It is time for a mid-cycle update.
The 2018 model year saw the debut of the second-generation Buick Enclave. This SUV, which can seat seven and has three rows, got new styling. GM has begun preparing the Enclave to undergo a mid-cycle refresh in 2021. Automakers don’t like things being the same for too many years. The prototype was tested in Colorado by our spy photographers with camouflage at the expected locations.
Camouflage covers the rear bumper, rear bumper, taillights and part of the hatch. It hides everything that we expect to change on the SUV. Many of the new design cues taken from the 2020 LaCrosse will be used by the Enclave. This includes a revamped grille, headlights and front fascias. The dashboard has been covered by Buick, so it appears that the interior is being updated as well. It is possible that the interior will borrow from the LaCrosse. It could be the “Baby Buick Enclave headed for the Chinese market.
The Enclave currently rides on GM’s C1, or Chi platform. This platform also supports other GM three row SUVs like the Cadillac XT5 and GMC Acadia. For motivation, the Enclave currently uses GM’s 302-horsepower (3225-watt) V6 engine. This power is routed to the front or all four corners via the nine-speed auto gearbox. This will not change with the arrival of the 2021 model.
Although there is a lot of competition today, the Enclave was a significant breakthrough for the brand when it first arrived in 2008. The Enclave introduced a new design philosophy for the company and helped it achieve success in China’s lucrative market. Buick’s lineup was also consolidated by the Enclave, which eliminated Rendezvous and Rainer. In 2013, the chunky people-mover received a slight refresh before GM introduced the second-generation model for 2018. Buick’s Enclave is crucial, but so is GM. GM places more emphasis on trucks, SUVs, and crossovers in its quest for greater profits.