Judging a book by its cover is something we shouldn’t do, and it applies to us in daily life, including when we choose cars. This flagship seven-seater SUV is so much more than you thought it to be. The 2022 Enclave is not all-new, but has received a major facelift, which makes it look even more attractive on the outside. Although it uses the same drivetrain, which is the 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V-6, it never fails to offer punchy and refined drive quality. The interior is not as flashy as the X5 or the Q8, but the price tag of $42,800 makes the Enclave a better value proposition. If you are curious about its competitors, there is the Acura MDX, Mazda CX-9, and even the Volvo XC90. So, should you consider the 2022 facelifted Enclave, or other SUVs in the segment? We are here to let you know the full picture.

What’s New for the 2022 Buick Enclave?

Along with the new aggressive front fascia, the rear gets a slight refresh in styling. As standard, the new Enclave gets updated driver-assistance features, which now includes automatic high beams, lane-keeping assist, automated emergency braking, and blindspot monitoring. The rest of the features such as adaptive cruise control, rear pedestrian alert, and a heads-up display is optionally available. On the interior, there is a new center console that has a push-button gear-selector system. The top-of-the-line Avenir trim gets wooden inlays inside the cabin along with massaging front seats, and quilted leather upholstery. Buick now offers wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity with the 2022 Enclave. Unlike the previous model year, the 2022 Enclave has three trims on offer. Buick chucked out the entry-level Preferred trim from the list.

2022 Buick Enclave Trims

See trim levels and their respective pricing:

Enclave Exterior

We were expecting a complete overhaul, but Buick decided to go for a facelift and we now like the Enclave more than we ever did. In terms of looks, it is one of the most sharp-looking seven-seaters. The facelift brought a new front and rear bumper design. You will get to see new LED headlights which have become sleeker, and they are stretched out a bit. The intake grille has gotten bigger and is pushed lower down. 18-inch alloy wheels come fitted as standard, while the top-spec Avenir gets 20-inch wheels. The rear has LED taillights but unlike the outgoing model year, the 2022 Enclave has hidden exhaust pipes. Automatic high beams and a power-operated tailgate are standard across the trims. We think that the updated Enclave will attract a lot of consumers, especially because of its looks.

Dimensions

The Enclave is a seven-seater and is a big SUV with 204.8 inches in length. Both the MDX (198.4 inches) and the XC90 (195.0 inches) are a bit compact when it compared to the Enclave's length.

They even have a shorter wheelbase when compared to the Enclave's 120.9-inch wheelbase. The XC90 and the Enclave share the same 69.9 inches height, while the ground clearance of the latter remains similar to the MDX. The width of the Enclave, excluding the mirrors, is 78.7 inches, which is again very similar to the MDX. The XC90 has better ground clearance, making it more off-road friendly, in comparison to the Acura and the Buick.

Exterior Colors

The 2022 Buick Enclave is available in a total of eight colors, from which the Satin Steel Metallic, Dark Slate Metallic, and Red Quartz Tintcoat get replaced with newer colors. They are Emperor Blue Metallic, Sage Metallic, Cherry Red Metallic. The earlier colors: White Frost Tricoat, Quicksilver Metallic, Summit White, Ebony Twilight Metallic, and Rich Garnet Metallic have been retained for an additional cost of $495, excluding the Summit White. The White Frost Tricoat is a $1,095 option, while the Cherry Red Tintcoat will cost you $100 dearer than the other additional color cost.

Enclave Performance

Like the pre-facelift model year, the 2022 Enclave gets powered by the same 3.6-liter V-6. So, is there anything wrong with it? Absolutely not. The engine remains as refined as it was before. It puts out the same 310 horsepower and drives the front wheels as standard. The AWD system remains as a $2,000 option. The naturally aspirated nature of the engine makes the lower-end quite sluggish, but build up the revs, and you will get decent punch from the V-6. Car and Driver tested the Enclave on a straight line and found that it takes 6.6 seconds to touch 60 miles an hour, which is better than the XC90’s 7.5 seconds. The standing quarter-mile, however, takes 15.2 seconds. The Enclave can speed up to a limited 131 mph if you constantly keep your right foot down. The Enclave and the MDX, despite the power-figure differences, are very similar in terms of the overall accelerations. With the Enclave, you can tow up to a maximum of 5,000 pounds if you opt for the Towing package.

