Compare the2025 Buick EnclaveVS 2025 Ford Explorer

The Enclave has a standard front seat center airbag, which deploys between the driver and front passenger, protecting them from injuries caused by striking each other in serious side impacts. The Explorer doesn’t offer front seat center airbags.

Both the Enclave and the Explorer have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, side-impact head airbags, front and rear seatbelt pretensioners, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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, front parking sensors and driver alert monitors.

The Enclave’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the Explorer’s (6 vs. 5 years).

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 15 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is rated lower.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick third in reliability, above the industry average. With 90 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 23rd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ March 2025 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 2 places higher in reliability than Ford.

The Enclave’s 2.5 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 more horsepower (328 vs. 300) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (326 vs. 310) than the Explorer’s standard 2.3 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Enclave FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Explorer 3.0 turbo V6 RWD (20 city/27 hwy vs. 18 city/25 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Enclave uses regular unleaded gasoline. The Explorer requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost on average about 84.9 cents more per gallon.

The Enclave FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Explorer 2.3-liter’s standard fuel tank (19.4 vs. 17.9 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Enclave AWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Explorer V6 Turbo’s standard fuel tank (21.7 vs. 20.2 gallons).

The Enclave has a standard locking fuel door which locks and unlocks with the power locks. The fuel filler door is not lockable on the Explorer. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank.

The Enclave stops much shorter than the Explorer:

The Enclave’s standard tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Explorer’s standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Enclave has standard 20-inch wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the Explorer. The Enclave’s optional 22-inch wheels are larger than the 21-inch wheels optional on the Explorer.

The Buick Enclave’s wheels have 6 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford Explorer only has 5 wheel lugs per wheel.

The Enclave offers an available driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads or off-road. The Explorer’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Enclave’s wheelbase is 1.8 inches longer than on the Explorer (120.9 inches vs. 119.1 inches).

The Enclave Avenir handles at .83 G’s, while the Explorer Active 4WD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Enclave uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The Explorer doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

The Enclave has 1.9 inches more front headroom, 1.3 inches more front legroom, .4 inches more front shoulder room, 2.5 inches more rear legroom, .2 inches more rear shoulder room, 7.6 inches more third row hip room and 3.2 inches more third row shoulder room than the Explorer.

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

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

To make loading groceries and cargo easier when your hands are full, the Enclave’s liftgate can be opened just by waiting momentarily behind the back bumper, leaving your hands completely free. The Explorer doesn’t offer a hands-free gesture to open its liftgate, forcing you to put cargo down if your hands are full.

The Enclave uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Explorer uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Ford. J.D. Power ranks Buick 9th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Ford is ranked 22nd.

The Enclave offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, navigation instruction, infotainment and driver assistance information readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Explorer doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

The Enclave’s front and rear power windows all lower 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 Explorer’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

The Buick Enclave has power folding mirrors that offer unparalleled convenience while maneuvering in tight places or parked. With the mirrors folded it’s easier to walk past and help prevent parking damage. The mirrors can be quickly unfolded when the driver is ready to leave. Power folding mirrors costs extra on the Explorer and aren't offered on the Active.

The Enclave has a standard heated steering wheel to take the chill out of steering on extremely cold winter days before the vehicle heater warms up. A heated steering wheel costs extra on the Explorer.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Buick Enclave has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. Wireless charging costs extra on the Explorer and isn’t available on the Explorer Active.

The Enclave’s optional Enhanced Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. The Explorer doesn’t offer an automated parking system.