The 2025 Buick Enclave ST AWD: A Deep Dive into a Mid-Tier Misfire
In my decade of navigating the intricate landscape of automotive evaluations, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing countless vehicles attempt to carve out their niche. Some soar, some sink, and then there are those that simply exist, leaving little more than a fleeting impression. The 2025 Buick Enclave ST AWD, in its current iteration, regrettably falls into this latter category. Positioned as a mid-tier offering in Buick’s refreshed large SUV lineup, the ST variant, stripped of the Avenir’s premium adornments, struggles significantly to justify its premium sticker price and Buick’s increasingly ambitious brand aspirations.
Let’s be clear from the outset: the 2025 Enclave isn’t without its merits. Buick has certainly invested in a striking aesthetic transformation, drawing clear inspiration from the lauded Wildcat concept car. This design language, characterized by sleek lines, a prominent grille, and a more athletic stance, undeniably elevates the Enclave’s curb appeal. In a market saturated with generic three-row SUVs, the Enclave’s distinctive exterior design is a genuine strong suit, helping it stand out in parking lots and suburban driveways. The increase in overall dimensions, particularly in length and width, is also a welcome evolution. Crucially, Buick has managed this growth without making the vehicle feel unwieldy. Maneuvering through congested urban environments or slotting into tight parking spaces doesn’t evoke the sensation of captaining a transatlantic cruise liner, a common pitfall for many large family haulers. This blend of enhanced presence and practical drivability is a testament to thoughtful engineering and an area where the Enclave truly excels.
Under the hood, Buick has opted for a significant powertrain shift for the 2025 model year, phasing out the venerable V-6 in favor of a new turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This move, a direct response to evolving market demands for enhanced fuel efficiency and emissions reductions, generally yields positive results at the pump. The EPA estimates show a noticeable improvement in fuel economy, a critical consideration for many families facing volatile gas prices. While there’s a marginal trade-off in raw acceleration compared to the outgoing V-6, the new turbo-four delivers adequate power for daily driving, merging onto highways, and typical family duties. It’s a pragmatic choice that aligns with 2025 automotive trends, where efficiency often takes precedence over outright performance in the family SUV segment. The nine-speed automatic transmission, while not groundbreaking, executes smooth shifts, contributing to a generally unoffensive driving experience.
However, as we delve deeper into the Enclave ST’s offerings, the narrative quickly shifts from commendable to concerning, particularly when assessing its advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) and interior execution.
The Super Cruise Conundrum: A Glimpse of Brilliance, Marred by Omission
One of the most anticipated additions to the 2025 Enclave lineup is the integration of Super Cruise, General Motors’ highly acclaimed hands-off-the-wheel driver assistance system. As an expert who has extensively tested various Level 2+ autonomous driving systems, I can attest to Super Cruise’s exceptional capability and cautious operational philosophy. Its meticulous attention to detail, reliance on precision mapping, and seamless handoff protocols earned it a well-deserved MotorTrend Best Tech award. For long highway journeys on pre-mapped routes, Super Cruise is a genuine game-changer, significantly reducing driver fatigue and enhancing safety. It’s a premium feature that elevates the driving experience and positions Buick alongside more established luxury marques in the autonomous driving space.
Yet, this triumph is severely undercut by a perplexing and, frankly, short-sighted marketing decision regarding the ST trim’s Super Cruise functionality. If you deviate from a mapped Super Cruise road, the Enclave ST entirely sheds any form of lane centering assistance. This isn’t just a minor inconvenience; it’s a glaring deficiency that places the Enclave ST at a considerable disadvantage compared to numerous similarly sized and priced competitors. Most contemporary SUVs in this segment, even those without full hands-free capabilities, offer at least a basic lane-keeping assist or lane-centering function that works across a broader range of driving conditions. Furthermore, GM’s own Cadillac models, which share the Super Cruise technology, often include a “hands-on” lane-centering mode that works when Super Cruise isn’t engaged. The inexplicable absence of this basic safety and convenience feature in the Enclave ST is a baffling omission, undermining the overall value proposition and showcasing a puzzling lack of consistency within GM’s own ADAS strategy. For a vehicle targeting the 2025 market with a nearly $62,000 price tag, this is simply unacceptable. It forces drivers into a dichotomy: either you’re on a Super Cruise mapped road and enjoying cutting-edge assistance, or you’re left with a rather rudimentary system that feels behind the curve. This inconsistency is a significant detractor and a point of serious consideration for potential buyers prioritizing comprehensive driver assistance.
