Buick News: Next Generation 2025 Buick Enclave Finishes Out Buick's Refreshed Lineup

[Drew Dowdell]

The next generation of Buick's flagship, the 2025 Buick Enclave, launched today.  With a squarer shape, the new Enclave is longer, wider, and taller than the previous generation, however, the wheelbase remains thsame at 120.9 inches.  Buick is giving each trim, there are three, a unique look with individualized front fascias and wheel options.  Now you'll be able to tell how much coin the Jones' spent as they roll towards you the first time.

Like the new 2024 Chevy Traverse and 2024 GMC Acadia, the 310 horsepower V6 is no more. It has been replaced by a turbocharged 2.5-liter 4-cylinder, making 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque.  The nine-speed automatic has been downsized to an 8-speed, but having that extra gear is likely less necessary with the substantially torquier power plant. All-wheel drive and front-wheel drive are available on every trim and the max tow rating remains 5,000 pounds when the buyer selects the trailering package.  The previous Enclave was not known for fuel efficiency with its overworked V6, but there should be some decent improvement over the previous model's 21 mpg combined rating.

Buick has been slimming down its trim lines over the last few years, and the 2025 Enclave is no exception. Still offered in just three trims, buyers can select from Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir. All trims get customizable multi-color ambient lighting, an auto-sense power liftgate that eliminates the foot-waving trick to open, power heated seats in the front row, and Buick QuietTuning.

Preferred trims come with unique 20-inch alloy wheels and a 12-speaker Bose audio system (also on Sport Touring).

Sport Touring adds a flat-bottom steering wheel, ST-exclusive interior trim, an ultra high gloss black grille surround and inserts, and unique 20-inch machine-faced wheels with gloss black inserts.

The top-of-the-line Enclave Avenir upgrades the Bose system to the Performance Series and has 16 speakers instead of 12, Avenir exclusive 22-inch Pearl Nickle finish wheels, panoramic sunroof, walk-up animation, rainsense wipers, Continuous Damping Control suspension, ventilated massaging front seats, heated second-row seats, and the "Power Package" which includes a Heads-Up display, one-touch folding second-row seats, and a power-folding third-row seat.  The "Power Package" is optional on Preferred and Sport Touring trims.

Buick did an excellent job with the redesign of the front row.  The key feature is the 30-inch curved gauge cluster and infotainment system. And yet, even with all of that screen real estate, we appreciate that Buick kept a line of physical buttons for HVAC control right below the screen. A dial wheel is also available for screen control on the floating center console next to the wireless phone charging pad. We really like the new three-spoke steering wheel with well-placed buttons that control cruise control, audio, phone, and more.  The infotainment system uses Google Built-In to provide voice assistance, and wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto are standard.

Being in a more egalitarian mood, Buick has made SuperCruise an option on all three trim levels. Buyers no longer need to step up to the top trim in order to enjoy hands-free driving. By default, the Enclave has seven exterior cameras. An eighth is added when selecting the trailering package, and selecting SuperCruise grants a ninth.

Pricing for the 2025 Enclave hasn't been released yet, but we expect a big price increase like the 2024 GMC Acadia pushing the base price just under the $50,000 mark from the $45,295 it starts at today while the Enclave Avenir will push well into the mid-$60k range.

The 2025 Enclave will be built in GM's Landing Delta Township Assembly plant and go on sale in late summer 2024.

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[surreal1272]

Nice upgrades on the powertrain and interior but that exterior has a profile that only Ray Charles could love. Just ugly IMO.

[G. David Felt]

I see Buick going the BMW route as if the bigger the front grill the better for some stupid reason. Must be a German / Chinese thing as I noticed all the Chinese brands have huge grills. Just terrible ?

[G. David Felt]

Thinking on that 30" dash screen which reminds me of the current Escalade. I wonder if all of GM auto's will go to having a version of this big screen to lower cost for both ICE and EVs.

[Drew Dowdell]

57 minutes ago, David said:

Thinking on that 30" dash screen which reminds me of the current Escalade. I wonder if all of GM auto's will go to having a version of this big screen to lower cost for both ICE and EVs.

I think there will be different sizes, but it will mostly be limited to the premium models. Not even the Denali has it.

[Paolino]

Thumbs up interior (except the steering wheel). Thumbs down exterior.

And the new badge/font have not grown on me at all...

[Drew Dowdell]

25 minutes ago, Paolino said:

Thumbs up interior (except the steering wheel). Thumbs down exterior.

And the new badge/font have not grown on me at all...

Really?  I like the steering wheel.

[G. David Felt]

34 minutes ago, Paolino said:

Thumbs up interior (except the steering wheel). Thumbs down exterior.

And the new badge/font have not grown on me at all...

I like that the steering wheel gives a big clean view of the dash for ease and safety of seeing everything. Agree on the exterior.

[Paolino]

3 hours ago, Drew Dowdell said:

Really?  I like the steering wheel.

I don't know what it is... I'm not liking the small circle in the middle. But to each their own. It's just not hitting me right. It's more the exterior. The interior in general is nice.

