Buick’s move upmarket continues. Based on success in China, where the brand is revered, Buick has been expanding its lineup.
Canadians have access to the Regal and Lacrosse on the car side, and a trio of crossovers — Encore, Envision and Enclave.
Our American neighbours also get a stationwagon and a convertible.
Based on buyer experience, Buick has created the Avenir luxury sub-brand. The vast majority of customers have been choosing higher trim levels.
To attract and satisfy these customers, Avenir has been created, packaging visual differentiation with a number of special features.
In the first year of availability, Avenir versions of Buick’s best-seller, the Enclave, have outsold all other trim levels, accounting for 30 per cent of all Canadian Enclave sales.
The Enclave is Buick’s halo vehicle. The Avenir version raises the bar even higher. Avenir enables Buick to introduce new features before passing them along to the rest of the line. Standard features include exclusive exterior colours and interior treatment.
Enclave Avenirs have unique upper and lower mesh grills, special 20-inch polished alloy wheels, LED headlights and Avenir badges.
The test vehicle came with a chestnut and ebony-coloured interior with quilt-stitched perforated leather seats, embroidered head restraints and floor mats, wood-trimmed steering wheel, and a 20-cm configurable infotainment screen. It also had an eight-speaker Bose premium audio system with wireless audio streaming, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, inductive cell-phone charging, a massive two-panel sunroof, two-person memory settings for seat, mirrors and steering column, 4G LTE with built-in Wi-Fi hotspot for up to seven devices and power-folding, auto-dimming mirrors with integrated turn signals and driver side memory.
The Enclave Avenir had a surround-view camera system and the unique dual-view rear view mirror introduced by Cadillac a few years ago.
This provides the choice of a conventional view or one generated by a wide-angle camera that eliminates any interior elements like head restraints, pillars and the rear window frame. Let’s just say it requires some getting used to.
The tester came in seven-passenger configuration with a pair of captain’s chairs in the middle row. The one on the driver’s side slides fore/aft, while that on the curb side could be pitched forward for access to the third row. There is a tremendous amount of legroom.
The same cannot be said for the third row, if the captain’s seats are in a rearward position. Cargo space is decent with the third row in place, spacious with them folded flat.
The third-row seats can be operated electrically by buttons on the side of the cargo area.
On the road this is an extremely quiet automobile. Buick’s acclaimed “quiet tuning” does an excellent job of reducing, blocking and/or absorbing wind and road noise.
For such a large and heavy vehicle, the Enclave is fairly sprightly. The smooth 3.6-litre V6 provides ample motivation and is all but silent until pressed, when it emits a pleasant growl.
The new nine-speed automatic is well matched to this engine. It goes about its job without making its presence known, always in the proper gear for the situation.
The start/stop function is similarly seamless. A button on the dash can be used to disable the AWD system.
Fuel economy improves slightly in this FWD-only mode. During the 10-day test period I averaged 14.5 litres/100 km; it dropped to 10.2 on the highway.
The Buick Enclave shares its platform with the Chevrolet Traverse. But the Buick is obviously more upscale in appearance.
In Avenir trim, it moves ever further away from its lesser siblings.
The specs
- Model: 2019 Buick Enclave AWD Avenir
- Engine: 3.6-litre, V6, 310 horsepower, 266 lb.-ft. of torque, regular fuel
- Transmission: nine-speed automatic, AWD
- NRCan rating (litres/100km city/highway): 13.8 / 9.5
- Length: 5,189 mm
- Width: 2,002 mm
- Wheelbase: 3,071 mm
- Weight: 2,125 kg
- Price: $62,100 base, $67,320 as tested, including freight
- Competition: Acura MDX, Infinity QX60, Lincoln MKX.
- Options on test vehicle: Avenir technology package,(includes adaptive cruise control, forward automatic braking and premium suspension package — unique suspension and steering calibration), $2,475; white frost tri-coat paint, $700; block heater, $150
