed automatic transmission is standard. Essence comes as a front-driver with an AWD option, while AWD is standard in the upper trims.
While the Enclave is a luxury vehicle first, Buick installs a high-tech suspension to firm up the ride and lend this crossover a more European feel. What the Enclave really needs to feel Euro, though, is a turbocharged motor like those of its continental competitors; the 3.6L lacks the low-end torque to give it the kind of off-the-line punch that the German models, especially, demonstrate.
The Buick Enclave's list of standard kit includes 18-inch wheels, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic warning, lane change alert, power hands-free tailgate, LED headlights, seating for seven, an 8.0-inch touch-sensitive display, passive keyless entry, rear park sensors and tri-zone climate control.
Premium models bring frontal collision alert that can identify pedestrians, city-speed autonomous braking, forward park assist, electric folding side mirrors, an upgraded sound system, third-row seats that fold at the touch of a button and air conditioned front seats.
At the top of the range, Avenir trim gets 20-inch wheels, a dual-panel moonroof, navi, a part-digital gauge cluster, a steering wheel done up in leather and wood, 360-degree exterior camera views and wireless portable device charging.
As of this writing, Buick had not published fuel consumption estimates for the 2020 Enclave, but they will be similar, if not identical, to those for the 2019 model, at 12.9/9.0 L/100 km (city/highway) with front-drive models and 13.8/9.4 for AWD variants.