Engine and Transmission

The 2022 Enclave has a 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V-6 under the hood, which is the only engine available throughout the line-up. It is mated to a nine-speed automatic gearbox and drives the front wheels as standard. The engine cranks out 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Compared to the MDX, the Enclave draws 20 horses more but a pound-feet of torque less. We would not consider the XC90, as its base 2.0-liter turbo gas engine is severely underpowered when compared to both its rivals. You have to spend over $60,000 to get the twin-charged engine powered XC90, which we think is a bit too costly. Coming back to the Enclave, we feel that the engine is refined for everyday usage, including highway driveability.

Handling and Driving Impressions

The Enclave is a big SUV, and it surely drives like one. Thanks to its lighter steering feel and airy suspension feel, the Enclave is easier to manage, be it around the city or on highways. The suspension soaks the majority of potholes and bumps without any hassles. In fact, we would recommend the Enclave if you want a superb highway driving experience. Going around the corner will make you feel its limitations, which include significant body rolls, and poor steering feedback. We wouldn’t complain about it much because every other big SUV behaves similarly when pushed to its limits. However, the braking performance is quite impressive and that might elevate your confidence when speeding up.

2022 Buick Enclave Gas Mileage

The 3.6-liter V-6 puts out a respectable amount of power, but at the cost of fuel economy. We wouldn't say that it is a major con, since it isn't far behind the competition. Still, the EPA ratings could’ve been better. In FWD guise, the Enclave will return 18 miles per gallon in the city, 26 miles per gallon on the highways, and combined figures of 21 miles per gallon. With the AWD system, the ratings go down by a mile per gallon. A 19.4-gallon gas tank comes fitted to the FWD Enclave, while a bigger 21.7-gallon one is fitted to the AWD variant. The overall range provided would be about 405 to 430 miles, which is not bad at all.

Enclave Interior

We would rate the Enclave’s interior a solid seven out of ten, because of its minimalist attributes surrounding the cabin. With the exclusion of the former base trim, Preferred, the cabin now feels more upscale with the use of leather and even wood on the higher trims. The dashboard design has been retained from the outgoing model year, but the center console, which now has push-button gear selectors, rather than a traditional shifter. We have seen the same with the new generation Buick Envision, which we reviewed recently. However, there are some shortcomings regarding its “flagship” tag as it has a couple, if not many, cost cuttings inside the cabin. The optional power sunroof has a manual sunshade, which is kind of odd as its other competitors offer fully power-operated ones. The wooden trim is present but does not feel expensive when touched. But, there are other qualities of the Enclave which are as impressive as they can get.

Seating and Interior Space

The Enclave has good space inside the cabin to accommodate up to seven people, without much compromise. As standard, you will get leather upholstery, which gives a premium touch along with good comfort. The front row seats get power-adjustability up to eight levels and are heated seats as standard. Second-row heated seats are available with the Premium and Avenir. In terms of the interior space, you will find ample space in the first and second rows. The first row offers 42.6-inch headroom, 62.2-inch shoulder room, and a good 44.7-inch legroom. The second row offers 39.9 inches of headroom, 61.6 inches of shoulder room, and 38.3 inches of legroom. We can assure you that taller people can easily sit inside the first two rows. Coming to the third row, like the other seven-seaters, the space is quite tight for fully grown adults to occupy. While the headroom is decent at 37.6 inches, the legroom is just 33.5 inches, meaning that the third-row seats should be avoided by taller individuals. If you compare it to the XC90 and the MDX, you will be thrilled to know that the Enclave offers better legroom than the other two. While we generally recommend children to occupy the third row, two average height Americans can easily fit in there.

Interior Colors and Materials

You wouldn’t find the BMW X7 level of materials or build quality, but for the price, the Enclave is made well. Both Essence and Premium trims get Dark Galvanized leather seats with Ebony accents interior accents. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped as standard, while the Avenir gets wooden trim to elevate the overall feel. The Avenir is offered with Ebony leather seats with Ebony interior accents and Whisper Beige seats with Ebony interior accents. However, we are not sure about the wooden trim used on the dashboard, but it feels cheaper than usual.

