Compare the2022 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2021 Buick Enclave

The Traverse offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Enclave doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

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 seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Acceptable” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Traverse the rating of “Top Pick” for 2018, a rating granted to only 169 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Enclave was a “Top Pick” for 2017, but no longer qualifies under the tighter 2018 guidelines.

There are over 48 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’ 2020 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 third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 7th.

As tested in Motor Trend the Chevrolet Traverse is faster than the Buick Enclave:

On the EPA test cycle the Traverse FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Enclave FWD (18 city/27 hwy vs. 18 city/26 hwy).

The Traverse stops much shorter than the Enclave:

The Traverse RS handles at .84 G’s, while the Enclave Essence pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Traverse RS AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Enclave Avenir (27 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Traverse High Country AWD is quieter than the Enclave Essence (76 vs. 78 dB).

The Traverse has standard seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Traverse has 1.8 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom, .5 inches more rear shoulder room, .6 inches more third row headroom and .2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

The Traverse’s cargo area provides more volume than the Enclave.

The Traverse can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Traverse can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Enclave can’t be towed flat on the ground.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Traverse’s available exterior PIN entry system. The Enclave doesn’t offer an exterior PIN 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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Traverse’s available headlights were rated “Acceptable” by the IIHS, while the Enclave’s headlights are rated “Marginal.”

Insurance will cost less for the Traverse owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Traverse will cost $545 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 39.06% to 43.91% of its original price after five years, while the Enclave only retains 33.96% to 37.87%.

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 $123 less for a water pump, $112 less for a muffler, $14 less for front brake pads, $10 less for a starter, $3 less for a fuel pump, $3 less for front struts and $677 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 $4872 to $8265 less than for the Buick Enclave.