Better In Every Way

THE 2018 BUICK ENCLAVE: QUICKER, NIMBLER, AND ROOMIER

- Gary Witzenburg

When we interviewed recently retired General Motors Design Vice President Ed Welburn way back in in 2006, he told us that he and his team had established “icon” vehicles that would set the design theme (or “form language”) for each GM brand going forward. And that icon vehicle for Buick was the just-introduced ’06 Enclave three-row crossover concept.

We thought that concept CUV was gorgeous inside and out, and if Buick’s thenboring cars would soon start looking like that, it would be great for GM’s once-proud premium brand. Other observers agreed.

Sure enough, when the very fine-looking production ’08 Enclave arrived the following spring and other new Buicks began to follow in its uniquely styled tire tracks, the brand’s reputation and sales started turning around. And we’re suspicious that its well-received new design theme helped save Buick from the chopping block when the government task force dictating GM’s recovery from its 2009bankruptcy forced it to drop half of its U.S. brands: Saturn, Pontiac, Saab, and Hummer. The new styling also helped cement the division’s stellar reputation and sales in China, where Buick is a surprisingly popular brand.