2025 Buick Enclave First Drive: This Modern, Elegant 3-row SUV Is All That, and More

Slide into the front seat of the Buick Enclave and you might be forgiven for feeling that this car is far more premium that you’d expected. In the Avenir model—which carries an $12,000 premium over the entry-level Preferred model— you’ll find Nappa leather, a panoramic sunroof and a wide, single-panel screen that holds the multimedia screen and driver’s display.

The screen spans a dashboard layered with leather, chrome and soft touch materials, a surface that seemingly served as a canvas for the Enclave’s aesthetic approach. You’ll find treatments and materials here that set the tone throughout the car. Our Avenir test model featured cool gray leather with slate blue trim; there’s also a mocha brown option. 

Read: The 2021 Buick Enclave Avenir That Will Revolutionize Your View of Buick

At the center of the Enclave’s cabin is a feature that I wish every carmaker would add: A floating center console. This not only inspires a more elegant treatment of the placement of important controls on the console, but it opens up space underneath that is ideal for a handbag, crossbody bag or small backpack. In the Enclave, this space is framed by a sizable lip, a necessary feature that keeps contents from rolling out onto the floor and under your foot as you‘re driving, which can be a terrifying thing to happen; I know, it’s happened to me.

The floating console also offers conveniences for holding your phone—a wireless phone charge pad is standard— as well as cup holders and a storage space under the arm rest. While this space is great for the front seat passengers, there are not a lot of storage options for rear passengers: there are cupholders on the rear of the center armrest, bottle pockets in the doors, seat back map pockets and in the 3rd row, cupholders and cubbies, but there is no center console, storage tray or other storage. Also, buyers who want window shades will need to purchase them separately; they are not an option on the Enclave. 

Read: Three Cheers for the Red, White, and Blue: The Best American Luxury SUVs

There are many components that the Enclave shares with its cousins, the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia. But most of those are things you either won’t notice or will appreciate: the 4-cylinder turbo engine that generates 328 HP, on-demand all wheel drive (which is an option), drive modes for different terrains and experiences, three rows of seating with plenty of head and leg room, 3-zone climate and a wide-screen multimedia system, which is where you’ll find vehicle settings, navigation, music and a driver’s display screen.

While Buick shares the idea of a large screen with the Traverse and Acadia, it stands apart in its design and function. It’s more advanced and customizable, and its shape and size look more like, though not identical to, the dash screens in Cadillac SUVs.

The Buick’s screen design features multimedia functions on the right side and a driver display on the left side. Between the two screens you’ll find a vertical tool bar with icons for maps, music and more. This tool bar can be customized by dragging and dropping the function you want quick access to: If want the camera icon on the tool bar, just drag it over. 

Other functions on the screen include headlights, which are set-it-and-forget it, so you don’t really need a button for those any longer, door lock settings, lift gate settings and if head up display is included, controls for adjusting the HUD are on the upper left of the driver display.

The 2025 Buick Enclave is greatly evolved from prior models thanks to the Wildcat concept car that Buick introduced a few years ago. The concept essentially developed a language of design that all Buick models now follow: sleek headlights, a more chiseled front end, lines that sweep from front to rear and the new minimalist tri-shield logo, which caps the front and rear. Wider-set wheels evoke a sure-footed feel and the satin finish of the wheels on our test models added an elegant touch. Inside, a minimalist approach to the dash, screens and seating create the feeling of a modern salon. 

Behind the wheel of the Buick Enclave there were no real surprises, which is a good thing. The car is quiet and comfortable, and a bit louder in sport mode, but not the leaning-into-every-curve aggression that can make rear seat passengers feel nauseous. 

We drove the Buick Enclave through city streets and local highways and were able to put Super Cruise to the test. This system allows the driver to, on specific mapped highways, set the desired speed and let the car do the rest. It keeps you in your lane and even changes lanes when you signal or, if auto lane change is set (on the multimedia system) Super Cruise will do it for you when traffic ahead slows and it’s safe. Green lights on the driver display and steering wheel, and indicators in the head up display, for models equipped with it, show the features at work. 

The system constantly pairs mapped information with what sensors and cameras pick up, from road markings and signs to cars and trucks around you. If data is missing or inconsistent, the system will notify the driver: if the lights turn blue, adaptive cruise is working but Super Cruise is not active. If lights turn red, that means the driver needs to take over.

This, predictably, is pretty good. The center row seats are wide and offer good space for both rear facing car seats as well as forward facing carseats. I measured 31” of space behind the driver’s seat set for me (I’m 5’8”). I measured 30” behind my passenger who was taller and needed more leg room. Both would allow a rear-facing car seat, which needs about 29” to be safely installed. 

There are two full sets of LATCHes in the center row, but only upper tethers in the 3rd row, which seats three. All Enclave models come with center row captains chairs, which slide forward and back to accommodate rear seat passengers, and they slide and tilt forward even with a forward facing kids car seat installed. 

The cargo space behind the 3rd row is ample, with room for several roll-aboard bags, strollers and more. For things that need to stay in the car or be hidden from prying eyes, there is a deep under-floor storage bin that can hold a lot. The power package option adds push buttons for raising and lowering the 3rd row seats and lowering second row seats, which fold nearly flat. 

The Enclave’s three trims start with a nice baseline of features, including leatherette seating—which includes a really beautiful camel color option—the center multimedia screen and all the a full compliment o tech. Here’s how they line up:

• Preferred, which starts at $46,395, includes the 4-cylinder turbo engine that generates 328 HP, 8-speed transmission, leatherette upholstery, power driver’s seat, floating center console, HD surround view camera, proximity liftgate, heated steering wheel and front passenger seats, 30” multimedia screen and driver display, built-in Google with voice assistance, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless phone charging, Bose audio, ambient lighting, adaptive cruise control with lane keep assist and 20” satin finish wheels
• The ST model starts at $48,795 and adds performance suspension, gloss black details including grille and roof rails, black leatherette with white stitching and piping and a flat-bottom steering wheel
• The Avenir model, which starts at $59,395, adds leather seats, 22” wheels, panoramic sunroof, head up display, power center and 3rd row seats and premium Bose sound system
• Preferred and ST models can add the Power Package for $1,750 which adds head up display, power 2nd and 3rd row seats, driver memory seats and a 110v household outlet, 
• Super Cruise is $3,255 for Preferred and ST, and $3,730 for Avenir and includes 3 years of service that can be continued via subscription afterward; the package includes hands-free driving, automatic parking and driver attention monitor; on Avenir this package adds a digital rear view mirror and is priced at $3,755
• Trailering with hitch guidance is $650
• A panoramic sunroof can be added to Preferred and ST for $1,500
• All wheel drive is $2,000 on all models

We always admired the Buick Enclave for its no-nonsense approach to luxury. There wasn’t an obsession with badge, prestige or lifestyle, just the features and comforts that insulate you and your passengers from the grittiness of life and the road. Buick is a sort of hidden gem: if you know you know, and if you don’t, you’re probably paying too much. 

For 2025 that promise continues, but better, with new technology, modern minimalist design and still, a very reasonable price for all you get.