Model research hub
Buick Enclave
Tom's Guide calls the 2026 Buick Enclave basically a more affordable version of Cadillac, saying the Avenir AWD trim is a refined mid-size SUV that offers Cadillac-level luxury and industry-leading tech like Super Cruise without the extravagant price tag, reaching an as-tested price of $67,935 and averaging 22.3 mpg over 138.5 miles of testing. MotorTrend says the three-row Enclave, mechanically related to the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, has seating for up to eight passengers, titling its 2025 Avenir first test 'This Premium 3-Row SUV Just Leveled Up.' Drive Sense says the 2026 Enclave aims at a specific kind of American buyer, someone who needs real three-row flexibility but wants their daily driving environment calmer than what most mainstream SUVs deliver.
An affordable Cadillac alternative
Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab) calls the 2026 Buick Enclave basically a more affordable version of Cadillac, saying the Avenir AWD trim is a refined mid-size SUV offering Cadillac-level luxury and industry-leading tech like Super Cruise without the extravagant price tag, reaching an as-tested price of $67,935 and averaging 22.3 mpg over 138.5 miles of testing.
Platform mates and seating
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the three-row Enclave, mechanically related to the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, has seating for up to eight passengers, and titled its 2025 Avenir first test 'This Premium 3-Row SUV Just Leveled Up.'
Who it's built for
Drive Sense (opens in a new tab) says the 2026 Buick Enclave aims at a specific kind of American buyer: someone who needs real three-row flexibility but wants their daily driving environment calmer than what most mainstream SUVs deliver.
Questions buyers ask
What other GM SUVs share a platform with the Buick Enclave?
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says the Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia.
Does the Buick Enclave offer Super Cruise?
Tom's Guide (opens in a new tab) says yes, calling it industry-leading tech on the Avenir AWD trim.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Buick Enclave is built around 2.5L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 328 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 3 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2026 Buick Enclave is published to tow is up to 5,000 lb (properly equipped, with the Trailering Package).
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2026 Enclave.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Buick Enclave
MY2026 carries the Enclave's 328-horsepower 2.5L turbo engine and three-trim ladder forward from MY2025 with updated pricing.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
5 indexed Buick Enclave model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2027 Buick Enclave | 1 | 2027 record → |
| 2026 Buick Enclave | 1 | 2026 record → |
| 2025 Buick Enclave | 1 | 2025 record → |
| 2022 Buick Enclave | 2022 record → | |
| 2015 Buick Enclave | 2015 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Buick Enclave.
The Buick Enclave is a three-row full-size crossover SUV produced by General Motors since 2007. It was previewed at the 2006 North American International Auto Show, officially as a concept car, making it the first Lambda vehicle to be displayed. The Enclave is partially based on the Buick Centieme concept shown at the 2003 Detroit Auto Show.
Source: Buick Enclave (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Buick Enclave at a glance
- Production
- April 2007–present
- Model years
- 2008–present
- Class
- Full-size crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive
- Predecessor
- Buick Rainier, Buick Rendezvous, Buick Terraza
Buick Enclave generations
The Buick Enclave has been redesigned in 2018, 2025, gaps of 10, 7 years, an average of 8.5 years between generations. The current generation (third generation) began in 2025.
| Generation | Code | Began | What changed |
|---|---|---|---|
| First generation | n/a | 2008–2018 | The Enclave has seating for seven passengers, with an optional second row bench seat instead of the standard two captain chairs which increases the seating to eight. |
| Second generation | n/a | 2018–2025 | On April 11, 2017, exactly ten years after the first Enclave was produced, Buick unveiled the second generation Enclave at the Pier 59 Studios during the 2017 New York International Auto Show. |
| Third generation | n/a | 2025–present | General Motors unveiled the third generation Enclave on April 9, 2024. |
Recent recalls (1 campaign across the latest model years)
- February 2026, Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual. General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Coupe, Corvette… Consequence: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Owners filed 37 complaints with NHTSA for the 2025 Buick Enclave, most often about service brakes (14), electrical system (9), unknown or other (7).
