Preview: 2025 Buick Enclave Goes Turbo and High-Tech

The Enclave’s redesign sees a natural progression, moving to increased technology and shifting to a turbo powertrain. It remained competitive over its production run. In fact, right now it’s still ranked second in its class, aided by a strong road-test score and average predicted reliability. 

The outgoing Enclave had a passel of virtues that counted a comfortable ride, a quiet cabin, a roomy interior, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and a lively powertrain. Its demerits are few, with fuel economy being a notable one through the years. We measured just 18 mpg overall. We hope the new powertrain brings a welcomed improvement.

The previous Enclave we tested came up a bit short in fit and finish, with some ill-fitting trim pieces and fewer comfort features than expected at its price. Hopefully, the new Enclave will be elevated to contemporary standards. 

We have long found the Enclave to be a strong competitor and even a suitable alternative to driving a larger truck-based SUV for many shoppers. No doubt that tradition will continue. Perhaps the biggest question is how different the three GM SUVs will feel. 

We will report on that as soon as we buy examples to test.

Buick states that the Enclave has increased in size but it hasn’t released specs. Based on the Traverse measurements, the difference may be incremental rather than significant. 

Overall, the new Enclave fits in with the latest Buick design language. But it’s a bit generic from the side, and it lacks the elegance seen in the prior Enclave’s artful curves. 

The front fascia and headlamps closely resemble the entry-level Envista, with the lights being narrow, horizontal slashes. Likewise, the fog lamps are tucked into dramatic corner coves that flank a prominent trapezoidal grille. On the Sport Touring, the grille surround and inserts are black. 

The rest of the Buick is reminiscent of the Chevy and GMC—until you see them side by side. All three have quite different treatments for the rear pillars. The Buick may have the most graceful execution, but it’s also a bit less distinctive. That glass shape and trim remind me of other models, like the Acura MDX. The taillamp treatment also varies significantly among the trio. 

The Preferred and Sport Touring come with 20-inch wheels, while the Avenir wears giant 22-inch wheels.

The cabin sees a more dramatic makeover than the exterior. The dash is dominated by a 30-inch screen that serves as a combination instrument panel and infotainment display. Unlike other vehicles that have adopted such a massive screen, this “floating” display juts out from the dash rather than being integrated, as in the Cadillac Escalade and even more so in multiple recent Mercedes-Benz models. Also, like in a Mercedes, the gear selector is a wand on the steering column and the wiper control stalk is on the left. 

There are limited physical buttons to the left of the steering wheel and a row beneath the infotainment screen. Hard keys, as they’re often referred to, may seem a bit nostalgic as cars become computers on wheels, but there’s no beating the simplicity of physical controls when driving. 

The next-generation Enclave ditches the 3.6-liter V6 for a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Despite being a smaller engine, this powerplant has slightly more horsepower than the previous V6, rising from 310 hp to 328 hp for the 2025 model. Typical of turbos, torque makes even greater gains, moving up from 266 lb.-ft. to 326 lb.-ft. 

That engine is paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave can be configured in front- or all-wheel drive. Maximum tow capacity is 5,000 pounds. 

The Avenir comes with an adaptive suspension that can rapidly respond to changing road conditions, thereby heightening comfort and handling as called upon. 

Like the Chevrolet Traverse, the Enclave is expected to come with a full suite of active safety and driver assistance features that include automatic emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, lane departure warning, lane keeping assistance, and automatic high beams. 

Other standard features include adaptive cruise control, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic warning with reverse automatic emergency braking and pedestrian detection, and sign recognition. Like the Chevy, the Buick is likely to provide some safety warnings via vibrations to the driver’s seat. 

Available on all Enclave trims, the Super Cruise active driving assistance system allows hands-free operation on many highways. GM expects to expand the Super Cruise road network in the U.S. and Canada to 750,000 miles through 2025. The Super Cruise package includes a driver attention monitor and active parking assistance.