Replacing the Rendezvous this year, the new 2008 Buick Enclave is a large luxury crossover CUV that arrives on showroom floors in two trims, the CX, and the CXL. The Enclave is powered by a 3.6L 6-cylinder engine that develops 275 hp @6600 rpm, and 251 ft-lb torque @3200 rpm running through a 6-speed automatic transaxle. Both the CX and the CXL come with AWD or FWD and, with its mold-shattering good looks, may represent a turning point in the briskly spiraling downturn Buick has been experiencing.

The interior of the new Enclave is roomy, stylish, and comfortable, with leather and wood trim, and shiny aluminum accents. The three zone climate system keeps the driver, front passenger, and rear passengers content in their own bubble of comfort. The CX comes with richly woven cloth seats while the CXL offers leather upholstery. Plenty of technology goes into the 2008 Enclave which sports AM/FM stereo with CD, plus MP3 input and an auxiliary input jack to play any external source through the 6 speaker system. Both models offer a cowhide-wrapped, wood trimmed steering wheel studded with buttons for the sound system and cruise control.

Being able to haul the entire family in style and safety is easy with the effort that Buick has put into the engineering of the Enclave. The obligatory roll-call of airbags begins with new two-step front collision airbags for driver and front passenger, and side omental airbags for back row passengers. Enclave also includes child-proof locks, theft protection, and a 3-channel garage door remote.

The new oversize grille on the 2008 Buick Enclave makes a powerful statement, as does its seductively curved lines. Outfitted with all of the necessary features for running around town or around the campsite, the Enclave sports daytime pedestrian lights, sodium fog lights, a remotely operated rear hatch, overhead accessory rails, and turn signals embedded in the side mirrors. The handling and performance of the Enclave are impressively good, while the quiet ride is really worth writing home about. As a whole, the stance and feel of the Enclave is that of a dynamic and assertive luxury vehicle. Fuel economy numbers for the new Buick Enclave hover at 16 mpg city, 22-24 mpg highway.