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Luxury Crossovers: Enclave vs. MKT vs. MDX

18K views 67 replies 43 participants last post by  jry  
#1 · (Edited)
Cars.comparison: 2010 Acura MDX, 2010 Buick Enclave, 2010 Lincoln MKT
Cars.com via Kicking Tires Blog

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Don't look now, but it's back-to-school time, and that means rides to and from a variety of games, matches and recitals. Here we compare three crossovers, each with seven seats in three rows for the kids -- and a little luxury for you. The longtime favorite Acura MDX takes on the successful Buick Enclave and a newcomer, the Lincoln MKT.


Editors' Choice:

Acura: The MDX is an excellent vehicle, but the competition is tougher than when the Acura was one of the only models of its type. It's well-rounded and has great handling, but handling isn't as important to the average large-crossover buyer as the factors in which the Buick excels.

Buick: The Enclave beats its competitors in many categories — including some of the most important. It's not the quickest or most nimble, but it's more than competent. The most important features to the crossover buyer are roominess, comfort, efficiency and quality. The Enclave is one of the best models GM makes, and, in this comparison, the editors' choice.

Lincoln: In this vehicle category, an excellent drivetrain isn't enough to carry the day. It's outweighed by an inferior third-row seat, disappointing front-seat comfort and so-so materials quality. For shoppers who don't expect to use the third row, this one's second row is the best reason to buy.



Entire comparison and photos at the link
 
#2 ·
Link broken.
 
#40 ·
This is the fault of the article not selecting equal vehicle trim levels. Why didn't they get an Enclave AWD? If you load up a CXL-2 AWD, it will be right in there price wise with the other two. Also, why not have the Enclave be optioned with the middle bench, which would make it 8-passenger, but it still won that category anyway, so I'm not complaining. Thing is, they dumbed down the Enclave's options a bit, and it still won, but as for price...they should have had it equally equipped. But as for gas mileage,...that was not an equal comparison, they should have used the AWD figures, but at least they mentioned them. As for the comment about the chrome trim on the Enclave, that's a low blow, they were just fishing for negative comments, which they really can't find. I bet 99% of people like the chrome trim accents on the Enclave (those who like the whole design, I mean). Wonder how the AWD would have handled, perhaps the Buick would have taken yet another category in this test.

Someone mentioned that the Enclave doesn't have any really good colors. For 2011 they add in Cyber gray which is stunning, and Gray Green which is more sedate than the silver green (my color) it replaces, but still nice. Also, brought back ming blue.

But of course I'm glad the Enclave won, so I'll :clap: for this article.
 
#6 ·
And now, watch GM destroy its road presence and name equity as they release a Lambda based Cadillac instead of just incrementally add in more features and raise the price every year.
 
#10 ·
Nice to see a GM-er win another comparison.

I had no idea the Acura was that expensive.

.
 
#16 ·
For me I would buy neither of the three. The Buick needs a refresh yesterday. GM should not have a Cadillac version. Cadillac NEEDS to be all RWD/AWD, bring back the last SRX please. What about the Acadia? How do these two vehicles fare in the same market? Not sure why GM needs the GMC version as GMC is supposed to be the "truck" division. Someone high up at GM really needs to start thinking about their products and how they are going to align between the brands otherwise we're back in the 80's where each brand had the same vehicle with a different grill and badge.
 
#20 ·
bring back the last SRX please.
Agreed fully. I was just in one of the "old" SRXes recently and then had the chance to check out one of the new ones... the new one is rather disturbingly smaller on the inside and not as functional in my eyes.

Not sure why GM needs the GMC version as GMC is supposed to be the "truck" division.
They've long since destroyed the "truck" division. The Acadia and Terrain both completely ruin that image for me.
 
#27 ·
The MKT misses the mark in many ways unfortunately. This is a good platform as has been proven by the Flex, Taurus, and MKS. The soon-to-be-released Explorer will likely be a big hit and the MKT needs to mimic its most positive traits - stylishness, quality of interior materials, and roominess - to become viable.

As for the mention of the new SRX, it's a good vehicle that would be worlds better if it was motivated by the 3.6L V6 and it was called something else. It's a successful vehicle with the wrong name as it has nothing in common with the old SRX.

As for a potential for a lambda-based Cadillac, I'm for it to be added to the fleet, not replace the RWD/4WD Escalade. There's a market for such a vehicle and it won't steal sales from the very different Escalade trio.
 
#29 ·
Anyone catch this about the Lincoln?

"A modern, classy design is held back by some cheap-looking plastics, mainly in the center control panel. The buttons flanking the navigation screen look awful, and why so prominent? How often do you change the color of your cupholder lighting? The shift paddles have a weird feel compared with the MDX's."

"Cheap looking plastics". That seems to be a common gripe with Fords. The cheap-as-hell looking interior of the 2010 Edge was one of the top 2 reasons my wife detested it (gas mileage being the other reason) and the reason a 2010 Equinox sits in our garage now. She was really repulsed by the Edge's dash, especially when she saw the sticker price.

That's the 2nd time in 2 days I've read a review where the Ford was knocked for cheap plastics (the other review was of the Cruze, with a slam on Ford/Toyota for cheap interior plastics). I hope they rectify it in future models since all Fords I've seen have some cheap looking interiors, namely the dash.
 
