Compare the2018 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2017 Buick Enclave

In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Traverse are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The Enclave doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Traverse (except L/LS/LT/RS) offers optional Front Automatic Braking, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Enclave offers an available collision warning system without the automated brake feature that would prevent or reduce the collision if the driver fails to react.

The Traverse LT Leather/RS/Premier/High Country has a standard Surround Vision to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Enclave only offers a rear monitor and rear parking sensors that beep. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the front or sides.

Both the Traverse and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front-wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all-wheel drive, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and rear cross-path warning.

There are over 46 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Traverse’s warranty.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2017 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 13th.

The Traverse RS’ standard 2.0 turbo 4 cyl. produces 25 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 270) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The Traverse’s standard 3.6 DOHC V6 produces 22 more horsepower (310 vs. 288) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

On the EPA test cycle the Traverse gets better fuel mileage than the Enclave:

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the Traverse’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. (Start/Stop isn’t accounted in present EPA fuel mileage tests.) The Enclave doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Chevrolet Traverse, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the Enclave.

The Traverse has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The Enclave doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

The Traverse has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Traverse flat and controlled during cornering. The Enclave’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Traverse’s wheelbase is 2 inches longer than on the Enclave (120.9 inches vs. 118.9 inches).

For better maneuverability, the Traverse’s turning circle is 1.4 feet tighter than the Enclave’s (39 feet vs. 40.4 feet).

The Chevrolet Traverse may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 550 pounds less than the Buick Enclave.

The front grille of the Traverse uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Enclave doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

The Traverse has .9 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front hip room, .5 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom, 1.6 inches more rear legroom, .9 inches more rear shoulder room, .4 inches more third row headroom, .3 inches more third row legroom, .2 inches more third row hip room and .1 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

Pressing a switch automatically lowers or raises the Traverse High Country’s third row seats, to make changing between cargo and passengers easier. The Enclave doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Traverse Premier/High Country’s cargo door can be opened just by kicking your foot under the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Enclave doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its cargo door, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Traverse LS/LT/RS/Premier/High Country’s available exterior keypad. The Enclave doesn’t offer an exterior keypad entry system, and its OnStar® can’t unlock the doors if the vehicle doesn’t have cell phone reception or the driver can’t contact the service.

Keyless Access standard on the Traverse allows you to unlock the doors, cargo door and start the engine all without removing a key from pocket or purse. This eliminates searching for keys before loading groceries, getting in the vehicle in bad weather or making a hurried start to your trip. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer an advanced key system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Traverse has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the Enclave only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors available for the Traverse (except L/LS/LT/RS) detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Enclave doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

Both the Traverse and the Enclave offer available heated front seats. The Traverse Premier/High Country also has standard heated second row seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated second row seats aren’t available in the Enclave.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the Traverse High Country has a standard Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Enclave doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

Insurance will cost less for the Traverse owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Traverse will cost $650 less than the Enclave over a five-year period.

The Traverse will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Traverse will retain 43.81% to 46.45% of its original price after five years, while the Enclave only retains 42.52% to 43.23%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Traverse is less expensive to operate than the Enclave because typical repairs cost much less on the Traverse than the Enclave, including $2 less for a water pump, $13 less for an alternator, $93 less for a fuel pump and $615 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Traverse will be $4070 to $6508 less than for the Buick Enclave.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Buick Enclave by over two to one during the 2016 model year.