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Buy this Ford vs Ferrari GT40 Movie CarBudget Buy $15,000: Buick Enclave vs Chevrolet Traverse
Looking for a large crossover? The Buick Enclave and Chevrolet Traverse offer plenty of space and refinement. Read on to learn how these SUVs compare.
Buick Enclave vs Chevy Traverse
As your family grows, you need a larger vehicle to get everyone to their various events. A three-row crossover is a great option as they offer all the seating and cargo space you need. The Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse are excellent options in the segment and you can find 2011 models for both for $15,000. Keep reading to learn our thoughts on how these two large crossover SUVs compare.
Specs
The Buick Enclave and Chevy Traverse offer similar driving dynamics and performance since they share platforms. Under the hood of both SUVs, you’ll find a 3.6-liter V6 engine. In the Traverse, the engine produces 281 horsepower and 266 lb-ft of torque. If you choose the LTZ trim level, the Traverse gets dual exhaust to help extract 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque.
In the Buick, you get the higher power output as standard, and all trims get the full 288 horsepower and 270 lb-ft of torque. Both the Enclave and the Traverse get a smooth-shifting six-speed automatic transmission. To find out how the Enclave compares to the Ford Explorer, read our review here.
Both of these crossovers come standard with front-wheel drive and both offer all-wheel drive as an option so you can have that extra traction and peace of mind when driving in inclement weather. As you would expect, the fuel economy ratings for both vehicles are similar.
The front-wheel drive Enclave and Traverse models have an EPA rating of 17 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, with a combined rating of 19 mpg. The all-wheel drive models both drop a little, but the Traverse has the official edge achieving 16 mpg city, 23 mpg highway, and 19 mpg combined. The Enclave, surprisingly given the shared platform, engine, and similar weight, achieves 16 mpg city, 22 mpg highway, and 18 mpg combined.
Real world mileage will vary with your driving style, so you can consider the fuel economy rating essentially the same. If you are curious how the Traverse matches up with Kia’s Telluride, check out our comparison here.
Driving and Performance
When it comes to on road performance and feel, the Buick and Chevy offer similar experiences. The V6 engine provides plenty of power for good acceleration and the six-speed automatic transmission responds reasonably quickly. The transmission allows for manual control as well, so you can queue up a lower gear in preparation for a pass or to help moderate your speed when going downhill.
You’ll find the handling for both SUVs is confident and inspiring, if not sporty. The StabiliTrak stability control system is on hand to help you maintain control of the Traverse or Enclave, even during abrupt swerves and slippery conditions. If you choose either vehicle with all-wheel drive, you’ll find that setting off in snow is easier as the system helps send power to the wheels with traction.
It’s hard to choose between the Traverse and the Enclave when considering how they ride. Both crossovers provide smooth rides that are able to absorb the bumps effectively. It’s possible, with its greater focus on luxury, that the Buick might feel just a little more refined.
If you plan to use either SUV for towing, the Buick Enclave is able to handle up to 4,500 pounds. The Chevy Traverse is rated a bit higher at 5,200 pounds. Both the Traverse and the Enclave are capable of getting a small to moderate sized boat to the lake, but if you need more towing, you’re better off looking at a truck-based SUV.
If you want to learn more about the Chevy Traverse, you can read our in-depth car review here.
Comfort and Interior
The interiors of the Traverse and Enclave is where you are likely to notice more differences. Dimensionally, the two vehicles offer similar amounts of space, and come with the option to seat 7 or 8 people. The 8-seaters come with a second-row bench seat that can seat three across, while the 7-seat option swaps the middle bench for two captain’s chairs. The head room is virtually the same in both with 40.4-inches in the first row without a sunroof or 38.5-inches with a sunroof. The second row has 39.4-inches without a sunroof or 38.7 with the sunroof.
Legroom is also the same between the two, with 41.3-inches for the first row, 36.8-inches for the second-row, and 33.2 for the third-row. There is a bit of differentiation in the cargo area, where the Traverse has a small advantage with 24.4 cubic-feet of space behind the third-row while the Enclave has a smaller, but still impressive, 23.2 cubic-feet. If you fold all of the seats flat, the Traverse has 116.4 cubic-feet of space compared to the Enclave’s 115.3 cubic-feet.
When you take a seat in the Traverse, you’ll find the seats are very comfortable and the controls are intuitive. The Chevy comes with standard cloth seats that can be heated on some trim levels. If you want more luxurious seating, you can get perforated leather seats. The Buick Enclave also starts with premium cloth seats on the base model while perforated and heated seats came on the upper trim.
Both SUVs are impressively quiet on the road, with a slight advantage going to the Buick, thanks to careful sound insulation, and your third-row passengers should have no trouble hearing the front row passengers. Befitting its more upscale brand, the Buick has a more distinctively styled interior. There is beautiful wood trim across the dash, on the center console, on the door panels, and even on the steering wheel. While the infotainment systems in both might feel dated today, they both offer plenty of features including SiriusXM Satellite Radio, DVD based navigation, and a back-up camera.
Safety is also baked into the Traverse and Enclave with StabiliTrak electronical stability control to help keep you on the road, six standard airbags that provide protection to all three rows, and OnStar which automatically activates in the event of a crash. If you’re interested in new safety tech in modern vehicles, read more here.
Trims and Features
The base level for the Chevrolet Traverse is the LS trim which gets 17-inch steel wheels, manual climate controls, cloth seats, and the standard across all models 3.6-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission. You can step up from there to the 1LT for 18-inch aluminum wheels, heated mirrors, and help parking thanks to the ultrasonic parking assistance. The next trim is the 2LT which gets a dual-zone automatic climate control system and a power rear liftgate. The top trim, the LTZ gets leather seats throughout, heated front seats, 20-inch aluminum wheels, and a dual-exhaust that provide a small bump in horsepower.
The Buick Enclave starts more well equipped than the Traverse, with the base CX trim coming with 19-inch machined aluminum wheels, standard dual-zone climate control system with rear air-conditioning, remote keyless entry, and heated mirrors. The CXL1 trim gets premium leather seats, heated front seats, and more upscale 19-inch chrome wheels. The CXL2 trim gets heated and cooled front seats, a Bose audio system, and you can upgrade to 20-inch wheels.
Conclusion
When comparing two vehicle that share so many mechanical similarities, it’s hard to make a bad choice. The driving experience and interior space between the Traverse and Enclave are very similar. The Buick offers a little more luxury and the panache of a more premium brand. The Chevy, when new, was meant to be a more affordable option.
When shopping today for under $15,000, you’ll be able to find examples of both on carsforsale.com that offer similar mileage for similar prices. With both the Enclave and the Traverse, you’ll get a powerful, spacious, three-row crossover that you and the rest of your family can be proud of. And, if you’ve ever wondered about if you should be more concerned about the age or mileage of a used vehicle, you can find the answer here.
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