Buick News: Buick is Selling Enclave Avenirs Like They're Going Out Of Style

[William Maley]

Almost a year after Buick introduced their Avenir subbrand, it has proven to be a big success for the brand's big crossover.

According to Automotive News, one out of every four Enclaves sold is the top-line Avenir. That's pretty impressive when you consider that the base price for the Avenir is $54,495. GM says demand from dealers is outstripping their supplies, despite a new investment earlier this year.

Sales of the new Enclave have risen 15 percent in the first half of this year, and the average transaction price has risen $5,000 - putting it in line with the likes of the Acura MDX and Infiniti QX60.

"We saw the need to provide even more for Enclave, and it was a direct result of sales of the first generation. They were asking for even more options and equipment," said Jace Stokes, manager of product marketing for the Enclave.

Stokes went onto say that the success of Avenir for the Enclave has them thinking about what to do for the next-generation of the subbrand. 

"We certainly have more technology planned. I think next generation is where we're going to push Avenir further." 

Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required)

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[Drew Dowdell]

Not surprising.  One in Four GMCs are usually Denalis.  People like their premium packages. 

[G. David Felt]

Very Cool, This makes me wonder how Cadillac does on their various name plates. ?

[Drew Dowdell]

9 minutes ago, dfelt said:

Very Cool, This makes me wonder how Cadillac does on their various name plates. ?

Cadillac's V-Sport adds performance hardware and is not just a premium trim package, so they generally cost significantly more than the non-V-Sport model.

The Platinums sell well though. 

[G. David Felt]

38 minutes ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Cadillac's V-Sport adds performance hardware and is not just a premium trim package, so they generally cost significantly more than the non-V-Sport model.

The Platinums sell well though. 

That was my wonder if the Platinum is their most popular package as the v-sport is awesome, but I cannot see it selling as well as the Platinum.

No matter what, gotta be happy with the ATPs that Cadillac is getting for their awesome product.

Interesting package levels for the 2018 models: WHY is there not a consistent naming of all levels between all products?

ATS - base, luxury, premium luxury, premium performance, V

CTS - base, luxury, premium luxury, v-sport, v-sport premium luxury, V

XTS - base, luxury, premium luxury, platinum, v-sport platinum

CT6 - base, luxury, premium luxury, platinum,

XT4 - base, luxury, premium luxury, sport 

XT5 - base, luxury, premium luxury, platinum,

Escalade - base, luxury, premium luxury, platinum

You can build your XT4 here https://www.cadillac.com/crossovers-suvs/xt4-crossover/build-and-price/trim

My XT4 built the way I would want it with Autumn Metallic and Sedona interior color came out to $57,150.

One thing already I AM NOT happy on with the XT4 is you have to pay $1,500 for the Cadillac User Experience to get Apple Carplay or Android Auto. Not fine, should be included in all levels of the stereo system. This also requires you adding the Bose Centerpoint surround sound audio system for another $1,500 dollars.

As a comparison to the XT5, AWD Platinum fully loaded is $72,945

[smk4565]

Not surprising since there are not any engine choices on the Enclave, just trim levels.  And shopping for individual options can be confusing for a customer, so having Denali or Avenir as the "fully loaded" model that also comes with a special name and badging to let people know you got the fully loaded model is easy for the consumer to understand and something they can feel good about.

Not having a big price leap also helps, an AMG or M trim can raise the price of a car 50% or more, where as Denali or Avenir aren't such a big leap for a consumer to take.

[riviera74]

If only Buick would do that on the Encore and the Envision. . . . . .

[Suaviloquent]

Yeah, no one’s paying $72k for a loaded XT5.

 

And an XT4 going for $57k... well I would say it’s pretty nice but the new Q3 just debuted and normally I am not an Audi fan but that thing is just flat out better interior and exterior wise IMO. 

 

Cadillac’s new button direction (thank you Cadillac) looks just jarring and not all that elegant, while the Q3 retains buttons (a solid win) that more expensive Audis now replace with 2 touchscreens and barely any buttons.

 

I think that the acres of black plastic to reduce the visual bulk of the XT4 is needed, otherwise the front end would have a massive double-chin look. But it just looks horribly cheap even on top trim.

[Suaviloquent]

Back to the Avenir - 

 

You gotta milk that easy money to keep the lights on. 

But the Avenir is really just cosmetics. It bundles a lot of options that folks would combine regardless. Then there’s a profitable up charge component to get better wheels and real wood trim. It’s really an options bundle with trim tacked on.

Where else in Denali’s like Terrain Denali - wow what absolute dog $h! package that clearly is overpriced.

[G. David Felt]

Buick needs a Grand National version on their CUV's just as GMC needs to bring back a Typhoon / Syclone version for their truck / CUV line.

Not everyone wants just luxury only. How about some luxury with performance American Style!