Buick Enclave SUV Trunk and Cargo Space

If you carry around a lot of luggage or have plans to go for long road trips, then the Enclave is the right choice for you. It has a respectable 23.6 cubic feet of space behind the third row, which means you can throw a couple of big suitcases and a few duffles. You can carry luggage that can fit into 97.4 cubic feet of space, making it one of the most practical SUVs in its category. However, the cargo space behind the third row is bigger than what you would get with the MDX or the XC90.

2022 Buick Enclave Infotainment and Features

Features

The 2022 Enclave remains similar to the outgoing model year in terms of features. There is a 4.2-inch driver information display in between the analog clocks, a three-zone automatic climate control system, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, an eight-way power-adjustable driver seat, and a six-way power-adjustable front passenger seat. Other features include active noise cancellation, keyless entry, push-button ignition, heated front seats, auto-dimming cabin mirror, and a lot more. Premium and Avenir models get a heated steering wheel, a 120-volt household-style power outlet, heated second-row seats, and a wireless charging pad.

Infotainment

No matter which trim you choose, you will get an eight-inch touchscreen running the latest Intellilink system from GM. It is fluid and mostly intuitive. The display is sharp and the touch-latency is well controlled. With the 2022 model year, there is the wireless implementation of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto throughout the trims. Wi-Fi connectivity, Bluetooth, USB ports, and a six-speaker audio unit are offered as standard. The Premium and Avenir get a ten-speaker Bose sound system, SiriusXM, a digital rearview mirror, and a navigation system which is only available for the Avenir.

2022 Buick Enclave Problems and Reliability

The new Enclave facelift did not get any recalls till now since it is fairly a new model year. The outgoing model year had an issue with the deployment of the front airbags and had one recall. We will push an update if there is any recall for the 2022 Enclave. Buick is offering a three-year or 36,000 miles warranty with one year/unlimited miles of free maintenance, and five years/60,000 miles of roadside assistance. Buick also offers up to five years or 60,000 miles warranty for the drivetrain and up to six years or 100,000 miles on corrosion.

Warranty

2022 Buick Enclave Safety

The NHTSA and even the IIHS are yet to conduct crash tests on the Enclave for the 2022 model year, even though the previous model year's (IIHS) ratings were carried over. The outgoing model year performed well in the NHTSA crash tests and secured a full five-star rating. The IIHS, on the other hand, did not award either of the two Top Safety Pick awards but has rated the Enclave with “Good” in the whole Crashworthiness category.

Key Safety Features

The 2022 Enclave made its way to a set of standard driver assistance features such as front and rear parking sensors, lane-keeping assist, forward collision mitigation, blindspot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and driver’s safety alert seat. All of these features are available as standard along with the industry-standard features such as seven airbags, stability control, tire pressure monitoring system, and ABS. The Premium trim adds a 360-degree surround-view camera system along with a digital rearview camera. The top-spec Avenir is offered with adaptive cruise control, as standard.

Verdict: Is the 2022 Buick Enclave a Good Car?

It is no stranger that buyers often go for brand names, and Buick was lackluster in terms of design philosophy, old-school vibes, and average cabin quality. We have seen how these have changed with the new Envision and while the Enclave got a mid-cycle facelift, it is a lot more impressive than what it used to be. The exterior design is strikingly good, while the cabin remains quiet, spacious, and feature-proof. It also has a powerful 3.6-liter V-6 engine, which sips a bit more gas, but provides uncompromised performance with a maximum capacity of up to a whopping 5,000 pounds. If you are looking for more luxury and tech with build quality than the Enclave, the MDX would be a great choice. But if you are a family man with up to six or seven members, and want good comfort and practicality, then the Enclave is the way to go.

What’s the Price of the 2022 Buick Enclave?

Since Buick decided to drop the base Preferred trim, the entry level price tag saw a bump with the 2022 model year. The Essence is made the base trim, which is priced at $42,800 before destination charges and taxes. The Premium and Avenir trims are priced at $49,800 and $55,100, respectively. All trims are offered with an AWD system for another $2,000.

2022 Buick Enclave Models

Unlike the outgoing model year, the facelifted Enclave has three trims on offer: Essence, Premium, and Avenir. All trims are powered by a single 3.6-liter naturally aspirated V-6 and a nine-speed shiftable automatic transmission. While FWD is standard, you can spec your Enclave with an AWD system, but it costs you $2,000 extra.

