By Contributor Scotty Reiss
The 2025 Buick Enclave Avenir
Tour the 2025 Buick Enclave and it’s no surprise the company is setting sales records. Buick underwent a top-to-bottom overhaul over the last few years and it’s starting to pay off; the brand saw 29% growth in sales across its four-model portfolio for the first half of 2025. It’s an impressive streak for a brand that was more of a hidden gem than a category leader just a few years ago.
Leading the charge is Buick’s marquee model, the three-row, seven passenger Enclave SUV, a favorite for families who want under-the-radar luxury with an elevated interior experience, modern tech, extra seating and ample cargo space. Enclave’s sales are up 46% for the first half of 2025 so it’s no surprise that Duncan Aldred, Buick’s former global vice president, was recently elevated to president of GM North America.
Leading Through Minimalist Luxury
Minimalism is a go-to design approach and one that is embodied in Buick’s Wildcat Concept, created in 2022 under design chief Sharon Gauci. Wildcat ushered in the next era of Buick design starting with a newly-slimmed logo, a sculpted nose and sleek head lights and tail lights. Its influence is seen in the Enclave, which eliminated or hid most buttons, moved the gear shifter to the steering column and streamlined functions like air vents and climate controls. The changes create a sense of calm and allow refined materials to carry the design and set the tone in the cabin.
Enclave’s cabin palettes are also notable for tone-on-tone colors, subtle textures and at its center, a floating center console that elicits an open-feel cabin.
The minimalist feel carries through to the center row captains chairs (there is not a bench option) and into the third row and cargo area, with necessary functions tucked into out-of-the way spaces.
The interior of the 2025 Buick Enclave
Scotty Reiss
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Is Enclave A “White Label Cadillac”?
While the “white label Cadillac” tag may not be a fair assessment for the Buick Enclave—given the deep design integrity Buick’s design team brings to the model—it’s what customers may see when comparing Cadillac SUVs to the Enclave.
The Escalade, which is a larger full-size SUV with four wheel drive, led GM’s roll out of expansive center screens and uncluttered spaces. And its center console, while not the floating design that the Enclave sports, has a similar feel, though Enclave’s approach is more minimalist with fewer buttons and screens.
Buyers looking for many of the luxe features in the Escalade but don’t want the heft of its size and price may find the best alternative in the Buick Enclave, which is priced from $46,595 for the Preferred model to $59,695 for the top of the line Avenir model; all wheel drive adds about $2,000.
The Avenir cabin in the 2025 Buick Enclave
Scotty Reiss
Avenir Sets The Luxury Standard For Buick Design
While Buick Enclave offers two models that deliver a nice level of luxury, Premium and Sport, it’s the Avenir model that is really the luxury standard for the brand. There is an Avenir trim for every model, even the elegant but budget-priced Envista which comes in at about $30,000 for the top of the line leather-clad model.
The Buick Enclave Avenir includes every feature the brand offers in this model, from head up display to a digital rear view mirror, 22-inch wheels, a panoramic sunroof and quilted leather seating; other than Super Cruise hands free highway driving for $3,730, a trailering package, upgraded paint choices and all weather mats, there are few options to add.
Avenir offers two interior palettes: Ebony with gray accents (as seen in our test model) and light gray with dark blue accents. Both add tone-on-tone details including wood panels on the doors and dash, narrow slashes of chrome and a rose gold surround on the floating center console which nicely sets it apart from the storage bin beneath.
The floating center console in the 2025 Buick Enclave
Scotty Reiss
Premium And Sport Trims Offer Nice Advantages, Too
Buyers who don’t want, or can’t get, the Avenir model and opt for Sport or Premium models will also find a nice level of luxury, including the 30” multimedia screen that spans the dash, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a Google Built-in multimedia operating system with “hey Google” voice activated assistance.
These models also come in a choice of cream or ebony leatherette seating in the Premium model. Even with most of the upgrades available, including Super Cruise, a panoramic sunroof and shiny sport wheels, the price can settle at about $8,000 less than the Avenir.
The 2025 Buick Enclave Avenir
Scotty Reiss
Driving The Buick Enclave Is A Delight
To really drive home the idea of luxury, the Buick design team worked hard to create a super quiet cabin, a hallmark of luxury cars. In test driving the Enclave I found the experience to be nicely muted, allowing for conversation, listening to the Bose sound system or just zoning out and enjoying the drive.
The quiet cabin also aids in allowing all passengers to use the “hey Google” voice assist; the system can requests from any seat in the car.
The power that drives 2025 Buick Enclave is thanks to the new four-cylinder turbo engine that delivers 328 hp, which is the right amount of power for an SUV this size—not less than is necessary but not so much as it feels dangerous in your teenager’s hands. It’s the same engine that powers GM’s other newly redesigned three-row SUVS, the Chevrolet Traverse and the GMC Acadia. Paired with an eight-speed transmission, the Enclave feels and drives confidently.
The steering wheel on the 2025 Buick Enclave features the new logo and the Super Cruise bar at the … More top
Scotty Reiss
Confidence Is King In Three Rows Of Luxury
Maybe the thing I liked most about the Buick Enclave is the sense of confidence it exudes. It’s roomy and has great capacity for passengers and space, but behind the wheel you might forget that fact. Despite its long frame, it’s easy to drive thanks to a nice ride height and unibody crossover structure that makes it feel more like a car and less like a truck. Super Cruise hands-free highway driving adds another level of confidence, allowing the driver to relax a bit while the car handles the stress.
The wide center screen, floating console and the panoramic sunroof add even more to the luxurious feel, as do the quilted seats and the elegant exterior details. It’s not hard to see why the Buick brand, led by the Enclave, have moved from hidden gem to center stage among luxury cars.
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