Interior Design: Where Function Meets Forgettable
Stepping inside the Enclave ST reveals a dichotomy between impressive technology and an otherwise underwhelming execution. The ST model, unfortunately, is constrained to a monochrome black interior, a choice that, in my expert opinion, does absolutely no favors to the Enclave’s cabin architecture. While black interiors can project a sense of sophistication, in this instance, it merely highlights the less refined aspects of the material quality. Without contrasting colors or varied textures, the cabin feels stark and, dare I say, a bit dreary. This lack of visual interest draws the eye directly to areas where the material choices fall short of Buick’s luxury aspirations. Hard plastics are more prevalent than one would expect at this price point, and some rough edges in the panel gaps suggest a fit-and-finish that is, at best, indifferent. When you’re spending upwards of $60,000, you expect a cabin that feels cohesive and premium, not one that feels like a cost-cutting exercise.
On a brighter note, the centerpiece of the Enclave’s cabin is undoubtedly the expansive, curved digital display. This unit, which appears to be adapted from the Cadillac Vistiq and cleverly reoriented, provides a modern and visually striking interface. The integration of Google Assistant is another major highlight. In 2025, robust native infotainment systems are becoming increasingly crucial, and Buick’s partnership with Google delivers a highly functional and intuitive user experience. The ability to install common phone applications directly onto the car’s operating system (think Spotify, Waze, Google Maps) means less reliance on phone mirroring and a more integrated digital environment. Voice commands are generally accurate and responsive, making navigation and media control seamless.
However, this focus on digital prowess seems to have come at the expense of ergonomic design and material harmony. The center console, for instance, looks and feels like an afterthought. Its design lacks the thoughtful integration and premium feel found in competitors. Storage solutions are adequate but uninspired, and the tactile quality of the switches and buttons doesn’t exude the “luxury” feel Buick aims for. Furthermore, while the Google integration is commendable, those who remain steadfast in their preference for Apple CarPlay will find their mirroring experience confined to a smaller window on the expansive screen, a minor but noticeable compromise. This unbalanced approach to interior design, where cutting-edge tech sits beside decidedly average material execution, prevents the Enclave ST from truly dazzling. It falls short of the expectations buyers have for a premium three-row SUV in 2025, especially when compared to rivals that offer a more holistic cabin experience.
Family Functionality: A Practical Performer
Where the Enclave ST undeniably delivers is in its primary function as a family hauler. From a purely practical standpoint, it checks most of the boxes. The balance of second- and third-row room is well-executed, offering genuine utility without feeling overly compromised. The second-row seats provide ample legroom and comfort for adults on longer journeys, though they might not quite offer the limousine-like opulence of some higher-tier luxury SUVs. The third row, while not cavernous, is perfectly usable for smaller children and even non-confrontational adults for shorter trips, which is more than can be said for many competitors in this segment. Access to the third row is relatively easy, a critical factor for busy parents.
Cargo capacity is also respectable. With all seats deployed, there’s a reasonable amount of luggage space, sufficient for groceries or a few carry-on bags. When versatility is paramount, the Enclave shines. The rear seats fold flat with the touch of a button, transforming the SUV into a veritable moving van capable of swallowing larger items with ease. This ease of conversion is a significant asset for families who frequently transport bulky gear, sports equipment, or furniture. The Enclave’s designers clearly prioritized functionality in this aspect, and for the target demographic, this is a strong selling point. However, this functionality, while essential, does not inherently inject the “dazzle” factor that Buick so desperately needs to differentiate itself in a crowded market.
Driving Dynamics: The Pursuit of Poshness Falls Short
From behind the wheel, the 2025 Enclave ST offers a driving experience that can best be described as competent, but ultimately uninspiring. There’s not much to laud, nor is there much to overtly criticize; it simply drives. The ride quality is generally smooth over most road imperfections, absorbing bumps without undue harshness. However, “posh” or “exciting” are not adjectives that readily come to mind. The steering, while adequately weighted for typical driving, lacks the precision and feedback that would engage a more enthusiastic driver. Body roll, while controlled, is noticeable during spirited cornering, reminding you of the Enclave’s substantial size.
