Road Trip in a Buick Enclave- beats flying!
Posted by Holly Reich on Aug 24, 2010
Even though I drive cars for a living, when it comes to a vacation I like to fly. But all that changed last week after we drove 10 hours to our lake-front rental. The road trip was a game-changer for me. I have come to the conclusion that driving is the way to travel.
OK, there was one glitch—a 1 ½ hour traffic jam in Pennsylvania due to traffic construction on a Sunday night no less! But otherwise, smooth sailing.
So, a driving vacation? Yes, it helps to have a gorgeous 7-passenger 2010 Buick Enclave SUV accessorized with a navigation/ entertainment system and a back-up camera. Bottom line– a well-equipped, sizeable (if you have a posse) and safe car is a must.
We had room to spare. Instead of the ubiquitous carry-ons we could pile in lots of bags
—including food for the road. No starving on an airplane for my crew. There was entertainment in both the front and back seats. My kids watched a movie with wireless headsets while we listened to satellite radio upfront. And yes, the Buick also had OnStar just in case we wanted to find out about traffic (they couldn’t help us) or alternate routes (they gave us turn-by-turn instructions).
And when we got to our vacation spot, we had our car with us. No waiting in lines for a rental at the airport.
So, on to the Enclave. Buick’s first luxury crossover, makes a very classy statement. On the outside, 19” wheels, cool blue Xenon headlamps that give off a less intense light than halogen and enough chrome to let you know that this is indeed a Buick. On the inside– brushed chrome, warm woods, seamed leather seats, and a double sliding glass sunroof.
As far as get-up, the 3.6 V-6 engine with 288 hp, has plenty of passing power with a class-leading 17city/24 hwy miles per gallon. The 4-wheel independent suspension translates to a grounded feel on corners and a smooth, quiet ride even in the third row.
Off the highway, the Enclave is easy to maneuver even in small parking lots.
The final word from my test-driving family? They want to take another road trip… in the Buick Enclave.
