The 2012 Buick Enclave AWD was listed as Forbes “Car of the Week” last Wednesday! We’re looking forward to seeing the debut ’13 model from the New York Auto Show next month.
The Car: 2012 Buick Enclave
Where I drove it: Four out of five boroughs, and Long Island, too.
First Impressions: I’ve watched the “Cars” movie at least 17 times over the past three months. I have a three year old, and this is the only program he wants to see during his allocated television time. I actually don’t mind the Pixar film — there’s enough characterization of each car that keeps the film entertaining. It’s no accident that I when I think Doc Hudson, I think Buick. The Hudson Hornet was also a Detroit made car, and in the movie, Doc is aging race car that still secretly had a dream to be fabulous again. Buick is older than Hudson, it is the oldest American marque, originating in 1899, and in the ‘50s Buick ran drag races like a boss. Like Doc, Buick desperately wants to be king of the hill, and recognized for its stature, and not cast aside as an old fogey. And so we have the reigning Buick boss — the Enclave. This is the last we’ll see of the ’12, as the ’13 Enclave debuts at the New York Auto Show in April.
Second date: As a member of the premium group, a marketing term that must be inspired by frequent travelers who have Marriott points — a little bit extra is part of the standard package at this price point. Standard features include amenities such as rear park assist, rear vision camera, heated mirror, heated and cooled seats, rear power outlet, Bose audio and usb ports. This means that the price tag is what it is, without getting bumped up by dozens of fine print options. The ride is smooth and serene.
On the inside: As a childhood space camp fan, the “captain’s chair” gets me every time. Big people can drive the Enclave without feeling cramped. Sometimes in the small car craze, its easy to forget about the big and tall, or those who simply want a little extra elbow room. Enclave is sensitive to these matters, and this logic carries over to the second row. In the crunch to squish maximum space in minimum quarters the back seat can become miniscule. Not in the Enclave, which has substantive legroom for big people. If you squeeze in the third row, then understandably these proportions change, but you can get everything big into a smaller page. There are plenty of things to play with in the Enclave cabin including headphone jacks and audio controls.
MPG: 16/22
Under the Hood: 3.6 liter V6, brake assist hill start
Five Days Later: I drove the Enclave in January. An SUV in the wintertime feels like a comfy pair of UGG boots and my Burberry jacket, but the only trouble is that it was 60 degrees in January in New York City. The AWD drive option was lost on me.
What people said: “Mommy can we watch Cars 1 again?” Thank you for the rear seat entertainment, GM.
Parting thoughts: A solid sleeper in a sea of SUVs.I’m curious to see what tweaks will take place on the 2013 Buick that will be unveiled in a few weeks.
Extras: Audio system with navigation, power sunroof with second row skylight, 20” chrome clad aluminum wheels, carbon black metallic paint.
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