SAFETY | 10 out of 10
Expert Quotes:
Top Safety Pick
IIHS
Five stars overall
NHTSA
noticeable [brake] fade after multiple stops -- the Flex and CX-9 perform better
Edmunds
There's chrome trim everywhere, though, which means blinding reflections when the sun's at certain angles.
Edmunds
The Buick Enclave has a strong track record when it comes to crash tests. Both the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) have released scores for the 2013 model year, and the addition of a few new pieces of technology has added luster to the Enclave's performance.
The NHTSA gives the Enclave five stars overall, with all five-star scores save for a four-star rating for rollover resistance. The IIHS calls it a Top Safety Pick, too.
Standard equipment on the Enclave includes front-seat side airbags, full-length side-curtain airbags, and electronic stability control. A rearview camera is now standard across the lineup, enabled by the addition of the Enclave's new color-touch radios.
The big innovation in the Enclave for this year is an additional side airbag fitted to the inboard position on the driver seat. This front-center side bag, Buick says, will protect the front passengers from injuring each other in the case of an accidents, and it's a GM exclusive, with the Enclave one of the first vehicles to get the feature.
The Enclave now also offers blind-spot monitors with cross-traffic alerts.
Conclusion
With a class-first center front airbag and a strong record for safety, the Enclave is one of the most reassuring, secure picks.
