The 2012 Buick Enclave is that rare combination in a full-size crossover: Comfortable, roomy and fuel-efficient. With an estimated 24 mpg highway for the front-wheel drive model, it gets you and the entire family down the road in first-class luxury.

 

A 3.6-liter, direct-injected V6 engine with Variable Valve Timing delivers 288 hp and 270 lb/ft of torque – it’s the torque that gives you the oomph you need for strong acceleration. By using the more fuel-efficient direct injection, less gas is required, but no horsepower is sacrificed. The V6 engine is paired with a Hydra-Matic 6T75 electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission. A properly-equipped Enclave can tow up to 4,500 pounds, and can itself be flat-towed in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive configurations.

 

New for 2012, the standard Hill-Hold Assist automatically holds the brakes for 1.5 seconds when you lift your foot off the brake on inclines of five percent or more. It’s nice not having to feather the brake and the gas pedals at the same time to keep from rolling into the car behind you.

 

The intelligent all-wheel drive system in the Enclave provides full-time function without the driver input needed in four-wheel drive vehicles. The system monitors speed, wheel slip and throttle position and determines which wheels need the most power. It is all integrated with StabiliTrak electronic stability control and full-time Electronic Traction Control System for superior handling in all types of weather.

 

Also bolstering the driving experience is Buick’s purpose-built suspension, which was designed specifically for the Enclave. Variable-effort power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is supported by independent front and rear suspension designs. The front suspension features a MacPherson strut design with a direct-acting stabilizer bar that helps provide a more immediate feel during turns.

 

Further enhancing the ride is Buick’s QuietTuning. The Enclave is the only crossover in its segment to utilize this technology. It’s an engineering process unique to Buick that prevents or soaks up unwanted noise before it enters the passenger compartment. It’s achieved by using sound deadening material in the engine block and underneath the Enclave, the use of triple door seals and an acoustically laminated windshield, and by painstaking attention to aerodynamics to reduce wind noise. Lots of thinking goes into delivering a quiet ride.

 

What’s going to amaze you most about the Buick Enclave is the amount of interior space it delivers while still providing a car-like driving experience. With all the seats in use, you get 24 cubic feet of cargo space. A removable cargo management system helps keep everything organized. Other crossovers can carry eight people, or they can carry cargo; few can do both as well as the Enclave can. Pop down the Smart Slide second-row seats and the third-row seats and the Enclave has 115.9 cubic feet of space.

 

Interior comfort comes in many forms. Premium, soft-touch materials are used throughout the warm, meticulously crafted cabin. Buick has shifted from trim level names to equipment groups. The standard, or “Base” equipment group highlights include Bluetooth^®, a power rear liftgate, tri-zone automatic climate control, SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three months of service, an eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat with memory for two drivers’ settings, OnStar, Tire Pressure Monitoring and 19-inch, 15-spoke machined aluminum wheels. The Convenience Group offers remote start, Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist and a Rearview Camera System. The Leather Group includes leather seating, front heated seats and seat adjuster upgrades for driver and front passenger.

The Premium Group adds cooled seats, articulating headlamps, a power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel, power folding outside rearview mirrors and a Bose^® premium audio system. A second-row console, rear-seat DVD entertainment system and a DVD navigation system are available as well.

 

Safety continues to be a strong priority at Buick. For 2012, the Buick Enclave has a state-of-the-art All-Around Airbag System, which includes side-impact airbags for both front passengers and side-curtain airbags for every row, and adds enhanced Electronic Pedal Override. That prevents unintended acceleration by cutting back power to the engine when the brake and gas are pressed at the same time. It happens more often than you realize, especially when wearing winter boots. Every Enclave is also equipped with segment-exclusive OnStar technology and six months of the Directions and Connections plan.

 

The Enclave is backed by a four-year/50,000-mile Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty and a five-year/100,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, both of which are fully transferable.

 

Buick has enjoyed a strong resurgence led by vehicles like the Enclave, which offers tremendous levels of luxury at a starting MSRP of just $36,600. Contact us today to see and drive one for yourself.