During the mid-size Cadillac XT5 crossover’s unveiling at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show, executives mentioned it is only one of several new high-riding wagons under development for GM’s luxury brand. Cadillac has been caught flat-tired with only one crossover and the Escalade to counter the German juggernauts. It’s especially unfortunate given the luxurious three-row crossover already in GM showrooms. You know it as the Buick Enclave.
The thing is immense, measuring between the short and long-wheelbase Escalade. Yet, it looks smaller in its aero styling that still looks concept-car chic with black chrome water fall grille, flared fenders, long roofline, and six proper ventiports on the hood. Direction-adaptive Tucker-style HID headlamps, LED running lamps, LED taillamps, and 19-inch chrome alloy wheels keep it fresh. Load a truck’s worth of stuff through the power hatch.
Save for plasti-woodgrain paneling the dashboard and doors, Enclave’s interior cocoons passengers in top-grade luxury that looks like it came straight from the design studio. Even the gear selector looks special. Large analog gauges and the center analog clock are classy, even if Buick’s latest LCD instrument cluster and touchscreen are unavailable. Though, Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system can access music and apps, like Pandora internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio, by voice, touchscreen, or Bluetooth-enabled smartphones. Ice blue ambient lighting arcs across the dash and all four doors at night.
And, it’s loaded with heated/ventilated front seats, heated wood-and-leather steering wheel, 10-speaker Bose audio system, and 4G Wi-Fi. Twin sunroofs, rear seat DVD entertainment system, aft compartment climate controls, second-row household power outlet, USBs all around, and middle row captain’s chairs that slide/fold forward to ease third-row entry ensure passengers are mostly treated equally. Drivers slide in, adjust their tilt/telescoping steering column, and prepare for happy go-go feelings.