The new entry level model Essence pack features, like LED headlights, hands-free tailgate, proximity keyless entry, push-button ignition, tri-zone automatic climate control, a 4.2-inch driver information display, leather upholstery, heated and power-adjustable front seats. The infotainment system consists of an eight-inch touchscreen display along with a six-speaker audio unit, a Wi-Fi hotspot, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay connectivity.

Every Enclave model comes with a few advanced driver assistance features such as a blind spot monitoring system, forward collision mitigation, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, along with front and rear parking sensors.

The next-in-line Premium models add features like a power-adjustable steering column, driver-seat memory settings, power lumbar support, heads-up display, ventilated front seats, heated outboard second-row seats, 120-volt household-style power output, and power-folding third-row seats. The infotainment system upgrades include a ten-speaker Bose premium audio unit, and a digital rearview mirror. There is a 360-degree camera system fitted as standard with the Premium trim.

The top-spec Avenir trim has all of the above features and further adds a power sunroof, navigation system, and adaptive cruise control. It also has a wood-trimmed steering wheel and genuine leather around the cabin, along with wood trim on the center console.

Additional Packages

There are plenty of packages available for the 2022 Buick Enclave, which includes the $2,850 Touring package that unlocks blackwall all-season tires, 20-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, and molded assist steps. The Sport Touring Edition is a $1,695 package enabling features such as body-colored door handles, 20-inch wheels, and Blackwall all-season tires. There is a Sound and Sites package that offers a ten-speaker Bose premium audio unit, along with a navigation system, and a 12-volt power outlet. If you choose the lower trims and want adaptive cruise control, then the Technology package is the way to go. It also adds a rear camera mirror washer and enhanced automatic emergency braking. Exclusive to the Avenir models is the Avenir Technology package, which adds unique-looking headlights, and an adaptive suspension for $1,595.

What 2022 Buick Enclave Model Should I Buy?

If you are on a budget, then we recommend the base Essence which costs around $41,000, and with that, you can choose the Technology package with it to enjoy the semi-autonomous driving experience. You might want to consider the Sound and Sites package, if you are a music freak, as it will not only unlock a ten-speaker Bose audio unit but also a navigation system which is a must-have. If money is not a factor to you, we recommend the range-topping Avenir with the Avenir Technology package, which will add an adaptive suspension and unique headlights.

2022 Buick Enclave Comparisons

2022 Buick Enclave vs Acura MDX

The Acura MDX is all-new for the 2022 model year, and it brings all the updates which are necessary for today’s standards. It is stylish, has all the modern amenities like a fully digital instrument console, a bigger infotainment display, ambient lighting, and so much more. The MDX costs about $6,000 more than the Enclave, but the latter has more cabin space, allowing passengers till the third row to travel long distances without many problems. The Enclave is more practical with bigger cargo space than the MDX.

Read our Acura MDX review.

2022 Buick Enclave vs Volvo XC90

The XC90 is due for a new generation, so a lot of things haven't changed since its 2020 facelift. We prefer the build quality of the XC90 since it is the flagship offering from the Swedish brand. Being a flagship offering, the base model is priced around $50,000 which makes it even more expensive than the Acura MDX. And, for the price, you will get an underpowered 2.0-liter which is nowhere close to the performance of the MDX and the Enclave. If you want the ideal XC90, then you have to spend around $70,000 to get the best performance, along with all the luxury amenities Volvo has to offer.

Read our Volvo XC90 review.

FAQ

Q: Is there a new Buick Enclave coming out?

The 2022 Enclave gets a midlife facelift, which gives the exterior look a sportier approach.

Q: How much does an Enclave cost?

If you want a new model, then the Enclave will cost you about $43,000 including all the taxes. You can look for used options and get one of them for about $25,000 or lower depending on the condition.

Q: How fast is the Enclave?

The Enclave can do a 0-60 in 6.6 seconds and a standing quarter-mile in 15.2 seconds. The top speed is rated to 131 miles per hour.

Q: How efficient is the Enclave?

The EPA has rated the standard 2022 Enclave with 18/26/21 for city/highway/combined.