Compare the2022 Chevrolet TraverseVS 2022 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available blind spot warning systems, around view monitors and rear cross-path warning.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, with its optional vehicle-to-pedestrian 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 2021, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Enclave last would have qualified as a “Top Pick” in 2017.

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.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Traverse’s reliability 24 points higher than the Enclave.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Traverse second among midsize suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Enclave isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 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 10th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 12th.

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

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 .2 inches more front headroom, .1 inches more rear headroom, .1 inches more rear legroom, .6 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.

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.”

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 $4275 to $8281 less than for the Buick Enclave.

Consumer Reports® recommends the Chevrolet Traverse, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Buick Enclave isn't recommended.

The Chevrolet Traverse outsold the Buick Enclave by almost three to one during the 2021 model year.