Buick Enclave Towing Capacity

SUVs continue to dominate the car-buying market due to their versatility, roomy interior, and ability to travel over a variety of terrains. When you’re looking for a luxury midsize SUV that can tow a boat to the lake or take the family to town in style, the Buick Enclave is a solid choice.

Let’s explore the powertrain and towing capacity of the four trims of the Enclave so you can decide which is the perfect one for your lifestyle.

Understanding Towing Terminology

Before you hook up a trailer or boat to your Enclave, it’s important to understand what towing terms mean. Here is the common terminology you’ll read or hear about when it comes to trailering.

• Towing capacity: Towing capacity is simply how much your vehicle can tow. Numerous variables can affect how much a car can tow, such as the weight and size of the car, the size of the powertrain, and what type of drivetrain the car has. You can find the towing capacity in your owner’s manual.
• Gross vehicle weight: This is the combination of the weight of the vehicle, the passengers, fuel, and cargo. Unlike towing capacity, gross vehicle weight is how much a fully loaded car weighs before the trailer is attached.
• Gross combined weight: This refers to how much the car, passengers, cargo, and attached trailer weigh.
• Gross axle weight: This is the amount of weight the front and rear axles of the car can handle.
• Gross trailer weight: This includes the weight of the trailer and it’s contents without the car, passengers, or cargo normally carried in a vehicle.
• Tongue weight: This is the amount of downward force that the back of your vehicle can handle when towing.
• Curb weight: This refers to the weight of the vehicle when your vehicle is empty of the driver, passengers, and contents within it.

To avoid adding excess stress on your Enclave and for the safety of you and your passengers, never exceed the recommended towing capacity. However, if you decide that you want to tow something heavier than the manufacturer’s recommendations, simply add Buick’s Trailering Package to increase the towing capacity.

The Enclave’s Towing Capacity

The Enclave SUV has three rows of seats and comes in four trims: Preferred, Essence, Premium, and Avenir. All trims share the same engine, a 3.6-liter V-6 that produces 310 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque. Paired with this engine is a nine-speed automatic transmission. Standard across all trims is front-wheel drive. You have the option of choosing all-wheel drive when you go with the higher trim levels.

All four trims have a towing capacity of 1,500 pounds, hitch is ideal for a small trailer, camper, or lightweight boat. When you add the optional Trailering Package to the three upper trims with all-wheel drive, your towing capacity increases to 5,000 pounds so you can carry more cargo or a larger boat.

In comparison, the Jeep Cherokee has a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 180 horsepower and 171 pound-feet of torque with a maximum towing capacity of 4,500 pounds. Land Rover Discovery has a 3.0-liter V-6 engine that delivers 340 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque with a towing capacity of 4,409 pounds. The Ford Escape is powered by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine that puts out 181 horsepower, 177 pound-feet of torque and can tow up to 3,500 pounds.

The Enclave gives other midsize SUVs a run for their money when it comes to towing capacity.

Performance of the Enclave

Part of the reason the Enclave has such strong towing capacity is the solid powertrain combined with impressive performance-enhancing features. For instance, the intelligent all-wheel-drive system activates when the car needs extra power and traction. This extra grip is especially important when you’re pulling a trailer up a gravel hill or backing a boat down a wet boat ramp.

When you’re towing a trailer over winding roads, the all-wheel-drive system helps with cornering and maneuverability. The five-link rear suspension system provides for a smooth ride, and the front and rear stabilizer bars help keep the vehicle and trailer from swaying.

Features of Buick’s Trailering Package

When you need to haul larger loads of up to 5,000 pounds, you’ll want the Trailering Package. Included in the package is a heavy-duty engine cooling system that keeps the powertrain’s temperature low and running smoothly. Hooking a trailer up to your Enclave is a breeze using the trailer hitch’s 2-inch receiver opening and the trailering harness’s four-pin connector.

The Enclave Makes Towing Safe

When you’re towing a trailer along with your family, you want to know that the vehicle is as safe as possible. That’s why Buick offers plenty of standard and available safety and driver-assist features. Get a bird’s-eye view of the outside of your vehicle and trailer with the available HD surround vision system. The information shows up on the infotainment system’s 8-inch touch-screen display.

With the lane-change alert and blind-spot monitoring system, you receive a warning when the system detects an approaching vehicle from your rear blind spot. The forward-collision alert warns of an imminent front-end collision, and the automatic emergency braking applies braking force when needed. All of these features are especially helpful when towing a heavy trailer.

Extra Safety With OnStar Connected Services

To help ensure that you and your family are safe on the road, subscribe to Buick’s available OnStar Connected Services. OnStar is designed as an in-vehicle safety and security system that you subscribe to. OnStar offers a variety of plans to fit your unique needs. Using your smartphone, you can get roadside assistance and emergency services with a push of the button. You can also remotely access vehicle information and get assistance if your Enclave and trailer are stolen. If you’re out driving and a natural disaster hits, OnStar will send you an alert and help you find emergency shelter.

As you can see, the Enclave is an impressive luxury midsize SUV that not only provides powerful performance but also has plenty of safety features and can easily tow your boat or trailer. To learn more about the Enclave, it’s towing capacity, and take one for a test drive, stop by Cochran Buick-GMC today.