2014 BUICK ENCLAVE ADDS SAFETY, INFOTAINTAINMENT FEATURES
07/16/2013
Buick
Buick's award-winning Enclave is the industry's best-selling three-row luxury crossover and a cornerstone of the brand's renaissance, which has reintroduced Buick to a new generation of luxury customers.
The 2014 Buick Enclave builds on design, safety and infotainment technology changes introduced on the '13 model. New features include camera-based Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, along with SiriusXM Tune Select and text-to-voice features added to Buick's IntelliLink infotainment system's capabilities. Also, a pair of USB ports has been added to the rear of the center console to charge phones and other electronic devices.
Enclave is designed to comfortably accommodate three rows of adults and provides more third-row-seat leg room than the Infiniti JX, Acura MDX, Lincoln MKT, Audi Q7 and Volvo XC90. It is offered in both front-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations, with trim levels including Convenience (1SD), Leather (1SL) and Premium (1SN). All models are powered by an efficient, direct-injected 3.6L V-6 that delivers an EPA-estimated 24 mpg on the highway (FWD models) and a six-speed automatic transmission that contributes to efficiency and the Enclave's smooth driving experience.
Enclave also features the industry's first front center side air bag system that helps protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes. Available on every 2014 MY Buick, the new Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning features contribute to safety by alerting the driver to potential crash situations, which can give him or her additional time to react and possibly avoid them.
Sculpted exterior design
The Enclave is instantly recognizable as a modern Buick, with sculpted styling and signature elements - including a black-chrome waterfall grille - complemented by technologically advanced features, including signature wing-shape LED lighting. Monochromatic paint schemes accented with chrome contribute to the luxury crossover's premium appearance, along with large 18-, 19- and 20-inch wheel designs.
At the front, LED daytime running lamps and accent lamps give the Enclave a strong presence on the road. Blue translucent rings around the standard Xenon HID headlamps are Buick design cues found on other models, adding distinction across the brand's lineup. Articulating headlamps are available.
A chrome finish within the rear fascia frames the exhaust outlets, for an integrated appearance that exemplifies Buick's attention to detail. LED taillamps provide a safety benefit by illuminating more quickly than conventional bulbs when the brakes are applied.
Exterior color choices include: Quicksilver Metallic, White Opal, Cyber Gray Metallic, Carbon Black Metallic, Crystal Red Tintcoat, White Diamond Tricoat, Mocha Bronze Metallic, Champagne Silver Metallic, Atlantis Blue Metallic and Iridium Metallic.
Harmonious interior environment
The Enclave's interior is defined by luxurious amenities and high-quality materials, along with the intuitive technology of Buick IntelliLink. Rich, saturated tones and contemporary color combinations reflect Buick customers' lifestyles and enhance Enclave's sense of fashion. An exclusive cocoa interior color, for example, offers a higher degree of visual warmth. It is complemented by the soft feel of Nuance sandstone leather, which has characteristics similar to leathers used in premium home furnishings.
Interior highlights also include:
◾Ice-blue LED ambient lighting around the dash highlights Enclave's flowing lines, emphasizing the cabin's spaciousness
◾Eight-way power front driver and passenger seats with four-way adjustable head restraints
◾Available memory presets on eight-way power driver's seat include easy-exit driver's seat, power outside mirrors and power tilt and telescopic steering column (if equipped)
◾Available heated and cooled front seats
◾Soft-touch materials and real stitching throughout the cabin, as well as true chrome accents
◾Available power, tilt-sliding sunroof
◾Standard storage system under the floor in the rear cargo area
◾Standard power windows with driver and passenger express up/down feature
◾Rearview camera system
◾Power liftgate
◾Four interior color combinations with complementing wood tones.
Enclave offers three rows of seating, available in seven- or eight-passenger configurations. The second-row seats feature the popular SmartSlide system. With the pull of a single handle, SmartSlide allows easier entry to the third row.
There is 23.3 cubic feet (660 liters) of cargo space behind the third row and a maximum of 115.2 cubic feet (3,263 liters) of cargo space available behind the front row of seats. That's more than the Mercedes-Benz R Class, Infiniti JX, Lincoln MKT, Audi Q7 and the Volvo XC90.
Buick's signature QuietTuning engineering process, which uses laminated glass and extensive sound blocking and absorbing materials, makes Enclave's cabin quieter than a Lexus RX350.
IntelliLink and infotainment details
Buick's IntelliLink color touch radio is standard on all models and enhances the driving experience with a higher level of wireless connectivity and customized options - all while building on the safety and security of OnStar.
