The Buick Enclave is a SUV built from 2007 to 2026 over 3 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Between 2007 and 2026 it grew 14 cm longer and gained -158 kg. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Enclave is
The Buick Enclave is a SUV that Buick built from 2007 to 2026 — 20 model years. Our measurements put it at 3 generations, the current one starting in 2025. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Buick range: Envista, Encore, Envision.
Where the Enclave is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 2,260 Enclaves on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 5GA | 2008-2026 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Buick VIN decide which of these 3 lines your Enclave belongs to. What every character in a Enclave VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Buick Enclave adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Enclave generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Enclave's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Enclave that gives 3 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007-2017 | 513 cm | 302 cm | 2305 kg | - | - |
| 2018-2024 | 519 cm | 307 cm | 2036 kg | +6 cm | -269 kg |
| 2025-2026 | 527 cm | 307 cm | 2147 kg | +8 cm | +111 kg |
Between 2007 and 2026 the Enclave gained 14 cm in length (+2.7%) and -158 kg in weight (-6.9%). Cars did not so much grow as thicken — crash structures, airbags and equipment weigh more than the metal they replaced, and on the Enclave that is -158 kg against 14 cm. Full dimensions by year →
Buick Enclave tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Enclave owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Buick Enclave have? Power & range
The Buick Enclave is offered with 2 powertrains — 3.6L 6-cyl, 2.5L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Buick Enclave, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 3.6L · 6-cyl | Automatic 9-spd | FWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.5L · 4-cyl | Automatic 8-spd | FWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Can a Buick Enclave tow? Towing & payload
As an SUV, the Buick Enclave is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.
What sets your Enclave's tow & payload rating:
- Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
- Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
- Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
- Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.
Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.
The Enclave by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Buick Enclave. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Enclave | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 57 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 1,605 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 4.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Crash safety | ★★★★★ NHTSA | Frontal, side, rollover |
| Insurance | $1,342/yr | Estimated full coverage |
| Used value | 1,000 listings | What it sells for now |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Buick Enclave?
The Enclave is a SUV, built from 2007 to 2026 across 3 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Buick Enclave made?
Across 2,260 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Enclave have?
3 by our measurements, the latest starting in 2025. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car. Over its life the Enclave grew 14 cm longer and gained -158 kg.
What is the Buick Enclave warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Enclave reliable?
It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Enclave?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Buick
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buick Envista | 2024–2026 | 4 | 30 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Buick Encore | 2013–2026 | 42 | 30 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Buick Envision | 2016–2026 | 16 | 26 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Buick LaCrosse | 2005–2019 | 44 | 29 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Buick Regal | 1981–2020 | 173 | 29 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Buick LeSabre | 1981–2005 | 48 | 21 mpg | 3.5/5 |