Year by year
The Buick Enclave across 13 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Buick Enclave | 21–22 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | |||
| 2026 Buick Enclave | 21–22 | $2,850–$2,950 | 2 | 1 | ||
| 2025 Buick Enclave | 21–23 | $2,700–$2,950 | 2 | 36 | ||
| 2024 Buick Enclave | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 7 | 5 stars | |
| 2023 Buick Enclave | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 19 | 5 stars | |
| 2022 Buick Enclave | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 1 | 13 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Buick Enclave | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 2 | 25 | 5 stars |
| 2020 Buick Enclave | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 6 | 56 | 5 stars |
| 2019 Buick Enclave | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 1 | 42 | 5 stars |
| 2018 Buick Enclave | 20–21 | $2,950–$3,100 | 2 | 64 | 5 stars | |
| 2017 Buick Enclave | 17–18 | $3,450–$3,650 | 2 | 3 | 179 | 5 stars |
| 2016 Buick Enclave | 17–18 | $3,450–$3,650 | 2 | 4 | 141 | 5 stars |
| 2015 Buick Enclave | 18–19 | $3,300–$3,450 | 2 | 5 | 171 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Buick Enclave, one model year at a time.
| Step | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 to 2026 | 22.0 to 21.5 | ||
| 2024 to 2025 | 20.5 to 22.0 | Engines: 2.5L 4-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic 8-spd | Engines: 3.6L 6-cyl SIDI; Transmissions: Automatic 9-spd |
| 2017 to 2018 | 17.5 to 20.5 | Transmissions: Automatic 9-spd | Transmissions: Automatic 6-spd |
| 2015 to 2016 | 18.5 to 17.5 |
Buying used
What the Buick Enclave recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | equipment (other) | None |
| 2022 | 1 | air bags (side/window) | None |
| 2021 | 2 | air bags (sensor); air bags (side/window) | None |
| 2020 | 6 | structure (frame and members); air bags (side/window); fuel system, gasoline (delivery); 2 more | None |
| 2019 | 1 | power train (automatic transmission) | None |
| 2017 | 3 | air bags (critical fasteners); air bags (frontal) | None |
| 2016 | 4 | visibility (windshield wiper/washer); seats; air bags (frontal) | None |
| 2015 | 5 | tires; air bags (critical fasteners); air bags (frontal) | None |
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| air bags | 361 | 48% | 2017 (145) |
| electrical system | 79 | 10% | 2015 (14) |
| engine | 79 | 10% | 2020 (15) |
| unknown or other | 72 | 10% | 2015 (13) |
| service brakes | 65 | 9% | 2018 (21) |
| power train | 60 | 8% | 2019 (16) |
Trim by trim
Every 2027 Buick Enclave trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preferred | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 328 | 326 | 4,733 | 5,000 | – | $48,595 |
| Sport Touring | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 328 | 326 | 4,733 | 5,000 | – | $52,095 |
| Avenir | AWD | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 328 | 326 | 4,733 | 5,000 | – | $65,295 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2027 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Buick Enclave model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 3 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 328 | 4,733 | 5,000 | 21.7 |
| 2026 | 3 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | 328 | 4,733 | 5,000 | 21.7 |
| 2025 | 3 | 2.5-liter 4-cylinder (Turbo) | – | 4,537 | 5,000 | 19.4 |
| 2024 | 3 | 3.6-liter V6 | 310 | 4,359–4,685 | 5,000 | 19–22 |
| 2023 | 3 | 3.6-liter V6 | 310 | 4,614–5,359 | 5,000 | 19–22 |
| 2022 | 3 | 3.6-liter V6 | 310 | – | – | 19–22 |
| 2021 | 4 | 3.6-liter V6 | 310 | 4,359–4,685 | – | 19–22 |
| 2020 | 4 | 3.6-liter V6 | 310 | 4,359–4,685 | – | 19–22 |
| 2019 | 4 | 3.6-liter V6 | 310 | 4,359–4,685 | – | 19–22 |
| 2018 | 4 | 3.6-liter V6 | 305 | 4,359–4,685 | – | 19–22 |
| 2017 | 3 | 3.6-liter V6 | 288 | 4,724–4,922 | 4,500 | 22 |
| 2016 | 3 | 3.6-liter V6 | 288 | 4,724–4,922 | 4,500 | 22 |
