The 2025 Buick Enclave ST AWD: A Measured Look Beyond the Glamour
From my decade navigating the ever-evolving landscape of premium family SUVs, I’ve learned that true automotive value often hides beneath the flash, or sometimes, it’s starkly absent when the flash is removed. The 2025 Buick Enclave arrived on the scene with a fresh face, leveraging design cues from the alluring Wildcat concept and packing updated tech. Specifically, the introduction of the new Enclave ST AWD variant, rather than the top-tier Avenir, offered a unique lens through which to evaluate Buick’s latest three-row contender. And honestly, it might have been the most insightful way to assess where Buick truly stands in a fiercely competitive segment.
Stripped of the full Avenir regalia—the panoramic roof, adaptive dampers, and bespoke interior finishes—the Enclave ST presents a fascinating case study. It’s a vehicle that, on paper, seeks to offer a more accessible entry into Buick’s largest SUV, yet it forces a critical examination of what defines a “premium” experience in 2025, especially when the asking price still hovers around the $60,000 mark. Does the core engineering and design hold up without the dazzling accoutrements, or does it fade into the background? Let’s delve deep.
Design Evolution and First Impressions: A Study in Nuance
Buick has undeniably made strides in exterior design, and the 2025 Enclave is a prime example. The sleek, sculpted lines and prominent grille, clearly inspired by the Wildcat concept, give it a more assertive and modern presence than its predecessor. It’s a handsome SUV, one that garners a second glance, especially in the right light. The increased overall size is a welcome enhancement, offering more interior volume without transforming it into an unwieldy behemoth in urban parking scenarios. For a discerning buyer seeking a premium family SUV with refined aesthetics, the exterior certainly delivers.
However, the interior story of the ST trim takes a different turn. The ST’s mandated monochrome black interior, while aiming for a sporty, understated vibe, ironically works against the cabin’s potential. In my experience, a lack of textural or chromatic variety in an interior can make otherwise decent materials feel less substantial. With a seasoned eye, I find that without the contrasting stitching, varied trim accents, or lighter color palettes typically found in higher trims or competitor vehicles, the cabin’s finer details—or lack thereof—become more pronounced. It’s here that the subjective line between “functional” and “luxurious” begins to blur.
The centerpiece of the Enclave’s cabin, undeniably, is the expansive, curved digital display. It’s a striking visual element, seemingly borrowed and reoriented from Cadillac’s electric Vistiq, and it certainly elevates the automotive infotainment trends 2025 narrative for Buick. The integration of Google Assistant is a strong point, offering seamless voice command functionality for navigation, media, and vehicle controls. The philosophy here, common in newer GM vehicles, is to encourage direct app installation (Spotify, Waze) onto the car’s OS, minimizing phone reliance. While this system works intuitively for Android users, Apple CarPlay users will find their experience relegated to a smaller screen window, a design choice that might frustrate those deeply entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.
Beyond the impressive screen, the interior execution raises questions. The center console, for instance, feels somewhat disjointed, almost as an afterthought in its design and integration. This is a crucial area for user interaction, and a well-thought-out console speaks volumes about attention to detail in a luxury SUV interior design. When comparing it to rivals that boast meticulously crafted storage solutions and integrated controls, the Enclave ST’s console feels a step behind, undermining the perception of genuine premium quality. The subtle hard plastics and less-than-perfect fit and finish in certain areas, particularly when scrutinizing beyond the dashboard, become noticeable shortcomings without the distracting “razzle” of the Avenir.
Powertrain and Driving Dynamics: A Quietly Competent Evolution
Under the hood, the 2025 Enclave ushers in a new era for the model with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, replacing the outgoing V-6. This strategic shift reflects an industry-wide trend towards smaller displacement, forced-induction powertrains aimed at improving fuel-efficient luxury SUV credentials. The EPA figures indeed show a welcome bump in fuel economy, a critical consideration for many families in 2025.
