Fog, mist, and flocks of trucks confounded a usually pleasant drive into Dallas, but the 2018 Buick Enclave Avenir sailed through it all as serenely as a wooden speed boat knifing across a smooth-as-glass, deep-water lake.
Quiet and confident, Buick's flagship SUV comforted us with an easy-to-use premium sound system while a suite of safety technologies kept it in its lane a safe distance behind the trucks and monitored our blind spots-can't we all use a little of that every now and then?
Competing in a hypercompetitive niche that includes stalwarts such as the Volkswagen Atlas, Kia Sorento, Toyota Highlander, Nissan Murano, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-9, most of which sell in the $30,000 to $40,000 range, the Enclave costs more, but offers more.
Completely redesigned for 2018, along with its cousin the Chevy Traverse, the Enclave's 120-9-inch wheelbase and 204.3-inch overall length, are longer than most competitors, and that has two significant implications: smoother ride and more room.
The third row alone offers 5.4 more inches of standard legroom than an Acura MDX, 4.3 inches more than an Audi Q7 and nearly three inches more than an Infiniti QX60. The new Enclave has 10 percent greater interior volume than its predecessor, including hidden underfloor storage.
Add in a host of engineering strategies to manage noise, vibration and harshness, plus Buick's QuietTuning, which uses active noise cancellation to further reduce, block and absorb noise, and the Enclave begin to feel like it might be worth its $40,970 starting price for a base model with front-wheel driver and a long list of standard features
As usual, our tester was loaded. Avenir-French for "future"-is Buick's new sub-brand, like GMC's Denali, which means all the goodies in the parts bin. In this case, this meant 4G LTE with wi-fi hotspot, rear entertainment, premium leather with contrast stitching everywhere, a 360-degree surround-view camera system, a power sunroof with rear skylight, adaptive full-speed cruise control with stop/go, front automatic braking, a premium suspension package and continuously variable real-time suspension damping.
All that and more pushed the price past $59,000, a little high for a Buick, but a solid deal for a non-German, top-drawer family hauler.
A $45,190 Essence model gives you a leather interior, cabin ionizer and blind-spot monitoring.
The $48,990 Premium brings low-speed forward emergency braking, lane-keep assist, a premium Bose sound system, heated and ventilated first- and second-row seating.
Even at that, though, a full safety suite that includes dynamic cruise control requires buying another option package. That means spending $7,000 to $10,000 above base to get a life-saving feature that Toyota and Lexus make standard on every vehicle they make.
Bigger than it looks
Thanks to a lower and more aerodynamic design architecture, the new Enclave has a more balanced, athletic look. The roofline is lower, the windshield is sharper and the wheelbase is extended, giving the vehicle a dramatic stance. Its sculpted body creates a windswept appearance.
Extensive use of LEDs is integrated into Buick's first application of Evonik Acrylite technology and bi-functional LED projector headlamps and LED tail lamps. The technology's compound curvature creates a smooth and uniform appearance.
Comfortable cabin
The interior is inviting and harmonious. A contoured dashboard flows elegantly across the front and into the door panels. Most materials have a soft touch and premium feel. Ergonomics are superb, except for an over-engineered joystick shifter that requires the press of a side button and never feels like an actual shifter.
Seats are thick and comfortable enough for all-day driving. Side bolsters are not particularly meaty, but this is a family car, not a rally racer.
Sliding and reclining second-row cabin's chairs are standard and provide more than ample legroom. A third-row bench is more accommodating than most, though we suspect this is a vehicle more comfortable for six than seven.
Three-zone automatic climate control and six USB ports are standard. Even in lower-trim models, the cabin feels warm and sophisticated.
Plenty of power
Buick offers one engine, a pleasantly smooth and powerful DOHC, 24-valve, 3.6-L V-6 that puts out 310 hp. and 255 ft-lb. of torque. Mated to a nine-speed automatic with manual shifting mode, the drivetrain accelerates sharply, going from 0 to 60 mph in 6.6 seconds and can climb to 131 mph, though we saw no reason to test that.
We averaged close to 17 mpg in combined driving and attained right at 25 mph with the cruise control locked in at 75 mph.
Front-wheel drive is standard, AWD is available. The Enclave is tow-rated at 5,000 pounds with a factory installed package, 1,500 pounds without.
Feel of safety
Since it was rush hour when we approached Dallas, I decided to tune in a news radio station for traffic alerts. I had my eyes on the radio when I encountered the first traffic jam.
I might not have been paying attention, but the Enclave was, hitting the brakes as the 18-wheeler ahead hit his. I decided to let the Enclave finish the job. The truck stopped, and so did the Enclave, 15 feet behind the truck.
On the way out of town, I noticed a truck beside me suddenly lurch to the right. As I pondered the meaning of this, the Enclave's cameras detected a sharp lane shift, and promptly edged itself to the right, keeping in the center of the lane.
To my affection for smart blondes, I am adding one for smart cars. Both can be life-savers.
Bottom line: Aiming to become an international luxury brand, Buick hits close to the bullseye with the Enclave Avenir.