This neutrality is particularly pronounced in the ST trim, which misses out on the upgraded active shocks found in the top-tier Avenir model. These advanced dampeners significantly refine the ride, offering a more composed and luxurious feel that better aligns with Buick’s brand image. Without them, the ST’s suspension is merely adequate. Furthermore, engaging the “Sport” drive mode, which in many vehicles sharpens throttle response and stiffens steering, merely made the steering of our ST test vehicle unbearably heavy without imparting any genuine sense of sportiness or enhanced dynamics. It felt artificially weighted, detracting from the driving experience rather than enhancing it. For a brand that aims to embody “affordable luxury” or “premium,” a driving experience that is merely “fine” simply isn’t good enough in 2025. Buyers in this segment often cross-shop against vehicles that deliver a more engaging or overtly comfortable ride, and the Enclave ST struggles to compete on either front.
The Buick Brand Identity Crisis in 2025
This brings us to the core of the Enclave ST’s dilemma: Buick’s brand identity. Buick has historically occupied a unique space between mainstream and true luxury. In 2025, with increasing competition from premium foreign brands and highly appointed domestic alternatives, this middle ground is becoming increasingly precarious. The Enclave ST, priced well into the $60,000 range, is positioned squarely against formidable competitors like the Hyundai Palisade Calligraphy, Kia Telluride SX Prestige, Honda Pilot Elite, and even entry-level offerings from Lexus and Acura. Many of these rivals offer richer interiors, more comprehensive standard features, or a more engaging driving experience for a similar or even lower price point.
When comparing the Enclave ST to a Chevrolet Traverse High Country, a vehicle from its own corporate family, the disparities become stark. The Traverse High Country, which often stickers for less than the Enclave ST, boasts an interior that, while not overtly luxurious, feels similarly appointed and in some cases, even more cohesive in its material execution. The hard plastics and rough edges so noticeable in the ST’s monochrome cabin become even more glaring when you consider that a “lesser” brand from the same parent company offers a comparable, if not superior, cabin experience at a lower cost.
Even the Avenir model, with its panoramic roof, enhanced suspension, and more attractive interior, struggles to fully justify its mid-60s price tag when pitted against truly polished competitors like the Hyundai Palisade, which consistently impresses with its luxury-level interior finishes and value. The Enclave is a good and decent servant; it performs its duties adequately. But “good and decent” are not adjectives that inspire excitement or command premium prices in the competitive 2025 luxury SUV market. It lacks that elusive “dazzle” factor, the compelling reason for a discerning buyer to choose it over a multitude of more polished, better-equipped, or more value-driven alternatives. Buick needs to decide if it wants to genuinely compete in the premium space, or if it’s content with offering competent but ultimately forgettable vehicles. The Enclave ST, in its current form, suggests the latter.
The Path Forward
For Buick to truly elevate the Enclave ST and solidify its position in the 2025 market, several critical enhancements are necessary. A more diversified and visually appealing interior palette, coupled with a significant upgrade in material quality and fit-and-finish, is paramount. Addressing the Super Cruise limitation by offering a comprehensive lane-centering system across all driving scenarios is not just a desirable feature but a market expectation. And perhaps most importantly, Buick must instill a greater sense of driving refinement and engagement across all trims, ensuring that the Enclave truly feels like a premium vehicle from behind the wheel, not just another functional family hauler.
The 2025 Buick Enclave ST AWD is a vehicle with potential, boasting handsome styling and impressive family functionality. However, its struggles with an uninspired interior, an inconsistent driver-assistance package, and a lackluster driving experience prevent it from truly shining in a fiercely competitive segment. Without the full complement of its Avenir brethren’s accoutrements, the ST merely exists, rather than excites.
Considering the 2025 Enclave ST for your next family adventure? In a market brimming with compelling options, it’s crucial to make an informed decision. Dive deeper into independent reviews, meticulously compare the Enclave ST against its formidable competitors, and schedule comprehensive test drives to experience its strengths and weaknesses firsthand. Explore other premium three-row SUVs to ensure your significant automotive investment truly delivers the value, technology, and driving experience that will dazzle you for years to come. Your perfect family vehicle awaits – don’t settle for anything less than extraordinary.