From a performance perspective, the new engine delivers adequate power for daily driving and highway cruising. Acceleration is generally competent, though perhaps lacking the immediate punch of some V-6 or electrified rivals. For a vehicle primarily designed to ferry families comfortably, it gets the job done without fuss. It’s a powerplant that prioritizes efficiency and smooth delivery over exhilarating sprints, aligning with the Enclave’s intended purpose.
However, the “snoozetastic driving experience,” as noted by some, holds true for the ST. The driving dynamics analysis reveals a vehicle that is composed and predictable, but not particularly engaging. The steering, while precise enough, lacks the tactile feedback that can elevate a driving experience. Crucially, the ST model misses out on the Avenir’s upgraded active shocks, which are designed to refine the ride and introduce a layer of sophistication. Without these, the ride quality, while generally comfortable, can feel less absorbent over rougher pavement compared to its more luxuriously sprung counterparts. Engaging the “Sport” drive mode, for example, primarily results in an artificially heavier steering feel rather than a transformative dynamic shift. This absence of dynamic verve is a significant point when evaluating a vehicle that ostensibly aims for a premium market segment, where driving refinement is often a key differentiator.
The Technology Edge: Super Cruise and Infotainment Nuances
One of the most compelling additions to the 2025 Enclave lineup is the availability of Super Cruise, GM’s lauded hands-off driver assistance system. This represents a significant investment in automotive technology for Buick, positioning the Enclave as a contender in the arena of advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS). Super Cruise, which earned a MotorTrend Best Tech award, functions with a cautious intelligence, operating only on pre-mapped highways and always ready to hand control back to the driver if conditions become ambiguous. This responsible approach to hands-free driving technology is commendable and offers a genuine enhancement for long-distance highway travel.
However, the implementation in the Enclave ST reveals a notable limitation: the complete absence of any lane-centering capability when Super Cruise is not engaged on a mapped road. This is a critical omission for a vehicle at this price point in 2025. Many similarly sized and priced SUVs, even those not explicitly marketed as luxury, offer basic lane-keeping assist with active lane centering as a standard or readily available feature across their trim levels. This oversight in the Enclave ST feels like a strategic misstep, potentially designed to push buyers towards higher trims or other GM brands. Cadillac models, for instance, often offer a “hands-on” lane-centering mode alongside Super Cruise. For a brand aspiring to be recognized for family vehicle safety features and sophisticated technology, this disparity in ADAS offerings puts the Enclave at a disadvantage against its rivals.
The Google-centric infotainment system, as mentioned, is robust. The ability to directly download apps streamlines the in-car experience, reducing reliance on phone mirroring for common tasks. This approach to connectivity is forward-thinking and caters to the increasingly digital demands of consumers. The system’s responsiveness and Google Assistant’s natural language processing are strong suits, marking a clear positive in the Enclave’s tech portfolio.
Family Functionality: Where the Enclave ST Shines (Mostly)
Despite some of its shortcomings in outright luxury perception, the Enclave ST largely delivers on its primary mission as a family hauler. From a premium family SUV perspective, it offers a commendable balance of second- and third-row room. The third row, while not limousine-like, is genuinely usable for smaller children and average-sized adults on shorter journeys, avoiding the claustrophobic feel of some competitors. The second row provides ample space, ensuring comfort for most occupants.
Cargo capacity is another strong point. With all seats deployed, there’s a reasonable amount of luggage space, suitable for grocery runs or a modest amount of gear. Critically, the rear seats fold flat at the touch of a button, effortlessly transforming the Enclave into a highly capable moving van, a feature invaluable for active families or those who frequently transport bulky items. This pragmatic functionality is where the Enclave ST truly shines, proving its worth as a versatile and practical vehicle for everyday family life.
