Every automotive brand needs a flagship, and Buick’s standard bearer is the Enclave, its midsize three-row SUV. As the largest and most expensive vehicle in Buick’s four-SUV lineup, it’s an easy choice for the role, at least until next year when the first electric vehicle to wear the tri-shield might become Buick’s new halo vehicle.
The 2025 Buick Enclave is the third generation of the family SUV that fills the space once occupied by minivans. However, while minivans don’t appeal to some customers, the Enclave stands out as a classy-looking SUV. With its simple and uncomplicated lines, it aligns visually with the Buick Envista and Buick Encore GX, notable for their affordability, as well as the refreshed midsize 2024 Buick Envision.
This means the new Enclave features a new grille and fascia with Buick’s new logo adorned on the restyled hood. Consequently, reworked and detailed LED headlights and taillights continue the signature winged look. In the rear, a redesigned fascia showcases updated badging and a sweeping design, inspired by the Wildcat EV concept.
The 2025 Buick Enclave rides on an updated version of the original’s C1 platform. Although the wheelbase remains unchanged, the new SUV is slightly longer and wider. The wheels have also increased in size, with 20 inches becoming the standard size for the lower trims, while the Avenir model features striking 22-inch wheels with a pearl-nickel finish.
New Engine Under the Hood
A new turbocharged 2.5-liter I-4 engine replaces the 3.6-liter V-6. Horsepower has increased to 328, compared to the V-6’s 310, and torque jumps from 266 to 326 lb-ft. Moreover, a new eight-speed automatic transmission is a modified version of GM’s nine-speed gearbox.
All-wheel drive is now available across all trim levels, which are named Preferred, Sport Touring, and Avenir. The Enclave can tow up to 5,000 pounds, making it a practical choice for families and adventures alike.
The 2025 Enclave is the first Buick to feature Super Cruise, GM’s hands-free highway driver-assist technology which includes automated lane change capability. This feature is part of an optional package offered on all three trims. Additionally, the Avenir model upgrades the suspension with continuous damping control, enhancing ride comfort and performance.
To reinforce its status as a family-friendly vehicle, the majority of the Enclave’s available safety features come standard. These include driver assistance technologies designed to brake, accelerate, and turn, ultimately preventing accidents.
On the Inside
Upon entering the 2025 Buick Enclave, you are greeted by its impressive new 30.0-inch display—the largest in its segment—encased under a single pane of glass in the redesigned dashboard. This significant upgrade replaces the previous 8- and 11-inch screens from models like the refreshed 2024 Envision. The display is customizable, allowing users to move apps to a favorites bar on the left side of the screen. Furthermore, it supports Google Maps, Assistant, and Play, while remaining compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Every Enclave trim level features standard wireless charging, strategically placed within a stylishly angled phone tray in the center console, which also includes side-by-side cupholders—practical for discerning passengers. Moreover, the center console space has been expanded significantly due to Buick’s decision to relocate the gear shifter to the steering column. Luxurious touches such as brushed aluminum on the instrument panel and canary gold trim around the console further enhance the ambiance. Additionally, there are 126 ambient-light color choices to create the desired cabin atmosphere.
This current generation of the Enclave has provided an opportunity to elevate the interior’s material quality distinctly from its corporate counterparts, the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia. The interior design team, led by director Therese Pinazzo, has implemented a new internal design standard that aims to position Buick between mainstream brands and luxury competitors.
Unique Interior Design Features
According to Pinazzo, previous Buick vehicles utilized many shared materials with other GM brands. However, for the 2025 model, the only interior elements the Enclave retains from the Traverse are its lower-door map pocket and glovebox panel. In reality, while seat structures remain consistent, the seats differ in terms of materials, design, stitching, and patterns, creating a unique interior experience.
Despite both the Enclave and Traverse featuring a floating storage area beneath the center console, Buick has designed them differently for a more upscale feel. The Avenir version, for example, incorporates custom perforation patterns in the leather adorning the door-trim inserts, dashboard, and seats. Additionally, the Enclave ST showcases a flat-bottom steering wheel and industrial-themed interior accents, characterized by black finishes paired with white stitching and piping. All trims come with a premium Bose audio system, with the Avenir boasting 16 speakers—four more than the other models.
Offering excellent headroom and generous legroom, the Enclave features captain’s chairs in the second row, allowing for easy access to the third row via a wide walk-through. The second-row seats tip and slide forward at the touch of a button, enhancing convenience. Notably, there is no optional bench seat for the second row, establishing a seven-passenger capacity. Additional comforts for second-row passengers include cupholders (which are heated in the Avenir) and climate controls, while standard front seats in the top trim are both heated and cooled, even providing a massage feature.
Both the second and third-row seats conveniently fold flat; the power-folding third row comes standard. Additionally, for hands-free access to the cargo area, the powered autosense liftgate opens automatically when you approach with your key fob, enhancing usability. For those who desire more light, a panoramic sunroof is standard on the Avenir and an option on other trims.
Coming This Summer
The 2025 Buick Enclave is set to go on sale this summer, following the Traverse and Acadia. All three SUVs will be assembled at the Lansing Delta Township plant in Michigan, with production yet to commence. Buick will announce pricing closer to the official on-sale date.
Furthermore, Buick is experiencing a positive surge, with sales increasing by 60 percent in 2023. This momentum continues into 2024, evidenced by a 10 percent rise in sales during the first quarter. Notably, one in four sales is attributed to the premium Avenir trim. Seventy percent of Buick buyers are new to the brand, and Buick records its highest loyalty rates in years while maintaining high levels of satisfaction in both sales and service. The Buick Envista has emerged as GM’s top vehicle for conquest sales against competing brands, and the new Enclave, positioned in the popular three-row SUV market, is expected to further bolster these figures.
