April 2012

Vehicle Profile: The 2012 Buick Enclave Premium

The 2012 Buick Enclave with the Premium Group is a powerful, leather-upholstered, eight-passenger challenge to other luxury-brand crossovers and SUVs. The Enclave Premium doesn’t just compare to such vehicles, it dares them to try matching its combination of driving performance, comfort and amenities.
 
When seeking a full-size crossover that can carry eight in comfort with ample V6 power and admirable 24 mpg highway fuel economy, you could find yourself looking at severe sticker shock. Or you could look at the 2012 Buick Enclave with the top-of-the-line option collection, the Premium Group, in which case you’d have all the luxury you need for an MSRP of $43,615.
 
If you also want the perforated leather seating surfaces, heated and cooled front seats, articulating headlights, power tilt and telescopic steering wheel, power folding outside mirrors, 19-inch chrome wheels and the Bose® premium audio system, the MSRP doesn’t increase at all. The 2012 Buick Enclave Premium also comes standard with the Driver Confidence Package, which includes remote start, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist and a rear-view camera system.
 
Without a doubt, that level of equipment is more than deserving of the “Premium” label.
You can still add a few options including Intelligent AWD, a power sunroof, a navigation system and a rear-seat entertainment system. An available Trailer Provision Package enables the Enclave to pull 4,500 pounds.
 
Before you start thinking about a trailer, though, consider the abundance of luxurious interior room that the 2012 Buick Enclave offers. This is a true three-row vehicle with a third row that can comfortably accommodate adult passengers. With the flip of one lever, the Smart Slide™ system for the second row makes it easy for passengers to enter and exit the third row. The vehicle’s overall length of 201.8 inches is just seven to 12 inches longer than most midsize sedans. That sensible size helps make the Buick Enclave easy to maneuver and easy to park, which you cannot say about some large SUVs.
 
With the third row folded, the Enclave offers 67.5 cubic feet of carrying space behind the middle row. Fold both rows and the Enclave presents a massive 115 cubic feet of carrying space. Compare that to another three-row luxury crossover, the Lincoln MKT, which offers a maximum of 75.9 cubic feet. That’s a considerable difference that you’ll appreciate when hauling home the antiques you bought over the weekend. Even with all seats in use, the Buick Enclave still offers 24.1 cubic feet of carrying space behind the third row. That’s more room than in a full-size luxury sedan’s trunk, and it’s more than the 17.9 cubic feet in the Lincoln MKT.
 
So, the Buick Enclave Premium is roomy and luxurious. What’s it like to drive? The 3.6-liter V6 with direct fuel injection delivers 288 hp and 270 lb/ft of torque through a six-speed automatic transmission. Brisk acceleration and solid merging power comes in combination with excellent fuel economy. Four-wheel independent suspension delivers agile handling and a supremely smooth ride.
 
Just as important, the Buick Enclave delivers a premium ride quality in all trim levels. The Buick QuietTuning™ engineering process ensures that unwanted noise gets blocked from entering the cabin. The resulting tranquility at highway speeds makes using the Bose audio or rear-seat entertainment all the more enjoyable. That quietness could also encourage a revival of the art of conversation.
 
Here’s a detail that underscores the attention Buick pays to driving comfort in the Enclave: If you’re stopped at a light on a five-percent or steeper incline, the standard Hill-Hold Assist feature will automatically hold the brakes for 1.5 seconds when you release the brake pedal. It’s a benefit that you’ll especially appreciate when you drive another vehicle without it.
 
Like all 2012 Buick models, the Enclave Premium comes with the added assurance of the OnStar system. This much-imitated technology includes the Automatic Crash Response System, Emergency Services, Stolen Vehicle Slowdown, Remote Door Unlock, Remote Ignition Block, Hands-Free Calling and a complimentary six-month subscription to the Directions and Connections plan for route guidance support, among its many features. With its array of vehicle sensors, GPS and digital cellular technology, OnStar can summon emergency responders to a crash scene, even if you or your passengers are unable to.
 
Buick backs the 2012 Enclave with a four-year/50,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty and a five-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty. Come in and see the best value in a stylish, powerful and luxurious three-row crossover, the 2012 Buick Enclave Premium.


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