A crossover shows the way GM should go

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2008 Buick Enclave - Comfort

Front Comfort
Buick is a brand that is known for comfort, and the Enclave is no exception. An eight-way adjustable seat covered with perforated leather and a tilt-and-telescope steering wheel ensure the driver can get everything where he or she wants. While the passenger seat isn’t as adjustable, it’s still got the dual lumbar support. Plenty of head and leg room make the Buick an accommodating ride for taller drivers and passengers. The center armrest is nicely padded and slides back and forth, locking in five different positions. The nicely sized steering wheel is covered in leather with wood accents.

Rear Comfort
With the third-row seats stowed, there’s a lot of head and leg room. The captain’s chairs are almost as nice as the front seats, comfortable and supportive. Even with the third-row seats raised, there’s still room for adult passengers in the second row. You might not make seven adult passengers completely comfortable in the Enclave, but leg room is still generous. For those needing to seat an eighth passenger, there’s an optional bench seat for the second row.

Rear Comfort: Third-Row Seat
Third row seats are less plush than the second row, but still comfortable. The bench seats three, but there are only headrests in the outboard positions. The passenger sitting in the middle does get morel leg room. The seats are easy to raise and lower from the back of the vehicle. The only thing that requires opening one of the back doors is releasing the center passenger shoulder belt. That makes this setup one of the easier to deal with. Accessing the back seats was easy, thanks to the folding and sliding second-row seats.

Interior Noise
If you like a quiet interior and ride – and who doesn’t? – then the Enclave won’t disappoint. With very little wind noise and subdued road noise, the inside is placid even at freeway speeds. There’s a bit of engine and transmission noise while cruising, but nothing objectionable; under acceleration, the V-6 has a nice growl and isn’t the least bit thrashy. Overall, one of the quietest vehicles we’ve tested in some time.

Visibility
The Enclave has very good visibility all the way around, although the rear window is a bit small. Back-up assist is helpful and has three color coded lights located in the headliner that indicate how close the vehicle is to an object. Side mirrors are good-sized. One drawback is that it’s difficult to gauge where the front of the vehicle is to other vehicles or objects when you’re parking.