Test Drive: 2013 Buick Enclave

?2013 Buick Enclave: Significantly updated and enhanced?
By Arv Voss

2013 Buick Enclave

Louisville, KY- Buick first introduced the Enclave in 2007 and it has enjoyed tremendous sales success progressively since to the point that it is the industry?s top-selling three-row luxury crossover.

For the 2013 Buick Enclave, designers enhanced the vehicle?s exterior through an evolutionary process by refining details while managing to maintain its overall identity.

The 2013 Buick Enclave serves up a high level of craftsmanship combined with exceptional comfort. The sculpted exterior design evolves the sophisticated elegance of this segment-leading crossover. The revised exterior includes restyled, body color front and rear fascias and rocker moldings, LED lighting front and rear, including daytime running lamps, a new sculpted hood, fenders and a larger, black-chrome waterfall grille, integrated dual stainless steel exhaust with bright outlets, new 19 and 20-inch wheel designs, and more monochromatic design elements than the existing model. There is no longer a composite lower cladding surrounding the vehicle. A chrome glass profile surround trim and chrome capped door handles add a nice touch along with the blacked out ?B? and ?C? pillars.

2013 Buick Enclave (Side View)

The 2013 Buick Enclave interior benefits from a newly designed instrument panel and door trim with genuine stitching and soft ambient accent lighting along with new climate controls and a revised look for OnStar buttons as well as front-row four-way adjustable head restraints. An eight-way power front passenger seat adjuster is optionally available. For entertainment, there?s a Premium audio system with AM/FM/HD and Sirius/XM radio (with three months of service), Bluetooth, USB port, CD player, auxiliary input jack, steering wheel-mounted controls, Buick IntelliLink seven-inch color touch-screen radio and available color touch radios with DVD and navigation.

2013 Buick Enclave (Interior)

Other cabin highlights include: new ice blue LED ambient lighting?around the dash that highlights Enclave?s flowing lines, while emphasizing the cabin?s spaciousness; available memory presets on eight-way power driver?s seat include easy-exit driver?s seat, power outside mirrors and power tilt and telescopic steering column; available heated and cooled front seats; soft-touch materials and real stitching throughout the cabin, as well as true chrome accents; an available power, tilt-sliding sunroof a standard storage system under the floor in the rear cargo area and standard power windows with driver and passenger express up/down feature. Four interior color combinations are available with complementing wood tones.

Mechanically, the 2013 Buick Enclave?s six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission with overdrive has been updated and new suspension technology has been implemented for a smoother, more controlled driving experience.

2013 Buick Enclave (Engine)

Power for the 2013 Buick Enclave is delivered by a 3.6-liter, DOHC, 24-valve VVT V6 engine with Spark Ignition Direct Injection which is transversely mounted up front, that generates 288 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 270 pound feet of torque at 3,400 rpm. The engine delivers power to either the front wheels or to all four in the optional 4WD version via a Hydra-Matic 6T75 six-speed automatic transmission with manual shift capability.

In terms of safety technology, the 2013 Buick Enclave is enhanced by the addition of the industry-first front center side air bag that provides protection for drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes. A rear vision camera system is standard fare with an optionally available Side Blind Zone Alert with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert. Other standard safety fare includes: ABS, ETC and EC with rollover mitigation.

The 2013 Buick Enclave seats seven or eight passengers, with the second row featuring Buick?s SmartSlide system. Available trim levels will include: the 1SD Convenience level; a 1SL Leather model; and a 1SN Premium trim. Base prices range from $39,270 through $43,285 to $46,450 respectively. Standard features and equipment for the 1SD trim includes: USB Port/ 7? color touch screen with Intellilink, Center Side Impact Airbag, Remote start, Rear Park Assist, Rear Vision Camera, Universal garage door opener and 89-way power driver seat. The 1SL adds: leather seating, heated seats with 8-way power [passenger seat, Side Blind Zone Alert and memory settings. The 1SN Premium trim adds: cooled seats, articulating headlamps, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power folding exterior mirrors, 19-inch chrome wheels and Bose Premium audio system. Available options fro the Premium level include a TraileriingTrailering package, AWD, Navigation, 8 passenger seating, a sunroof, DVD with a 115 volt outlet and 20-inch Ultrabright machined aluminum wheels.

2013 Buick Enclave Wheels

At the national press preview, my driving partner and I piloted a FWD Enclave 1SN with an exterior finished in Champagne Silver Metallic and a Cocoa interior with a base price of $45,625, which rose to $50,090 after adding for the Navigation with DVD, sunroof and Destination charge. We also drove a 1SN trim Enclave with its exterior finished in Mocha Bronze Metallic and the interior executed in Chaocacchino. Its base sticker was the same, but it came with AWD, Navigation, 20-inch wheels, a sunroof and the Destination charge, which elevated the final tally to $50,895.

SUMMARY:? The Buick Enclave has always been a luxurious and attractive crossover, but now it has reached a new sweet spot. It looks better with its visual enhancements, handles better with its mechanical improvements, and is more comfortable with its added convenience features.

Despite its nearly 21/2 ton mass, the 2013 Enclave handles like a much smaller vehicle. The new interior design treatment is warm, inviting and elegant, displaying top-notch craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Acceleration is more than adequate and shifting is smooth up and down through the gears. Stability is spot on, with no pronounced body roll and the interior displays a refined quiet, making conversation between front and rear occupants pleasant.

Bottom-line, if you liked the old Enclave, you?re sure to love this latest iteration luxury crossover – it?s the ultimate family adventure cruiser. Clark Griswold would love it for sure.

SPECIFICATIONS: Buick Enclave-?13

Base Price:?????????????? ??????????? $45,625.

Price as Tested:??????????? ??????????? $50,090.

Engine Type and Size:??????????? 3.6-liter, DOHC, 24-valve VVT V6 with Spark Ignition Direct Injection.

Horsepower (bhp):??????????? ??????????? 288??????????? @ 6,300??????????? rpm

Torque (ft./ lbs.):??????????? ??????????? 270??????????? @ 3,400??????????? rpm

Transmission:??????????? ??????????? Hydra-Matic 6T75 six-speed automatic with manual ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? shift capability.

Drive Train:??????????? Transversely mounted front engine / Front-wheel drive.

Suspension:??????????? ??????????? ??????????? Front –Coil over strut, direct acting stabilizer bar??????????? rand ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? full perimeter isolated cradle.???????????

??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? Rear – Linked H-arm independent, coil springs with ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? twin tube shock absorbers mounted on an isolated ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? sub-frame.

Brakes:??????????? ??????????? ??????????? Power-assisted four-wheel ventilated discs with ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? Bosch 8.0 chassis controls: ABS, ETC and EC with ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? rollover mitigation.

Tires:??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? Michelin P 255/55 R20 H-rated, mounted on chrome ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? clad 9-spoke alloy wheels.

Wheelbase:??????????? ??????????? ??????????? 118.9??????????? inches

Length Overall:??????????? ??????????? 201.9??????????? inches

Width:??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ? 79.0??????????? inches

Height:??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ? 71.7??????????? inches

Curb Weight:??????????? ??????????? ??????????? 4,922??????????? lbs.

Fuel Capacity:??????????? ??????????? ? 22.0??????????? gallons

EPA Mileage Estimates:??????????? ? 16??????????? mpg city / 22??????????? mpg highway

Drag Coefficient:??????????? ??????????? ? Not listed.

0 – 60 mph:??????????? ??????????? ??????????? ? Not tested.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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