2013 & 2014 Buick SUV Reviews & Ratings

For a long time, Buick had a reputation as making vehicles made for the more mature General Motors drivers. Then, in 2002, they released the Rendezvous, and a certain special person named Tiger Woods helped give the line a more youthful appeal as the spokesperson. Today, Buick has more than earned its outstanding reputation with a couple of the most attractive, strong, safe and reliable sport utility vehicles on the road.

The 2013 Buick Enclave is a force to be reckoned with! Luxury s... (full review continues below)

For a long time, Buick had a reputation as making vehicles made for the more mature General Motors drivers. Then, in 2002, they released the Rendezvous, and a certain special person named Tiger Woods helped give the line a more youthful appeal as the spokesperson. Today, Buick has more than earned its outstanding reputation with a couple of the most attractive, strong, safe and reliable sport utility vehicles on the road.

The 2013 Buick Enclave is a force to be reckoned with! Luxury styling at a surprisingly affordable price makes this a preferred pick for those who need the convenience of a family vehicle, without looking or feeling like they are driving a minivan.

Few changes were made to the 2013 model, but Buick did chisel out the body a little with sharper lines. Buyers can choose from either a seven or eight-passenger configuration with more than enough space for third row riders to get comfortable.

The contemporary cabin features ice blue ambient lighting, soft-touch materials, a multimedia touchscreen display and revised center console. Plenty of upgrades are available for customization too, such as a 10-speaker Bose audio system, smartphone integration, navigation system and rear cross-traffic alert and blind spot detection systems. Plus with a starting MSRP of $38,445, you can afford to add on a few extras.

The 3.6-liter V6 offers plenty of power for both acceleration and towing. It is the only engine that is available, and has become one of the most respected powertrains on the road.

The Enclave is available as a Convenience Group, Leather Group or Premium Trim, with each one boasting its own unique features. The standard 18-inch wheels are attractive enough, but it is nice to know that both 19 and 20-inch wheels are also available. Although the Enclave falls in a crowded class with the GMC Acadia, Infiniti JX and Acura MDX, it certainly does not get lost in the crowd.

New for 2013 is the Buick Encore that is being welcome with open arms. It finds itself in the compact crossover segment, but its ultra-sporty exterior and luxurious interior combine to pretty much put the vehicle in a league of its own.

Powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine, this SUV will raise quite a few eyebrows on those looking for impressive fuel economy. Noisy cabins have been a problem in this segment, but this is not a concern the Encore shares. An active noise suppression system does a remarkable job of turning the cabin into a vault.

Seating for five is generous. In fact, rear seat passengers have as much legroom as in the significantly larger Chevrolet Equinox; despite that it is 20 inches shorter. There will be only one trim available for now, but it will come nicely loaded with an eight-way power driver seat, leather upholstery, power accessories, rear view camera, universal remote transmitter, Bose premium brand speakers, speed sensitive volume control and a whole lot more. Encore will be nice competition for the Mini Cooper Countryman and the Cadillac SRX, two vehicles with very loyal customers.