The Value Proposition and Competitive Arena: A Deeper Dive
This is where the Enclave ST AWD’s narrative becomes most complex. At an as-tested price north of $61,000, it ventures into territory where buyers expect a certain level of refinement, material quality, and technological sophistication. This segment, the mid-size luxury crossover market, is populated by incredibly strong contenders from both traditional luxury brands and aspirational mainstream players.
Comparing the Enclave ST directly to a fully loaded Chevrolet Traverse High Country, which often stickers for less, highlights a fundamental challenge for Buick. The Traverse, while a mainstream offering, delivers a level of material quality and overall fit and finish in its top trims that often mirrors or even surpasses the Enclave ST, especially when considering areas beyond the dashboard. This internal competition from within the GM family complicates the Enclave’s Buick Enclave pricing strategy and its aspiration to be a distinct luxury brand.
Looking beyond GM, the competitive SUV market analysis reveals formidable rivals. The Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy, with its genuinely opulent interior, superior material quality, and comprehensive standard features, often presents a stronger value proposition at a similar price point. Even a top-tier Mazda CX-90, with its sophisticated driving dynamics and near-luxury aspirations, can offer a more engaging and refined experience for similar money. Vehicles like the Acura MDX, Volvo XC90, or even entry-level Audi Q7s, while potentially a few thousand dollars more, often elevate the perceived luxury and driving experience significantly.
The core question for the Enclave ST is whether its strengths—the handsome exterior, Google-powered infotainment, and solid family functionality—outweigh the perceived shortcomings in interior material execution, the limited ADAS functionality, and a driving experience that, while competent, lacks true dynamic sparkle. For a brand that aims to embody “affordable luxury,” the ST trim struggles to fully justify its premium over well-equipped mainstream offerings, especially without the Avenir’s enhancements. Without those high-end touches, the ST risks being viewed as a good, decent servant but not a standout contender in a segment crowded with dazzling options. The Buick brand perception hinges on delivering clear value at each price point, and the ST finds itself in a challenging position.
Conclusion: A Capable Contender Awaiting Its Full Potential
The 2025 Buick Enclave ST AWD is a vehicle of intriguing contradictions. It boasts a striking exterior, a strong infotainment system, and commendable family utility. The new turbocharged engine offers improved efficiency, and the inclusion of Super Cruise is a genuine technological boon for highway travel. These are all commendable steps forward for the Enclave.
However, the ST trim, by design, exposes the chinks in the Enclave’s armor. Without the Avenir’s more luxurious interior treatments, adaptive suspension, and additional premium features, the ST struggles to fully differentiate itself as a compelling mid-size luxury crossover against both its internal GM rivals and a host of external competitors that offer more comprehensive premium experiences or superior value. The monochrome interior, the functional but uninspired center console, and the absence of basic lane-centering beyond Super Cruise’s mapped roads are points that a discerning buyer will undoubtedly notice.
For those prioritizing a handsome exterior, reliable Google-powered tech, and robust family hauling capabilities above all else, the Enclave ST AWD is a perfectly competent choice. It delivers on many practical fronts. But for buyers expecting the “razzle and dazzle” inherent in the luxury segment, especially at this price point, the ST trim leaves a bit to be desired. It’s a solid platform that, when fully adorned as an Avenir, likely comes much closer to fulfilling its luxury aspirations. As it stands, the ST is a testament to Buick’s progress, but also a reminder that in the fiercely competitive 2025 market, “premium” often demands more than just a good foundation—it demands consistent excellence in every detail.
Chart Your Course with the 2025 Enclave
Considering a new three-row SUV for your family? The 2025 Buick Enclave certainly warrants a closer look, but understanding its various trims is key to finding the right fit for your expectations and budget. We invite you to explore the full lineup, perhaps even test drive both the ST and Avenir models, to truly appreciate their differences and determine which Enclave best aligns with your vision of a premium family vehicle. Visit your local Buick dealer today to experience the 2025 Enclave firsthand and discover the ideal balance of style, technology, and practicality for your journey ahead.
