10 Buick Enclave Competitors to Consider

2018 Buick Enclave front three quarter house ・ Photo by Buick

The 2019 Buick Enclave is a mid-size SUV with three rows of seating and room for seven. Power comes from a 3.6-liter V6 engine with 310 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque paired to a nine-speed automatic transmission for a smooth, quiet ride. The base Preferred is front-wheel drive only, so those wanting the optional all-wheel drive are limited to the three remaining trims.

Pricing starts at $41,195 for the Preferred, while the luxurious Avenir, which Buick considers a sub-brand within the Buick lineup, is priced from $54,695. As an aspirational brand, every Buick offers an attractive, well-equipped interior that coddles its passengers, but pricing climbs quickly. Here are 10 Buick Enclave competitors to consider.

2019 Acura MDX

The 2019 Acura MDX is a three-row SUV with room for up to seven passengers. It has the option for second-row captain’s chairs, which are more comfortable and roomier if you’re OK with seating for six, or a three-passenger bench seat. A middle-row bench seat isn't an option on the Enclave.

The starting price for the base MDX with front-wheel drive comes in higher than the Enclave at $44,300. All-wheel drive is available across the lineup for an additional $2,000 and is your only choice on the new A-Spec trim. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 with 290 horsepower, which falls short of the Enclave, but with the bonus of better fuel economy in both front-wheel and all-wheel drive models.

Photo by Acura

2019 Chevrolet Traverse

The 2019 Chevrolet Traverse offers seating for up to eight, putting it ahead of the Enclave, which can only seat seven. (There’s also the option for second-row captain’s chairs that take seating back down to seven.) These are GM vehicles, so the Traverse gets the same 3.6-liter V6 engine as the Enclave. An optional turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with 255 horsepower is available on the RS with front-wheel drive only, offering nearly the same fuel economy.

Where the Traverse really edges out the Enclave is on its pricing. Five trims levels start with the base L at $31,125 and top out with the High Country, which is all-wheel drive only at a price of $54,195.

Photo by Chevrolet

2019 Honda Pilot

The 2019 Honda Pilot offers standard seating for eight, with available second-row captain’s chairs if you only need seating for seven. This puts it ahead of the Enclave’s seating for seven with second-row captain's chairs only. The Pilot has more room for passengers but less room for cargo, especially behind the third row. While the Enclave has 23.6 cubic feet behind the third row, the Pilot counters with only 16.5 cubic feet. Consider your cargo needs carefully.

The Pilot has standard front-wheel drive with available all-wheel drive that’s standard on the top Elite. Pricing for the six-trim lineup ranges from $31,450 to $48,020. It’s much more affordable than the Enclave, but it also has a less luxurious interior.

Photo by Honda

2019 Mazda CX-9

The 2019 Mazda CX-9 offers seating for seven passengers with an upscale interior that’s on par with what’s available in the Enclave. It comes with standard front-wheel drive with the option for all-wheel drive, which is your only choice on the top trims. Power comes from a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 250 horsepower and 310 lb-ft of torque. It has less horsepower than the Enclave, but its higher torque and turbocharging make the CX-9 a more engaging drive.

The CX-9 comes in four trims priced from $32,280 to $45,365, making it a more affordable choice. It also gets better fuel economy, particularly in city driving, adding to its affordability over the long term.

Photo by Mazda

2019 Subaru Ascent

The 2019 Subaru Ascent is an all-new model that finally brings a three-row option back to the Subaru lineup. It has seating for up to eight, with available second-row captain’s chairs offering seating for seven. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine with 260 horsepower and 277 lb-ft of torque, which comes in short of the Enclave.

Subarus are known for their capability, and the Ascent is no exception. It comes with standard all-wheel drive and X-Mode with hill-descent control for improved handling in rough conditions. The Ascent also has 8.7 inches of ground clearance for off-road adventures. The four-trim range is priced from $31,995 to $44,695 with a focus on utility over luxury.

Photo by Subaru

2019 Nissan Pathfinder

The 2019 Nissan Pathfinder offers room for seven passengers in a range of four trims. Front-wheel drive is standard with four-wheel drive available across the lineup. Power comes from a 3.5-liter V6 engine with 284 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque, which puts it behind the Enclave. It also has less interior cargo room, but when it comes towing, the Pathfinder wins. It can handle up to 6,000 pounds properly equipped versus 5,000 pounds with the Enclave.

The Pathfinder also offers impressive safety with standard automatic emergency braking, even on the base model. It has a less luxurious interior but also boasts lower pricing. The base S starts at $31,230 while the top Platinum starts at $42,570.

Photo by Nissan

2019 Kia Sorento

The 2019 Kia Sorento has seating for seven passengers with a choice of six trims. The base model offers only front-wheel drive, but the rest of the range offers optional all-wheel drive. There’s also a choice of two engines, with the L and LX offering a 2.4-liter four-cylinder with just 185 horsepower. A 290-horsepower V6 is available for the rest of the lineup, so you sacrifice power if you want maximum affordability.

While there’s seating for seven, the interior of the Sorento is smaller than the Enclave with less cargo and passenger room. Pricing starts at just $25,990 for the base trim while the top SX-Limited comes in at $46,490, making the Sorento a value-oriented alternative to the Enclave.

Photo by Kia

2019 Volkswagen Atlas

The 2019 Volkswagen Atlas is a three-row SUV with ample room for seven passengers. It’s available with front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive and a choice of two engines. There’s a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 235 horsepower or a 3.6-liter V6 with 276 horsepower. You get slightly better fuel economy with the four-cylinder, but to meet the Enclave’s performance you need to go with the V6.

The Atlas has a roomy cabin with slightly less passenger and cargo room than the Enclave. Standard safety is stronger with automatic emergency braking across the lineup. This is only available as an option on the Enclave Avenir. The Atlas is far less plush than the Enclave and that’s reflected in its pricing, which ranges from $30,895 to $48,395.

Photo by Volkswagen

2019 Volvo XC90

The 2019 Volvo XC90 offers a luxury-car experience that’s a step above what you’ll find in the Enclave. Even base trims have high-end materials and a quiet cabin that lets passengers truly relax. Base models feature a turbocharged engine with 250 horsepower, while higher trims get a turbocharged and supercharged engine with 316 horsepower. Sitting at the top of the XC90 lineup is a plug-in hybrid that boasts 400 horsepower.

The XC90 also has one of the more impressive infotainment systems available and strong standard and available safety. It had the features and the power, but it comes at quite a price. The base model starts at $47,200 while the top hybrid trim comes in at $104,900.

Photo by Volvo

2019 Dodge Durango

The 2019 Dodge Durango has room for up to seven passengers with a spacious interior and a choice of powerful engines. The base engine is a 3.6-liter V6 with 293 horsepower, while a 5.7-liter V8 offering 360 horsepower is also available. That’s a big jump, but there’s also a 6.4-liter V8 with 475 horsepower. The Durango offers the utility of a large SUV with true performance chops.

It also has a high tow rating. The Enclave can tow up to 5,000 pounds while the Durango boosts that number to 8,700 pounds. The Durango also comes in with more affordable pricing starting at $29,995, with full 2019 model year pricing yet to be announced.

Photo by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles