Compare the2023 Ford ExpeditionVS 2023 Buick Enclave

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front seat shoulder belts of the Ford Expedition are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The Buick Enclave doesn’t offer height-adjustable front seat belts.

The middle row seatbelts optional on the Expedition inflate when a collision is detected, helping to spread crash forces over a much larger area of the body and limiting head and neck movement. This can help prevent spinal and internal injuries. The Enclave doesn’t offer inflatable seatbelts.

Both the Expedition and Enclave have rear cross-traffic warning, but the Expedition has Cross Traffic Braking (automatically applies the brakes) to better prevent a collision when backing near traffic. The Enclave’s Rear Cross Traffic Alert doesn’t automatically brake.

The Expedition’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Enclave doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Expedition and the Enclave have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

The Ford Expedition weighs 683 to 1264 pounds more than the Buick Enclave. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Expedition	Enclave
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	165	216
Leg Forces (l/r)	23/39 lbs.	53/40 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	326	333
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.9 inches
Neck Injury Risk	35%	35.2%

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Ford Expedition is safer than the Buick Enclave:

	Expedition	Enclave
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	23	69
Chest Movement	.5 inches	.9 inches
Abdominal Force	108 lbs.	161 lbs.
Hip Force	180 lbs.	204 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	61	134
Spine Acceleration	27 G’s	39 G’s
Hip Force	434 lbs.	716 lbs.
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Max Damage Depth	13 inches	14 inches
HIC	134	251

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

Warranty

The Expedition’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Enclave’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

There are over 52 percent more Ford dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Expedition’s warranty.

Reliability

The Expedition has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Enclave doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Expedition’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 70 more horsepower (380 vs. 310) and 204 lbs.-ft. more torque (470 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The Expedition Limited/KR/Platinum’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 90 more horsepower (400 vs. 310) and 214 lbs.-ft. more torque (480 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6. The Expedition Timberline/Stealth Performance’s standard 3.5 turbo V6 produces 130 more horsepower (440 vs. 310) and 244 lbs.-ft. more torque (510 vs. 266) than the Enclave’s 3.6 DOHC V6.

As tested in Motor Trend the Ford Expedition (base engine) is faster than the Buick Enclave:

	Expedition	Enclave
Zero to 60 MPH	6.2 sec	7 sec
Quarter Mile	14.8 sec	15.4 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.7 MPH	84.5 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

The Expedition has 3.8 gallons more fuel capacity than the Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank (23.2 vs. 19.4 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Expedition has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank (23.2 vs. 21.7 gallons).

Transmission

A 10-speed automatic is standard on the Ford Expedition, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a nine-speed automatic is available for the Enclave.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Expedition’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Enclave:

	Expedition	Enclave
Front Rotors	13.8 inches	12.6 inches
Rear Rotors	13.2 inches	12.4 inches

The Expedition stops shorter than the Enclave:

	Expedition	Enclave
60 to 0 MPH	129 feet	134 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Expedition has larger standard tires than the Enclave (265/70R18 vs. 255/65R18). The Expedition’s optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Enclave (285/45R22 vs. 255/65R18).

The Expedition’s optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Enclave’s optional 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Expedition offers optional 22-inch wheels. The Enclave’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

The Expedition has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Enclave; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

Suspension and Handling

The Expedition offers an optional automatic rear load leveling suspension to keep ride height level with a heavy load or when towing. The Enclave doesn’t offer a load leveling suspension.

The Expedition’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Enclave doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Expedition’s wheelbase is 1.6 inches longer than on the Enclave (122.5 inches vs. 120.9 inches).

The Expedition XLT 4x4 handles at .76 G’s, while the Enclave Avenir pulls only .75 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Expedition XLT 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Enclave Avenir (27.6 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 28.4 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Expedition has a 2.3 inches greater minimum ground clearance than the Enclave (9.8 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Expedition to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Expedition Timberline’s minimum ground clearance is 3.1 inches higher than on the Enclave (10.6 vs. 7.5 inches).

Passenger Space

The Expedition offers optional seating for 8 passengers; the Enclave can only carry 7.

The Expedition has 14.6 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Enclave (171.9 vs. 157.3).

The Expedition has 2.7 inches more front legroom, 3.2 inches more front hip room, 2.7 inches more front shoulder room, .1 inches more rear headroom, 3.2 inches more rear legroom, 4.9 inches more rear hip room, 3.2 inches more rear shoulder room, 2.6 inches more third row legroom, 2.9 inches more third row hip room and 6.9 inches more third row shoulder room than the Enclave.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the Expedition’s middle and third row seats recline. The Enclave’s third row seats don’t recline.

Cargo Capacity

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

	Expedition	Enclave
Second Seat Folded	104.6 cubic feet	97.4 cubic feet

Pressing a button automatically lowers the Expedition’s optional second and third row seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The Enclave doesn’t offer automatic folding second row seats.

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Expedition. The Enclave doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Expedition’s rear cargo window opens separately from the rest of the liftgate door to allow quicker loading of small packages. The Enclave’s rear cargo window doesn’t open.

Towing

The Expedition’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Enclave’s (6000 vs. 1500 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Enclave is only 5000 pounds. The Expedition offers up to a 9300 lbs. towing capacity.

The Expedition 4x4 with optional equipment 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 Expedition can be unhitched and driven around locally. The Enclave can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Expedition uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Enclave doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the Expedition is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Enclave. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The Expedition’s instruments include an oil pressure gauge and a temperature gauge - which could save your engine! Often ‘idiot lights’ don’t warn you until damage has been done. The Enclave does not have an oil pressure gauge.

The Expedition’s standard front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Enclave’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically. The Expedition’s optional front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches.

The Expedition’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Enclave’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

The Expedition (except STX)’s optional Enhanced Active Park Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, with the driver only controlling speed with the brake pedal. The Enclave doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Economic Advantages

The Expedition will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Expedition will retain 49.75% to 51.3% of its original price after five years, while the Enclave only retains 43.19% to 43.97%.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Expedition is less expensive to operate than the Enclave because it costs $109 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Expedition than the Enclave, including $501 less for a water pump, $173 less for a muffler, $136 less for front brake pads, $191 less for a starter, $277 less for fuel injection, $225 less for a fuel pump, $68 less for a timing belt/chain and $427 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Ford Expedition/Expedition Max outsold the Buick Enclave by over two to one during 2022.