Michael SatterfieldIn the SUV arms race, it’s easy to get distracted by ostentatious grilles and questionable off-road packages. But Buick, of all brands, has quietly built a three-row crossover that doesn’t try to shout above the noise; it simply outclasses it. The 2025 Enclave ST proves that thoughtful engineering, real-world comfort, and good design still matter.
This isn’t Buick trying to be something it’s not. Instead, it leans into its strengths, refinement, technology, and value, and walks away with one of the most complete midsize SUVs on the market today.
First Impressions: Understated Swagger
From the outside, the Enclave ST looks confident without being cocky. The new sheet metal is sleeker, with a wide stance, sculpted lines, and a front end that feels more Range Rover than rental fleet. The ST trim brings a sportier aesthetic, with darkened trim, 20-inch wheels, and subtle cues that say you know what you’re doing, without needing to explain it.
Step inside, and it’s clear this is Buick’s flagship for a reason. The first thing you’ll notice is the enormous 30-inch curved display, seamlessly combining the instrument cluster and infotainment system. It’s crisp, responsive, and smartly integrated, not just a tablet stuck on a dashboard. Touchpoints are soft, materials feel upscale, and the attention to detail rivals vehicles several price brackets up. Buick calls it QuietTuning, but what it really feels like is a rolling library, serene, composed, and comfortable at speed.
Enclave ST: Family Ready, Road Trip Worthy
The Enclave ST excels at its primary job: hauling people and stuff without making it a chore. Second-row captain’s chairs are standard, third-row space is actually usable for adults, and with both rows folded flat, there’s over 97 cubic feet of cargo spac, enough for antique store hauls, weekend race gear, or a few bags of feed if you’re heading back from the ranch.
With wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-C ports in all three rows, and a cabin filter system designed to keep allergens at bay, it’s a space that feels engineered with families in mind, but never feels like it was designed by committee.
Super Cruise makes its debut on the Enclave, and while it’s a pricey option, it’s one of the best semi-autonomous systems on the market. It allows for hands-free driving on mapped highways, and it works so well you’ll find yourself relaxing into the drive instead of white-knuckling it through Houston traffic or I-35 construction zones.
Other smart features include adaptive cruise, blind zone steering assist, HD surround vision, and a clever interior camera system that lets you keep tabs on kids, dogs, or cargo. None of it feels gimmicky—it’s tech that actually makes driving better.
Value Where It Counts
Here’s where the Enclave ST really wins: it offers near-luxury quality, room for the whole crew, and advanced features for significantly less than the imports. With a starting price just shy of $50,000, it undercuts many of its competitors while offering more usable tech and a better ride quality. Fully loaded, it still manages to feel like a good deal, rare air in today’s SUV landscape.
Gone is the naturally aspirated V6. In its place: a 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder making 328 horsepower and 326 lb-ft of torque. Those are healthy numbers, especially when you consider it’s mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and capable of towing up to 5,000 pounds when properly equipped.
The turbo-four is eager and surprisingly punchy around town, with smooth power delivery and a willingness to hustle. It won’t light your hair on fire, but it never feels underpowered. And for long highway slogs, it’s confident, stable, and composed, traits that make it feel far more premium than its price tag suggests.
This isn’t just about dollars and features, it’s about how the Enclave makes you feel behind the wheel. You’re not compromising. You’re choosing something well-thought-out, comfortable, and genuinely enjoyable to live with.
Enclave ST: The Grown-Up Choice
The 2025 Buick Enclave ST doesn’t need to be loud or flashy to impress. It earns its place through thoughtful design, legitimate capability, and an interior that’s as quiet as a Texas backroad at dusk. If you’re tired of SUVs that try too hard, this one’s for you.
Buick has found its rhythm with the Enclave ST, and if this is the future of American luxury crossovers, we’re all better off for it.
Check out my video review below for more:
I have to admit that I too love a Buick, my Envision ST has been really great and I traded a BMW in after years of only driving BMWs. When I looked at what I needed and what I got for the money the Buick ticked all the boxes and the BMW was so much more money for not much more car.
This is the best looking Buick.