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For 2022, the Buick Enclave came bigger and better with lots of niceties.

The new Buick Enclave for 2022 is a more well-rounded vehicle. It is a large three-row SUV with comfortable seating for seven people, a smooth ride, and a long list of standard equipment. The latest edition, which debuted for the 2018 has a few flaws, including a lack of basic driving aids and a drab interior.

Regardless, the 2022 Enclave is a sleek, family-friendly, and value-packed alternative to European luxury crossovers, and it sits atop the Buick SUV lineup. Buick, despite being less flamboyant than rivals from BMW and Mercedes-Benz, manages to appear more premium than the norm. Three rows of seats mean that a large family may sit comfortably inside. The Enclave, like its corporate cousin, the Chevy Traverse, is powered by a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that provides enough power while being quiet. The infotainment system now supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless connectivity, allowing you to connect your phone without a USB cable. The Enclave's front and rear design have been tweaked for a more streamlined appearance.

More importantly, several of the Enclave's formerly optional enhanced driver aids are now standard on all trim levels. Forward collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane keeping assist (which assists in steering the Enclave back into its lane if it begins to drift over the lane marker), and blind-spot monitoring are among these features.

Related: Here's What We Expect From The 2022 Buick Enclave

Every Enclave comes with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that produces 310 horsepower. The front or all four wheels are driven by an unobtrusive nine-speed automatic transmission. The Enclave isn't the fastest crossover, but it's swift enough that there's never any nervousness while merging onto the highway, and the engine goes about its business without disturbing the passengers. The well-damped suspension of the three-row SUV helps it hide its bulk, but it never feels as sporty as, say, an Audi Q7. Instead, the Enclave prioritizes comfort with a plush ride that glides over potholes and scarcely registers strong impacts.

With precise reflexes and moderate effort, the steering gives an adequate amount of sensation for a crossover. When properly outfitted, the Buick can tow up to 5000 pounds, which is ideal for folks who need a lot of towing power.

Related: 10 Things To Know Before Buying The 2022 Buick Enclave

For 2022, Buick's largest SUV gets a makeover, with new front and rear bumpers, updated external lighting components, redesigned wheels, and a revamped center console with a new push-button shifter.

The interior of the Enclave is as spacious as you'd expect from a car of this size, and Buick has incorporated a number of comfort and convenience features. It's not difficult to get into the third row, but only the second-row chair on the passenger side has an easy-release mechanism. On the driver's side, the system is strangely lacking. The third-row space is adequate, but the Kia Telluride and Volkswagen Atlas are better suitable for adults. The front viewing is good, however the rear quarter window visibility is limited due to the high window sill. When parking or backing out of spots, the optional bird's-eye view camera system assists you in avoiding fixed objects.

The pinnacle of luxury unique exterior ornamentation, quilted leather upholstery, massaging front seats, and new wood inlays for the cabin provide the Avenir an upgrade in terms of luxury. The rest of the lineup gets a slew of new driver assistance features, including automated emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, blind-spot monitoring, and automatic high-beams. Adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, and a rear pedestrian alert feature are among the more advanced features available. The basic Apple CarPlay and Android Auto functions in the Enclave have been enhanced to work wirelessly.

Overall, the interior design is attractive and functional, but the Enclave lacks the material quality and attention to detail that set it apart from its luxury-branded competitors. Only the passenger-side second-row seat swings forward to let third-row passengers in and out—clearly a cost-cutting measure that affects convenience.

Buick has finally made modern safety technology, such as automated emergency braking, blind-spot monitors, automatic high lights, and active lane control, standard on the 2022 Enclave. Automatic emergency braking is now standard, as is a safety kit. Although the Enclave's rear vision isn't exceptionally poor, we recommend opting for the optional surround-view camera system.

Even the lowest preferred model comes with a slew of standard driver-assistance systems, but buyers who want adaptive cruise control will have to upgrade to a higher trim or opt for an option package. Visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites for further information on the Enclave's crash-test results.

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