[Paolino]

Ok I saw a video of the interior... the steering wheel doesn't offend me anymore. I love the slate blue on the dash/wheel. It's nice to see some color coming back.

[Robert Hall]

Nice interior...that front end, though...angry generic robot look, kind of a Lexus knockoff   The greenhouse w/ the quarter window kickup is very similar to the XT6..

Edited April 10 by Robert Hall

[smk4565]

Not a fan of the new look of Buick with the big grilles, but I wasn't a fan of old Buick styling either.  

Also, STOP putting headlights in bumpers!  The 2015 Cherokee did it, then no the car in history ever should have done it.

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, smk4565 said:

Not a fan of the new look of Buick with the big grilles, but I wasn't a fan of old Buick styling either.  

Also, STOP putting headlights in bumpers!  The 2015 Cherokee did it, then no the car in history ever should have done it.

It is weird when your used to having defined headlights, but it seems to be the trend to give options for styling with day time running lights and move the headlights into the bumper area with the auto highbeam off feature. 

Not the best styling IMHO, but then this current Buick seems to have gone Big Mouth Billey Bass with that huge ugly black grill.

[Robert Hall]

6 hours ago, David said:

It is weird when your used to having defined headlights, but it seems to be the trend to give options for styling with day time running lights and move the headlights into the bumper area with the auto highbeam off feature. 

Not the best styling IMHO, but then this current Buick seems to have gone Big Mouth Billey Bass with that huge ugly black grill.

For the Avenir version (or bring back the Limited name) they need to do the grille like the '58 Buick with a sea of chrome squares..

[smk4565]

20 hours ago, David said:

It is weird when your used to having defined headlights, but it seems to be the trend to give options for styling with day time running lights and move the headlights into the bumper area with the auto highbeam off feature. 

Not the best styling IMHO, but then this current Buick seems to have gone Big Mouth Billey Bass with that huge ugly black grill.

But none of these cars with headlights in the bumpers look good.  It isn't like the Hyundai Kona, this Enclave, Mitsubishi Outlander, Kia Rio, etc are ranking up there with a Ferrari 599 or Aston Martin DB9 for best styled cars of the past 20 years.  And it adds parts cost too, when you they should be trying to cut cost to make a more competitive priced car.

[ccap41]

On 4/10/2024 at 10:19 PM, David said:

It is weird when your used to having defined headlights, but it seems to be the trend to give options for styling with day time running lights and move the headlights into the bumper area with the auto highbeam off feature. 

The location has nothing to do with auto high beam feature. My 2016 MKC has auto high beams and it doesn't have stupid-@ss headlights in the bumper. 

[G. David Felt]

56 minutes ago, ccap41 said:

The location has nothing to do with auto high beam feature. My 2016 MKC has auto high beams and it doesn't have stupid-@ss headlights in the bumper. 

I understand that the auto high beam feature is in traditional and these bumper headlights. Not really sold on the benefits of the auto on high beam headlights feature, but the styling trend seems to be to use the space of traditional headlights for style with daytime running lights/markers and then lower the headlights into the bumper. It would be interesting to see the studies / facts behind this change to bumper headlights and auto high beam lights on to understand the facts behind them.

[riviera74]

The interior is very good and competitive in its market segment.  I really like it.  Good thing that GM replaced the 3.6 with a turbo 4, since the latter should be more reliable.

The new Enclave could do without the big mouth bass type grill.  It looks like it belongs on a RAV4 or some other Toyota.  As for the exterior, SAD.  Buick needs to go back to the 1st generation Enclave and make it curvy and Buick again.  I could mistake this version of an Enclave for an Acadia or Traverse.

[G. David Felt]

1 hour ago, riviera74 said:

The interior is very good and competitive in its market segment.  I really like it.  Good thing that GM replaced the 3.6 with a turbo 4, since the latter should be more reliable.

The new Enclave could do without the big mouth bass type grill.  It looks like it belongs on a RAV4 or some other Toyota.  As for the exterior, SAD.  Buick needs to go back to the 1st generation Enclave and make it curvy and Buick again.  I could mistake this version of an Enclave for an Acadia or Traverse.

Did I miss something that the 3.6L V6 is less reliable than the Newer Turbo 4?

[riviera74]

17 hours ago, David said:

Did I miss something that the 3.6L V6 is less reliable than the Newer Turbo 4?

To answer your question, I have seen videos on YouTube where the 3.6 required more frequent maintenance than any other GM engine in order to run for a long period of miles (say, 150K+ miles).  I suspect that this new Turbo 4cyl should have fewer problems (real or alleged) than the 3.6 High Feature engine.  Then again, the 3800 was bulletproof while the 3.6HF was less so.

[regfootball]

On 4/13/2024 at 3:29 PM, riviera74 said:

To answer your question, I have seen videos on YouTube where the 3.6 required more frequent maintenance than any other GM engine in order to run for a long period of miles (say, 150K+ miles).  I suspect that this new Turbo 4cyl should have fewer problems (real or alleged) than the 3.6 High Feature engine.  Then again, the 3800 was bulletproof while the 3.6HF was less so.

https://newparts.com/articles/gm-3-6-v6-problems-and-known-issues/

 

I thought this was somewhat interesting when reading about the history of the 3.6

[daves87rs]

While I do like the new look, I have a concern on the price bump. With people flocking to cheaper models like the Chevy Trax, heavy price increases are not a wise idea.

