2023 Buick Enclave

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

2023 Buick Enclave 4-door SUV
2020 Buick Enclave shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Small overlap front: driver-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Side: updated test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Seat belts & child restraints

LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Standard daytime running lights
  • Standard blind spot detection
  • Standard lane departure warning
  • Standard lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Chevrolet Traverse High Country 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave were redesigned for the 2018 model year. They are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as midsize SUVs.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

Despite some intrusion of the door hinge pillar, risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN2002
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 11
Footrest (cm) 7
Left toepan (cm) 3
Brake pedal (cm) 2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 3
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 7
Upper dash (cm) 7
Lower instrument panel (cm) 8

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN2002
Head
HIC-15 61
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Extension bending moment (Nm) 5
Maximum Nij 0.12
Chest maximum compression (mm) 18
Femur (kN)
Left 0.5
Right 0.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.74
Right 0.35
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.4
Right 0.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 73
Right 36

How the driver-side small overlap front test is conducted

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Chevrolet Traverse LT 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave were redesigned for the 2018 model year. They are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as midsize SUVs. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors as part of frontal crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTF1923
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 6
Right (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 8
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -3
Rearward (cm) -9
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTF1923
Head
HIC-15 242
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 9
Maximum Nij 0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm) 26
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2
Femur force - right (kN) 0.2
Knee displacement - left (mm) 0
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.40
Maximum tibia index - right 0.66
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.8
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 2.1
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 60
Right 56

How the moderate overlap front test is conducted

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Chevrolet Traverse LS 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave were redesigned for the 2018 model year. They are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as midsize SUVs. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by General Motors as part of side crash test verification.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection
Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID VTS1925
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -19.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID VTS1925
Head HIC-15 119
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.8
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 23
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 27
Average deflection (mm) 24
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.18
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.22
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.8
Acetabulum force (kN) 0.9
Combined force (kN) 1.7
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.6
L-M moment (Nm) 24
A-P moment (Nm) 91

Passenger injury measures

Test ID VTS1925
Head HIC-15 69
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.4
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 18
Lateral force (kN) -1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 17
Average deflection (mm) 13
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.62
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.26
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.1
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.6
Combined force (kN) 1.6
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.4
L-M moment (Nm) 67
A-P moment (Nm) -20

How the side crash test is conducted

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2018-24 models

Tested vehicle: 2022 Chevrolet Traverse 1LS 4-door 4wd

The Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave were redesigned for the 2018 model year. They are smaller and lighter than the earlier design and therefore are now classified as midsize SUVs.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis
Rear passenger head protection

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2211
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -11.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2211
Head
HIC-15 141
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.0
Compression (kN) 0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 33
Lateral force (kN) 1.4
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 38
Average deflection (mm) 33
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.88
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.58
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 5.0

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2211
Head
HIC-15 189
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.6
Compression (kN) 0.9
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 26
Lateral force (kN) 1.3
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 23
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 4.51
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.8

How the side crash test is conducted

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2018-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Chevrolet Traverse 1LT 4-door 4wd

Rating applies to both the Chevrolet Traverse (tested) and the structurally similar Buick Enclave.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight 4,475 lbs
Peak force 24,360 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio 5.44

How the roof strength test is conducted

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm) 14
Distance below top of head (mm) 36
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 12.5
Head contact time (ms) 52
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 18
Max neck tension (N) 376

How the head restraint & seat test is conducted
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2020-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim Premium
Seat type leatherette

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 3 additional seating positions with a tether anchor only.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim Premium
Seat type leatherette
1 3 6 4 5
G Good
A Acceptable
M Marginal
P Poor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
 Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
 Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
 Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
5
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
6
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
Technical measurements for this test

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 11
Clearance angle (degrees) 88
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 7
Clearance angle (degrees) 87
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 2-4
Force (lbs) 12
Clearance angle (degrees) 81
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 0-2
Force (lbs) 10
Clearance angle (degrees) 87
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present No
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No

Seat position 31

6

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No

Seat position 32

5

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No

Seat position 33

4

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No

How child seat anchors are evaluated

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