A Week With: 2022 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD
With good reason, three-row utility vehicles are enormously popular with consumers days. But in a crowded segment, manufacturers face a big challenge as the try and make sure their vehicle stands out and gets noticed at a time when every brand with a stake in the U.S. market is offering a similar package.
Buick, which once sold upscale sedans, now sells utility vehicles. However, it’s using its sedan heritage to make the transition from cars to crossovers by emphasizing luxury, technology and convenience to capture the attention of shoppers.
The new Enclave is versatile, family-oriented transportation so in demand by customers, who appear willing to spend a bit more to get what they have want.
Overview
The 2022 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD fills by bill by delivering powerful and sophisticated ride with a nicely appointed interior and ample technology to protect the driver and multiple passengers while keeping them connected and entertained on both long and short trips
Exterior
Designers from General Motors, which has owned the Buick nameplate for more than a century, developed the silhouette for Enclave Avenir. Thus, the Buick Enclave has the basic lines of the other midsized utility vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia.
But the Enclave has its own distinctive front fascia and grille, sporting the Buick badge as well as LED light fixtures. The distinctive markings also include the bright work around the side window openings and on front-quarter panel, paying homage to the Buick’s portals as well as a special wheel-design.
The Avenir also carries special badges, including a handsome script, indicating it is an Avenir, which is now a sub brand used for top-of-line version of Buick vehicles. The Enclave also is equipped with a power liftgate and a dual moonroof.
Interior
On the inside, the new Enclave Avenir is equipped with luxury touches long associated with Buick brand, including the deft use of leather, elegant stitching, soft materials and bright work to give the cabin the feel of a well-appointed and expensively furnished living room.
The instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, touch screen in the center stack and ambient lighting also serve to amplify and complement the luxury furnishings used in the cabin. Visibility from the driver’s seat and the access to the second row seats is very easy and even access to third-row seat is better than that of many competitors. The third-row seat also is easy to fold down, which opens up room for luggage or equipment.
Powertrain
Despite all the publicity surrounding electric vehicles, GM has not abandoned the internal combustion engine just yet. The 2022 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine with spark ignition direct injection and variable valve timing. It is matched with 9-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive.
The combination puts out 310 horsepower and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has given the Enclave a combined rating of 20 miles per gallon, including 17 mpg in the city and 25 miles per gallon in the city.
Safety and Technology
Buick has made sure the 2022 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD comes with a full complement of airbags for protection in frontal- and side-impact crashes as well as a curtain airbag to protect against rollover accidents.
It is also equipped with forward-collision alerts, rear-park assistance and rear cross-traffic alert, lane-keeping assistance, blind-spot alert, adaptive cruise control and head-up display. It also is equipped with a Buick Infotainment system with navigation, voice recognition, Bluetooth, Audio streaming, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and an 8-inch, configurable driver display.
Driving Impressions
Buick likes to emphasize its vehicles feature quiet cabins and the 2022 Buick Enclave Avenir is no exception since along with a well-tuned suspension takes the edge off all kind of road surfaces, it is also equipped with a noise cancellation system helps controls any noise filtering through the cabin.
The result is a quiet, comfortable ride enhanced by capable steering and solid brakes. The overall driving feel is very good, which means it’s a good vehicle for everyday commuting or long trip. It also has more than enough power.
2022 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD Specifications
| Dimension | L: 204.8 inches/W: 78.8 inches/H: 69.9 inches/Wheelbase: 120.9 inches |
| Weight | 4,685 pounds |
| Powertrain | 3.6-liter direct injection V-6; 9-speed transmission |
| Fuel Economy | 17 mpg city/25 mpg highway/20 mpg combined |
| Performance Specs | 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque |
| Price | Base price: $55,100; As tested: $59,890 including $1,195 destination charge. |
| On-Sale Date | Available now |
Wrap Up
As manufacturers make vehicles better, they are also making them more expensive with the prices of new vehicles rising faster than the general rate of inflation across the economy. The 2022 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD is well equipped, performs nicely and is loaded with some of the latest technology carmakers have to offer in a comfortable, well-thought-out package.
The price tag, which is not by any means out of line with other well-equipped vehicles in the category, such as the Volkswagen Atlas, was $59,890.
2022 Buick Enclave Avenir AWD — Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Buick Enclave a midsize SUV?
The Buick Enclave is a midsize crossover SUV first launched in 2008. The Enclave, the GMC Acadia, and Chevrolet Traverse all share the GM Lambda platform.
What is the Buick Enclave rating?
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gave the 2021 Buick Enclave an overall safety rating of five out of five stars, with five stars in the side crash test and four stars in the frontal crash and rollover tests.
What is the towing capacity of the Buick Enclave?
The Buick Enclave towing capacity is 1,500 pounds. If you need a bit more power, or tend to load up more, you should opt for the Trailering Package, where you can up the towing capacity to 5,000 pounds.
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