#38 ·
I think maybe there is a market for a Caddy Lambda. I am slightly apprehensive about it though. Is said market big enough for three luxury Lambdas? Will, as some have said, the existence of the Cadillac be a detriment to the features and content levels of the other two? (it will almost have to have exclusive features to justify a higher price point, right?)

If this Cadillac comes to fruition I hope it supplements the Escalade, not replaces it. Call it maybe...ERX or better LRX (isn't something named LRX? I forget). Just my 2 cents.
 
#41 ·
#50 ·
I can't help but wonder about the Enclave with the new Acadia Denali, especially when the two share the same showroom space. I spoke with a dealer who said that buyers aren't really seeing the relationship and are viewing them as different vehicles, but I still wonder. Their sales are both strong, as is the Traverse.

Perhaps GMC could have some off-road equipment like the new Explorer to separate it from other Lambdas (and keep it a little more GMC-ish). The Buick Enclave and Acadia Denali models need to have an upgraded engine option, whether it's a TTV-6 like the EcoBoost or a nice V-8 ... something!

And Cadillac's midsize SUV should -IMHO- be based on a new Cadillac RWD platform. This separates Cadillac SUVs such as a proposed midsize model from the Lambdas and allows them to focus on more exclusive performance, luxury, and styling in the hardware available.

Back to GMC, I think if GMC non-GMT900s are not separated from other GMs well enough in the future, the GMC brand could get into some trouble. They should build upscale SUVs like Buicks but ones that are more rugged and off-road capable.

Or ... since GMC-Buick share showroom space, have GMC do the SUV/CUVs and leave Buick to the sedans/coupes/wagons/convertibles/etc. There are many ways to accomplish this same mission.
 
#51 ·
I can't help but wonder about the Enclave with the new Acadia Denali, especially when the two share the same showroom space. I spoke with a dealer who said that buyers aren't really seeing the relationship and are viewing them as different vehicles, but I still wonder. Their sales are both strong, as is the Traverse.
And the problem here is?
 
#53 ·
The dealer himself said it's not a problem as people prefer one or the other and do not see them as similar vehicles.

ie; It's not a problem.

WAAYYYY to much is made of the brands competing amongst themselves on this site. As long as the vehicles are differentiated there is no problem with platform sharing or being in similar price ranges.
 
#54 ·
The dealer will say anything, you know. He seemed very trusting but one dealer saying it's not a problem does not mean anything. It's just my experience.

It's okay where they are, but moving the GMC further into Buick territory could be a mistake. You wouldn't recommend GMC made a 75K version of the Yukon Denali right?

And brands competing with each other is a big deal. One can't forget why brands like Oldsmobile died.
 
#55 ·
Using your logic Chevy should quit selling Tahoes because they compete with the Enclave on price, right?

As I said, as long as the products have enough differentiation, there is no problem. If you sit in and drive an Enclave versus an Acadia Denali, they are indeed different just as the people that buy them are different.

GM would still have 7 or 8 divisions if they had kept enough differences between them and not let quality go to hell back in the 80's and 90's. Look at the number of brands sold in this country today versus the 60's and 70's for proof of that.
 
#56 ·
No, that would not be my logic. The Tahoe is a different vehicle on a different platform and serves another purpose altogether.

I'm talking about excessive platform sharing (platform sharing itself is not bad, not at all).

Like I said, right NOW there is no problem. But the Denali model itself WILL push it further into the luxury end of the CUV segment, one that the showroom-peer Buick is supposed to be competing in. I'm not saying it will fail, I'm not sayin it will damage Enclave sales. I said "I wonder".

You're reading entirely too much into my post.

Also, Oldsmobile would've been dead, quality control and differences or not. Oldsmobiles don't look at all like Buicks or Chevys and had some unique engines, like the 4.0L V-8 and 3.5L V-6. It didn't matter.
 
#57 · (Edited)
I recognize that the Enclave has the most storage space but I wish it sat a little lower and a sportier side profile like the MKT, close to sportwagon-like (don't worry I much prefer the front end of the Enclave to the Lincoln or Acura). The Acura is the big loser IMO as it looks as fat as the Enclave but without the interior space.

Overall though I agree with the Enclave winning the comparison.
 
#58 ·
I forgot to mention the original topic, lol.

My personal choice would be the Lincoln. I like the uniqueness of its styling, great power, and lots of features and a nice interior for the price. The Buick is a great vehicle but I just personally favor the other two. The Acura has great performance and is dynamically my favorite. It also easily has the best interior quality.

A more powerful engine option and a revised interior (not that the current one is even close to bad) would probably tip it in the Buick's favor for me.
 
#59 ·
Help! Site won't let me start new thread - I have the basic (free membership) pkg. Do I need the premium $15 pkg to start a new thread?

Anyway, I wanted to get info on a proposed Buick 'Super' Enclave with a new small block, direct injected V8. I read a small blurb about this somewhere and wondered if this was really true. IMO this is what the Enclave needs - more power.

Thanks for your help
 
#63 ·
Yes - My 2008 Enclave is AWD. They dont have badging indicating its AWD which almost ended our sale (The Acadia has an AWD sticker on it)

As we were finishing the paperwork I looked outside and didnt see AWD and asked to check the window sticker since their is no visible markings telling you otherwise.