IntelliLink is intuitive and easy to use, and includes the capability of setting up a "home page" for favorites. It integrates online services such as Pandora (R) internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio (TM) using hands-free voice and touch-screen controls via Bluetooth-enabled smartphones. This builds on the voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling capability offered in other Buick models. Additional features:
◾6.5-inch diagonal high-resolution color display with touch-screen control
◾Bluetooth with hands-free (for phone calls) and A2DP audio-streaming protocol support
◾Address book download and hands-free calling
◾New SiriusXM Tune Select, which locates favorite artists or songs
◾USB port
◾Auxiliary audio input port
◾Steering wheel controls
◾Enhanced voice recognition powered by Nuance
◾AM/FM/HD Audio CD/MP3 CD
◾SiriusXM Satellite Radio and data services, including available NavTraffic
◾Selected smartphone apps can be controlled through the IntelliLink interface via the touch-screen, steering wheel controls or voice commands. The first apps to be supported are Pandora and Stitcher
◾Supports playback of MP3 files stored on flash memory drives.
IntelliLink is standard on all Enclaves, including those with the available navigation system and DVD capability. The IntelliLink screen also serves as the display for the standard rearview camera system. A premium 10-speaker Bose audio system is available and is optimized for the Enclave's refined interior acoustics.
For passenger entertainment, a rear-seat entertainment system is available. It includes a remote control, overhead display, two sets of two-channel wireless headphones, auxiliary audio/video input jacks and a 110-volt power outlet.
Efficient, smooth driving experience
Enclave is driven by a technically advanced 3.6L V-6, with fuel-saving direct injection technology and continuously variable valve timing, matched with a six-speed automatic transmission. Direct injection helps the engine produce power comparable to a V-8 - SAE-certified 288 horsepower (215 Nm) and 270 lb.-ft. of torque (366 Nm) - with good efficiency. EPA fuel economy estimates of 17 mpg city/24 mpg highway for front-wheel-drive models are very competitive with other three-row crossovers and utilities.
The strong V-6 engine also enables Enclave to tow up to 4,500 pounds (2,045 kg) when properly equipped, and it can be flat-towed in both FWD and AWD configurations. The available intelligent all-wheel-drive (AWD) system provides increased traction on slippery roads by actively managing the torque distribution between the front and rear axles, based on factors such as wheel speed, throttle and surface conditions. There is no driver intervention; the system automatically decides how much torque to apply and delivers it to the wheels that have the best traction.
Enclave has a long 118.9-inch (3,021 mm) wheelbase, with a wide 67.3-inch (1,709 mm) front track and 67.1-inch (1,704 mm) rear track - a combination that enables smooth, stable ride and handling characteristics. Additional chassis and suspension features include:
◾MacPherson strut front suspension, with a direct-acting stabilizer bar and aluminum knuckles. Isolated mounting points help reduce noise and vibration
◾Compact linked "H" design rear suspension, with an isolated mounting system to reduce noise and vibration transmitted to the passenger compartment
◾Power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering is standard; variable-effort steering is available
◾Four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock are standard on all models, with additional brake features including dynamic rear proportioning, hydraulic brake boost and panic brake assist
◾Eighteen-inch wheels are standard and 19- and 20-inch wheels are available.
Safety features
The 2014 Enclave includes the industry's first standard front center side air bag. It was developed to help protect drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes. It deploys from the inboard side of the driver's seat and positions itself between the driver and front passenger, delivering a more comprehensive occupant restraint system. No other air bag in passenger vehicles today offers this type of protection in the front seat.
Standard safety features also include StabiliTrak, traction control, panic brake assist, rearview camera system and a total of seven air bags - including head-curtain side air bags covering outboard occupants in all three passenger rows.
A number of camera- and radar-based safety features are offered on Enclave. They monitor areas around the vehicle and provide alerts to assist the driver in avoiding collisions. Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert are radar-based, while new Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning are camera-based. Forward Collision Alert detects a possible crash threat and alerts the driver, giving him or her extra time to stop and/or change course. With Side Blind Zone Alert, the driver is alerted to vehicles in the blind sport during a lane-change or merging maneuver.
Enclave's standard safety features also include StabiliTrak, traction control, panic brake assist and a total of seven air bags - including head-curtain side air bags covering outboard occupants in all three passenger rows.
OnStar details
Six months of OnStar Directions and Connections service is standard on Enclave. OnStar is the global leading provider of connected safety, security and mobility solutions and advanced information technology.
OnStar's RemoteLink Mobile App allows smartphone users to control vehicle functions, access vehicle information and send directions directly to the vehicle. An opt-in service called FamilyLink allows subscribers to stay connected to loved ones by checking the location of their vehicle online or by signing up for vehicle location alerts.
More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.