Buick's Privileged Enclave

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The Enclave also offers an unusual amount of luggage and hauling capacity. Available space expands to 115 cu. ft. with both rows of rear seats folded down. But even with both rows of seats up, the Enclave has 19 cu. ft. of luggage room in back, 5 more than the trunk of a Honda Accord. The Enclave also has a towing capacity of up to 4,500 lbs., less than a large SUV but plenty to accommodate many boats and trailers.

One of the few flaws in the design is that visibility is poor out the Enclave's narrow, oddly shaped rear window. I would consider paying extra for the optional backup camera, which has excellent resolution and makes the vehicle far easier to park. It's available as part of a $520 "driver confidence" package that also includes heated windshield washer fluid and a remote starting system.

Buy It or Bag It?

Buicks, like Cadillacs, are much better than many consumers give them credit for being—just consider the excellent new STS or the DTS. Quality is now excellent. The Buick brand tied with Lexus for the top spot in J.D. Power's latest vehicle dependability study, which came out on Aug. 9.

The Enclave also typically costs less than its competitors. The Power Information Network (PIN) calculates that Buick dealers are already offering an average rebate of $1,141 on Enclaves, cutting its average selling price to $37,884. That's well below the Acura MDX ($42,615) and Volvo XC90, which is being discounted these days by nearly $2,000 and sells for an average of $40,173. (Like BusinessWeek, PIN and J.D. Power are owned by The McGraw-Hill Companies (MHP).)

Before buying, I'd test-drive the Enclave against the XC90, which is its toughest rival in terms of safety and family-friendliness. If you want a sporty ride, go with the Acura MDX, which is much more of a driving enthusiast's vehicle. But the Enclave is an excellent choice, especially if you prefer to buy from a domestic manufacturer.

See BusinessWeek's slide show for more of the 2008 Buick Enclave.

Thane Peterson reviews cars for BusinessWeek.com.