| 2015 | 3 | 3.6-liter V6 | 288 | 4,724–4,922 | 4,500 | 22 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Buick Enclave.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0W-20 (5.5 qt) | DOT 4 | 140 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2026 | 0W-20 (5.5 qt) | DOT 4 | 140 lb-ft | – | – |
| 2025 | – | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2024 | 5W-30 | – | – | – | – |
| 2023 | 5W-30 | DOT 4 | – | – | – |
| 2022 | 5W-30 | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | 5W-30 | – | – | – | – |
| 2020 | 5W-30 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2019 | 5W-30 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2018 | 5W-30 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
| 2016 | 5W-30 | DOT 3 | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Buick Enclave: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
More recalls than this model’s own average
- 2020 Buick Enclave : 6 recalls on file, most commonly affecting tires and fuel system.
- 2015 Buick Enclave : 5 recalls on file, most commonly affecting airbags and tires.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | not available | equipment |
| 2025 | 36 | ||
| 2024 | 7 | ||
| 2023 | 19 | ||
| 2022 | 1 | 13 | airbags |
| 2021 | 2 | 25 | airbags |
| 2020 | 6 | 56 | tires, fuel system, airbags, structure |
| 2019 | 1 | 42 | powertrain |
| 2018 | 64 | ||
| 2017 | 3 | 179 | airbags |
| 2016 | 4 | 141 | airbags, seats, visibility/wipers |
| 2015 | 5 | 171 | airbags, tires |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Buick Enclave model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Buick Enclave?
Recall count alone can't answer that: it says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record. What federal data can say: 2020, 2015 carried more. See the model-year table on this page for the exact counts and what they cover.
Q02Which Buick Enclave model years should I watch for recalls?
The 2020 Buick Enclave has 6 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting tires, fuel system, airbags; The 2015 Buick Enclave has 5 federal recalls on file, most commonly affecting airbags, tires. Always confirm the open/completed status of every campaign for the specific VIN: a recall on this list may already be repaired on the vehicle in front of you.
Q03What are common recall-related problems on the Buick Enclave by model year?
2026: equipment. 2022: airbags. 2021: airbags. 2020: tires, fuel system, airbags, structure. 2019: powertrain. 2017: airbags.
Q04Why do some Buick Enclave model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Buick Enclave model year 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Buying, records and recalls, Brakes, tires and steering, Climate and electrical, Transmission and drivetrain, Engine and cooling.
2020 Buick Enclave owners specifically: see Brakes, tires and steering and Engine and cooling and Buying, records and recalls.
2015 Buick Enclave owners specifically: see Buying, records and recalls and Brakes, tires and steering.
Trim ladder
3 Buick Enclave trims, each with its own page.
Compared with
Models this Buick Enclave is most often compared with.
Nearest Buick models
Other Buick models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 Enclave come in?
The 2026 Buick Enclave (three-row SUV) comes in 3 trims: Preferred, Sport Touring, Avenir.
Q02What are the 2026 Enclave trims?
The 2026 Buick Enclave trims are Preferred, Sport Touring, Avenir, listed from the entry Preferred up to the top Avenir.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 Enclave use?
The 2026 Buick Enclave is built around 2.5L turbo four-cylinder, rated at 328 horsepower across its three-row SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 Enclave have?
The 2026 Buick Enclave is rated at 328 horsepower (2.5L turbo four-cylinder).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 Enclave?
The 2026 Buick Enclave is offered with FWD / AWD.