Compare the2024 Buick EnclaveVS 2023 Chevrolet Traverse

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Enclave offers optional Reverse Automatic Braking that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Traverse doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Enclave has a standard blind spot warning system that uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Traverse’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Enclave has standard Rear Cross Traffic Alert, helping the driver avoid collisions. Chevrolet charges extra for Rear Cross Traffic Alert on the Traverse.

Both the Enclave and the Traverse have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seat center airbag, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and around view monitors.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Enclave has a standard 730-amp battery. The Traverse’s 600-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Enclave second among midsize suvs in their 2023 Initial Quality Study. The Traverse isn’t in the top three.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2023 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fourth in initial quality, above the industry average. With 4 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked fifth.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Chevrolet is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Chevrolet vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick 9 places higher in reliability than Chevrolet.

As tested in Car and Driver the Buick Enclave is faster than the Chevrolet Traverse:

The Enclave’s standard front and rear disc brakes are vented to help dissipate heat for shorter stops with less fading. The rear discs on the Traverse are solid, not vented.

The Enclave stops shorter than the Traverse:

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 Traverse’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The Enclave Avenir AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Traverse RS AWD pulls only .82 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

As tested by Car and Driver while at idle, the interior of the Enclave Essence is quieter than the Traverse High Country AWD (38 vs. 41 dB).

The Enclave has .2 inches more front legroom, .9 inches more front hip room, .3 inches more front shoulder room and .8 inches more rear hip room than the Traverse.

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

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than Chevrolet. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 20% lower rating, Chevrolet is ranked 16th.

The Enclave Premium/Avenir has a standard heads-up display that projects speed and tachometer readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The Traverse 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 Traverse’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to open them fully.

If the windows are left open on the Enclave the driver can close them all from a distance using the remote. On a hot day the driver can also lower the windows the same way. The driver of the Traverse can only close the windows from inside the vehicle, with the ignition on.

The Enclave Avenir’s standard wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically according to the amount of rainfall on the windshield. The Traverse’s manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

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 Traverse.

The Enclave has a standard center folding armrest for the middle row passengers. A center armrest helps make middle row passengers more comfortable and it can provide a boundary between children. The Traverse doesn’t offer a middle row seat center armrest.

The Enclave Premium/Avenir has standard massaging front seats in order to maximize comfort and eliminate fatigue on long trips. Massaging seats aren’t available in the Traverse.

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. Only the Traverse LT/RS/Premier/High Country offers wireless charging.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Enclave is less expensive to operate than the Traverse because typical repairs cost much less on the Enclave than the Traverse, including $19 less for fuel injection and $445 less for a timing belt/chain.

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Buick Enclave and the Chevrolet Traverse, based on reliability, safety and performance.