[smk4565]

11 hours ago, Suaviloquent said:

Back to the Avenir - 

 

You gotta milk that easy money to keep the lights on. 

But the Avenir is really just cosmetics. It bundles a lot of options that folks would combine regardless. Then there’s a profitable up charge component to get better wheels and real wood trim. It’s really an options bundle with trim tacked on.

Where else in Denali’s like Terrain Denali - wow what absolute dog $h! package that clearly is overpriced.

Exactly.  An options bundle with trim, it is easy profit margin.

The Terrain Denali is way over priced, I sat in one and it is basically the same interior of a Terrain SLT that costs $10,000 less.  A Terrain Denali is $45k, you can get a Cadillac or Lexus that is much nicer.

[riviera74]

2 hours ago, dfelt said:

Buick needs a Grand National version on their CUV's just as GMC needs to bring back a Typhoon / Syclone version for their truck / CUV line.

Not everyone wants just luxury only. How about some luxury with performance American Style!

NO.  Save the Grand National for their sedans.  Some added performance perhaps, but not the full GNX treatment.

[G. David Felt]

30 minutes ago, riviera74 said:

NO.  Save the Grand National for their sedans.  Some added performance perhaps, but not the full GNX treatment.

GNX yes for the Sedans, but a GNX type treatment for the CUVs would be an outstanding Halo CUV for them. Or apply a GMC Typhoon but luxury Performance Focus to the Buick CUV lineup.

[frogger]

15 hours ago, Suaviloquent said:

Yeah, no one’s paying $72k for a loaded XT5.

 

And an XT4 going for $57k... well I would say it’s pretty nice but the new Q3 just debuted and normally I am not an Audi fan but that thing is just flat out better interior and exterior wise IMO. 

 

Agreed on the new Q3, it might be the first subcompact/small compact CUV I like quite a bit.  Current gen is very meh.

 

[G. David Felt]

16 hours ago, Suaviloquent said:

Yeah, no one’s paying $72k for a loaded XT5.

 

And an XT4 going for $57k... well I would say it’s pretty nice but the new Q3 just debuted and normally I am not an Audi fan but that thing is just flat out better interior and exterior wise IMO. 

 

33 minutes ago, frogger said:

Agreed on the new Q3, it might be the first subcompact/small compact CUV I like quite a bit.  Current gen is very meh.

 

How do you guys feel about the Buick Encore Premium version going up against the Q3? There is no Avenir version yet for the Encore and the Q3 competes against the Encore. So a fully loaded is $38,550 compared to a fully loaded Q3 Premium Plus Sport 2.0 TFSI Quattro tiptronic at $43,674.

It is interesting to note that Audi uses a 2.0L Turbo 4 requiring Premium fuel for 200HP/207 lb-ft of torque compared to Buicks 1.4L Turbo 4 using regular fuel for 153 HP / 177 lb-ft of torque both auto's in AWD.

[frogger]

2 minutes ago, dfelt said:

 

How do you guys feel about the Buick Encore Premium version going up against the Q3? There is no Avenir version yet for the Encore and the Q3 competes against the Encore. So a fully loaded is $38,550 compared to a fully loaded Q3 Premium Plus Sport 2.0 TFSI Quattro tiptronic at $43,674. 

Not with the current Encore powertrain.  I don't think they are in the same class with the arrival of the new Q3 and the options available with it.

 

 

 

[Drew Dowdell]

The Encore needs a bit more engine.  Even the 1.6T would be a big improvement

[G. David Felt]

@frogger Interesting as the Euro dash is much better than the American dash Will just posted. The American 2019 Q3 dash is more on par with the Buick Encore and Cadillac XT4 I feel.  Style tweaks between the 2019 and 2018 not so much noticeable to me.

I think for the difference of $5000 there is more than enough people who will be happy with the less peppy Buick motor over the Q3 price.

1 minute ago, Drew Dowdell said:

The Encore needs a bit more engine.  Even the 1.6T would be a big improvement

Agree, but for the current $5,000 price difference, does the current 2018 Audi really make it that much better than the Encore?

[Drew Dowdell]

I'm a big Encore fan, but with its current powertrain, no it's not really a direct competitor to Q3

[ocnblu]

LOL the Q3 blows the Encore out of the water, it is several levels beyond in each and every aspect of design, performance, engineering, etc. etc. etc.

[Robert Hall]

Apples and oranges..the future Q1 seems like it would line up better w/ the Encore. 

Edited July 26, 2018 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[Suaviloquent]

Okay. I see what you mean DFelt.

 

You can buy an Encore. And then have another Encore to that Encore.

 

For the price of a Q3.

 

You can’t get an Encore to the Q3. But you can to the Encore.

 

That’s the Encores strength. Encore always means another Encore. That’s why they used that word for the name, amirite?