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The Buick Enclave provides the auto manufacturer’s entry into the three-seat row crossover SUV class.
While it costs about the same as its closest competitors, its price tag runs higher than some, such as the Denali for which Buick created the Enclave as a competitor.
The entry point for an Enclave starts with a sticker price of $42,800. Adding the top of the line trim package costs $57,100. You don’t get the high-end luxury of some of the competitors in its class though.
The interior doesn’t come off as tacky; it just uses mid-range quality materials that don’t match the high-quality materials used in the Denali or Mazda CX-9. You can seat seven in it, so it provides a great option for families.
The vehicle comes with three trims, each offering two styles – an AWD or FWD. You can’t change the engine regardless of what trim you choose. It comes with a 3.6-liter, V-6 engine that generates 310 horsepower and 266-pound feet of torque.
This engine provides it the power to accelerate quickly, although not like a European roadster. It manages to go from 0 to 60 in 5.75 seconds from a standstill. The Enclave doesn’t offer impressive fuel efficiency.
It earns 18 miles to the gallon in the city and 26 miles to the gallon on the highway. Maybe for that price, you’d like to get the fancy interior or a trim level that lets you change the engine. Perhaps you dream of a more powerful engine.
You want to off-road a little. It proves simple to find an alternative since the Enclave belongs to one of the largest SUV classes.
You can find alternatives to Buick’s three-seat row SUV. Let us help you get started with a quick list of our favorites, starting with our top three, then providing the runners-ups.
1. Mazda CX-9
The CX-9 bets the Enclave in price, starting at just $35,280. The CX-9 provides comparable gas mileage, too, earning ratings of 20 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
Why It’s Similar to the Enclave
This Japanese manufacturer created a seven-seater crossover SUV that provides a smooth ride.
You get a roomy ride with electronics a little behind the times, in this case, the navigation system, in Enclave’s case the driver assistant features. It uses curvy lines and an elegant exterior similar to the Enclave.
Vehicle Design Observations
The CX-9 provides a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 305-horsepower and 310-pound feet of torque. Although the engine provides less zoom than the Enclave, the Mazda makes up for it in the interior. Its glossy, slick styling shows the same elegance as the sleek exterior.
Speed/Time for 0 to 60 miles per hour: 9 seconds
Horsepower: 227 hp
Torque: 310 lb. ft.
Base Model Cost: $35,280
Seating Capacity: Six or seven
Fuel Efficiency: 20 mpg in the city/26 mpg on the highway
Towing Capacity: 3,500
2. Hyundai Palisade Limited
You’ll spend remarkably less on the Hyundai Palisade Limited, but benefit from better equipment and a nicer interior. The Korean automaker makes the Palisade to impress.
It may not have the engine of the Buick, but it has a fully digital dashboard, premium Nappa leather interior, a premium multimedia system, and the roominess you expect to have in a three-seat row crossover SUV.
Since 2020, it has been tough to nab one of these since it became rather popular.
Why It’s Similar to The Enclave
They’re in the same class of SUVs and they both seat seven in one configuration. That’s it. The Hyundai uses a boxier design with a snub-nosed front end. It appears more European although it is made in Korea.
Vehicle Design Observations
Even the top trim of this vehicle costs under $50K. You’d pay $48,000 for top-level trim that offers advanced electronics, an even more upscale interior, plus a number of driver assistant features.
Because of its design, you can choose the captain’s chairs as the second row and still seat seven people. If you want to increase that seating to eight, go with benches for each of the rear rows.
Speed/Time for 0 to 60 miles per hour: 6.9 seconds
Horsepower: 291 hp
Torque: 262 lb. ft.
Base Model Cost: $33,350
Seating Capacity: Seven to eight
Fuel Efficiency: 19 mpg in the city/26 mpg on the highway
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
3. Kia Telluride SX
Hyundai and Kia belong to the same corporate family, making them automotive siblings. Although their exteriors differ a bit, their interiors and electronics match up nicely.
This means the Kia also provides a vehicle option that beats out the Enclave. It ranks at number three though because its base model costs about $9,000 more than the Palisade.
Why It’s Similar to the Enclave
Both of the vehicles offer comfortable seating and lots of cargo space. They’re in the same SUV class. They earn similar gas mileage. There, the similarity ends.
Vehicle Design Observations
The Telluride SX piles on fun features like dual sunroofs and a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround sound system. It includes a few driver assistants in its base level trim – forward and reverse park distance warning and blind-spot view, plus a surround-view monitor.
Speed/Time for 0 to 60 miles per hour: 7.2 seconds
Horsepower: 291 hp
Torque: 262 lb. ft.
Base Model Cost: $42,990
Seating Capacity: Seven or eight
Fuel Efficiency: 20 mpg in the city/26 mpg on the highway
Towing capacity: 5,000 pounds
Runners Up to the Top Three
If you didn’t find the next car of your dreams in the top three vehicle alternatives to the Buick Enclave, keep reading. We located other Buick Enclave alternatives, too.
4. Toyota Highlander
The Highlander’s base model costs only $35,405 but offers power and precision performance. Your ride would earn better gas mileage if you choose the Toyota since it gets 21 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway.
Although that means it does much better than the other entries, it doesn’t have the same engine power as the Enclave or the other alternatives.
Its front end makes it look like a Storm Trooper if you get it in white but if your kids like Star Wars, that’s not all bad. If you get it in black, nickname your car Darth Vader and leave the other SUVs in your dust. You get four-wheel drive, but a wobbly ride.
5. Honda Pilot 4WD
For only slightly more than the Enclave at $37,580, the Honda Pilot provides better storage options. It has comparable cargo space but lets you stash stuff in cubbies and creative storage bays.
It also offers better fuel efficiency, earning 20 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. The vehicle’s 3.5-liter, V-6 engines produce 280 hp and 262-pound feet of torque.
Road tests show that its engine makes quite a bit of noise. Going with the Touring package gets you upgrades like acoustic glass and chrome on the exterior plus roof rails among other goodies.
6. Dodge Durango
Years ago, Motortrend knocked the Durango for having a “five-speed slusher.” Dodge must’ve taken it to heart because the Durango now offers a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. For a tiny price of $36,995, you can nab this seven-seater SUV.
You won’t win any drag races with it, but it accelerates better than most, going from 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds. The fuel efficiency is what you’d expect; the vehicle earns 19 mpg in the city and 26 mpg on the highway.
The base model comes with a 3.6-liter, V-6 engine, but you can upgrade it to either a 5.7-liter V-8 or a 6.4-liter V8 engine. The base model engine produces 293 hp, while the top-level engine produces 475 hp.
The base model engine produces 260-pound feet of torque, while the top-level engine produces 470-pound feet of torque.
7. Chevrolet Traverse High Country
The most expensive comes last because if you need to seat seven or eight, you probably watch your budget pretty carefully. The Traverse High Country costs $51,200 but doesn’t provide better fuel efficiency than the other options.
The vehicle earns 18 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway. This crossover SUV comes with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that produces 310 hp and 266-pound feet of torque. The SUV can tow 5,000 pounds, so you can haul a boat to the lake or ocean with this one.
The High Country package offers a number of driver assistant features including, forward automatic braking, standard proximity and distance indicators, and front pedestrian braking. You’ll also get a rear parking assistant and rear camera mirrors on this package.
If you reside in a particularly hot climate, the Traverse makes a good option because it contains a heavy-duty air conditioner that can handle cooling the oversized SUV.
It offers a good audio system and leather seats. If you drive a lot at night, this SUV comes with IntelliBeam headlights.