I can only assume the larger bump was to take into account they are going to need some discounts to move metal in the current climate……

[regfootball]

I've warmed up to this more and more.  Even if the front end / grille is a little extreme and non Trad Buick, it actually comes off like some other brands.  Side profile as well.  I think Buick's distinction with these new front ends is to become sort of anonymously familiar with other brands like Toyota  and Subaru, but different enough so it looks unique vs other GM stuff.

I am ok with the side profile now too, mostly.  It's generic but not badly done.  About as good as you can expect.

The interior looks nice in pictures but I wonder if the dash materials will be cheap looking.  I like the idea of a big screen but it is a bit blob-like in its shape.  But that is the distinguishing feature of Buick interiors now.  I like the Traverse and Acadia interiors also, but the Enclave's is unique enough to appeal to someone who doesn't want the usual Chevy or GMC look.

[regfootball]

Here’s some recent ‘on the lot’ pics of the new Enclave

 

 

I've also seen a blue one with the blue/tan interior.  Really nice and functional interior by the looks of it; I haven't been in one of these yet but I was in a new 24 Envision with the big screen makeover and it's a fantastic interior now on that one.  

[ccap41]

Holy smokes, that looks awful from the outside. 

[G. David Felt]

On 8/11/2024 at 9:58 AM, regfootball said:

Here’s some recent ‘on the lot’ pics of the new Enclave

 

 

I've also seen a blue one with the blue/tan interior.  Really nice and functional interior by the looks of it; I haven't been in one of these yet but I was in a new 24 Envision with the big screen makeover and it's a fantastic interior now on that one.  

This totally screems Big Mouth Billy Bass with that terrible big black grill.

Plus talk about expensive repair if you hit someone due to the bumper, headlights, etc. all built into one front end unit.

Just not impressed with it and the seats do not look comfy at all, 2nd row are just flat hard looking seats that I am just shaking my head at. 😒

[ccap41]

15 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Plus talk about expensive repair if you hit someone due to the bumper, headlights, etc. all built into one front end unit.

It doesn't seem any riskier of a placement than an EV9, whose headlight and LED run through the bumper cover, as well.

[G. David Felt]

6 hours ago, ccap41 said:

It doesn't seem any riskier of a placement than an EV9, whose headlight and LED run through the bumper cover, as well.

Yes true, but I know that the EV9 headlight system is a stand alone system and not connected to the front end the way many current autos are built, so a hit on the front bumper area will not impact the headlight system unless it is a full rear-ender from the person driving the EV9.

This seems to look like the headlights are part of the front bumper system with the Daytime LED running light assembly being separate from the front nose. There are actual separate crumple zones on the EV9 compared to what I see as one massive front nose crumple zone that hits both incorporated headlights.
 @smk4565 being an insurance adjuster might have info on if that is one big crumple zone or separate areas.

This is one thing that causes more headaches for Tesla is the big single crumple zone on those front ends that tends to really increase cost for repair compared to the assembly which can be cheaper.

[smk4565]

2 hours ago, G. David Felt said:

Yes true, but I know that the EV9 headlight system is a stand alone system and not connected to the front end the way many current autos are built, so a hit on the front bumper area will not impact the headlight system unless it is a full rear-ender from the person driving the EV9.

This seems to look like the headlights are part of the front bumper system with the Daytime LED running light assembly being separate from the front nose. There are actual separate crumple zones on the EV9 compared to what I see as one massive front nose crumple zone that hits both incorporated headlights.
 @smk4565 being an insurance adjuster might have info on if that is one big crumple zone or separate areas.

This is one thing that causes more headaches for Tesla is the big single crumple zone on those front ends that tends to really increase cost for repair compared to the assembly which can be cheaper.

I haven't seen an EV9 or EV6 in one of my shops so I don't know what the repair cost is like on them.  Hyundais and Kias tend to have a high repair cost in general because their parts are expensive.  A door on a Tucson is about $2400 compared to a Rav4 is about $900, any Subaru is about $800.  Hyundais and Kias also you plastic radiator supports, they break almost always in an impact, compared to Chevy, Toyota, Subaru use steel. 

I did look up the price of an EV9 headlight, they are $2500.  But it is only 1 unit.   The Tucson and Santa Cruz that do the split headlight and signal lamp cost about $1600 each and usually if one breaks the other does too, so you are looking at about $3200 for the set.   I had a '23 Tucson that needed a bumper, grille, the 4 lights and a hood, probably a rad support too from hitting a deer, fenders and structure were fine, and it was like $13,000 in damage.  On a CR-V or Forester that is probably a $6,000 repair.

[Robert Hall]

On 8/13/2024 at 4:47 PM, ccap41 said:

Holy smokes, that looks awful from the outside. 

Generic mediocrity..take of the badging and it could be anything...