
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527524) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
Driving and Operating 165Trailer Towing General Towing
Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Driving Characteristics and
Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . 244
Conversions and Add-Ons Add-On Electrical
Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Driving Information Driving for Better Fuel
Economy Driving habits can affect fuel
mileage. Here are some driving tips
to get the best fuel economy
possible.
.
Set the climate controls to the
desired temperature after the
engine is started, or turn them
off when not required.
.
On AWD vehicles, see Driver
Mode Control 0 202 .
.
Avoid fast starts and accelerate
smoothly.
.
Brake gradually and avoid
abrupt stops.
.
Avoid idling the engine for long
periods of time.
.
When road and weather
conditions are appropriate, use
cruise control.
.
Always follow posted speed
limits or drive more slowly when
conditions require. .
Keep vehicle tires properly
inflated.
.
Combine several trips into a
single trip.
.
Replace the vehicle's tires with
the same TPC Spec number
molded into the tire's sidewall
near the size.
.
Follow recommended scheduled
maintenance.
Distracted Driving Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, keep
your eyes on the road, keep your
hands on the steering wheel, and
focus your attention on driving.

Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527524) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
174 Driving and Operating
{ WarningWet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.
Allow extra following distance.
.
Pass with caution.
.
Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.
Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.
Have good tires with proper
tread depth. See Tires 0 281 .
.
Turn off cruise control.
.
Activate All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 202 . Hill and Mountain Roads Driving on steep hills or through
mountains is different than driving
on flat or rolling terrain. Tips include:
.
Keep the vehicle serviced and in
good shape.
.
Check all fluid levels and brakes,
tires, cooling system, and
transmission.
.
Shift to a lower gear when going
down steep or long hills.
{ WarningUsing the brakes to slow the
vehicle on a long downhill slope
can cause brake overheating, can
reduce brake performance, and
could result in a loss of braking.
Shift the transmission to a lower
gear to let the engine assist the
brakes on a steep downhill slope.

Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527524) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
Driving and Operating 175
{ WarningCoasting downhill in N (Neutral)
or with the ignition off is
dangerous. This can cause
overheating of the brakes and
loss of steering assist. Always
have the engine running and the
vehicle in gear.
.
Drive at speeds that keep the
vehicle in its own lane. Do not
swing wide or cross the
center line.
.
Be alert on top of hills;
something could be in your lane
(e.g., stalled car, crash).
.
Pay attention to special road
signs (e.g., falling rocks area,
winding roads, long grades,
passing or no-passing zones)
and take appropriate action.
.
Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode. See Driver Mode Control
0 202 and
All-Wheel Drive 0 197 . Winter Driving Driving on Snow or Ice Snow or ice between the tires and
the road creates less traction or
grip, so drive carefully. Wet ice can
occur at about 0 °C (32 °F) when
freezing rain begins to fall. Avoid
driving on wet ice or in freezing rain
until roads can be treated.
For Slippery Road Driving:
.
Accelerate gently. Accelerating
too quickly causes the wheels to
spin and makes the surface
under the tires slick.
.
Turn on Traction Control. See
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control 0 200 .
.
The Antilock Brake System
(ABS) improves vehicle stability
during hard stops, but the
brakes should be applied sooner
than when on dry pavement.
See Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 0 197 . .
Allow greater following distance
and watch for slippery spots. Icy
patches can occur on otherwise
clear roads in shaded areas.
The surface of a curve or an
overpass can remain icy when
the surrounding roads are clear.
Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
.
Turn off cruise control.
.
Select All-Wheel Drive (AWD)
Mode for vehicles equipped with
AWD. Select Snow/Ice Mode for
FWD only vehicles. See Driver
Mode Control 0 202 and
All-Wheel Drive 0 197 .
Blizzard Conditions Stop the vehicle in a safe place and
signal for help. Stay with the vehicle
unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use Roadside
Assistance. See Roadside
Assistance Program 0 348 . To get
help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.
Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.

Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527524) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
196 Driving and Operating
Manual Mode Electronic Range Select (ERS)
CautionDriving with the engine at a high
rpm without upshifting while using
Manual Mode, could damage the
vehicle. Always upshift when
necessary while using
Manual Mode.
Electronic Range Select (ERS),
or Manual Mode, allows for the
selection of the range of gear positions. Use this mode when
driving downhill or towing a trailer to
limit the top gear and vehicle speed.
The shift position indicator within the
Driver Information Center (DIC) will
display a number next to the L
indicating the highest available gear.
To enter Electronic Range Select or
Manual Mode:
1. With the vehicle in D (Drive),
pull back on the shift lever to
activate L (Low). The L in the
shift pattern will illuminate in
red, and the D will switch to
white.
2. Tap the left steering wheel
control to reduce the highest
gear available, or the right
control to increase the highest
gear available.
3. To exit, pull back on the shift
lever a second time. The D in
the shift pattern will illuminate
in red, and the L will switch to
white.
When shifting to L (Low), the
transmission will shift to a preset
lower gear range. For this preset range, the highest gear available
will be displayed next to the L in the
DIC. All gears below that number
are available to use. For example,
when 4 (Fourth) is shown next to
the L, 1 (First) through 4 (Fourth)
gears are shifted automatically. To
shift to 5 (Fifth) gear, tap the right
steering wheel control or shift into D
(Drive).
L (Low) will prevent shifting to a
lower gear range if the engine
speed is too high. If the vehicle
speed is not reduced within the time
allowed, the lower gear range shift
will not be completed. Slow the
vehicle, then tap the left steering
wheel control to the desired lower
gear range.
Cruise control can be used while
in ERS.
Tow/Haul Mode This feature can assist when towing
or hauling a heavy load. To activate
Tow/Haul Mode, see Driver Mode
Control 0 202 .

Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527524) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
Driving and Operating 201vehicle wheel brakes to assist the
driver in keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
TCS or StabiliTrak/ESC begins to
limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow. TCS and
StabiliTrak/ESC will automatically
turn on when cruise control is set.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See If the Vehicle Is Stuck 0 176
and “ Turning the Systems Off and
On ” later in this section. The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.
Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
.
Flash when StabiliTrak/ESC is
activated.
.
Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
d comes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.
If
d comes on and stays on:
1. Stop the vehicle. 2. Turn the engine off and wait
15 seconds.
3. Start the engine.
4. Drive the vehicle.
If
d comes on and stays on, see
your dealer.
Turning the Systems Off
and On

Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527524) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
Driving and Operating 203needed to improve traction.
Pressing the AWD Mode switch will
select AWD Mode. The AWD light
will flash briefly while the system is
engaging and stay on to indicate
AWD is active. The AWD light will
stay off when AWD is inactive. AWD
Mode can be turned on and off
independently of other modes. See
All-Wheel Drive 0 197 .
MODE
To select the Sport Mode or Tow/
Haul Mode, press the MODE switch
on the center stack. Pressing the
MODE switch will display options of
all available ride modes in the DIC and change to the next mode.
Subsequent presses will scroll
through the available modes.
Sport Mode If equipped, Sport Mode is used
when road conditions or personal
preference demand a more
controlled response. When in Sport
Mode, the steering and suspension
will change to provide more precise
control and better cornering
performance. Sport Mode is only
available on vehicles equipped with
Real Time Damping. Sport Mode
also changes the StabiliTrak and
AWD settings to allow more
wheel slip.
Tow/Haul Mode If equipped, Tow/Haul Mode can
assist when towing or hauling a
heavy load. It changes transmission
shift patterns, and increases trailer
sway control assistance. See
Driving Characteristics and Towing
Tips 0 234 . Tow/Haul Mode is
available on vehicles with the Trailer
Towing Package. Cruise Control With cruise control the vehicle can
maintain a speed of about 40 km/h
(25 mph) or more without keeping
your foot on the accelerator. Cruise
control does not work at speeds
below 40 km/h (25 mph).
{ WarningCruise control can be dangerous
where you cannot drive safely at
a steady speed. Do not use
cruise control on winding roads or
in heavy traffic.
Cruise control can be dangerous
on slippery roads. On such roads,
fast changes in tire traction can
cause excessive wheel slip, and
you could lose control. Do not use
cruise control on slippery roads.

Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527524) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
204 Driving and Operating If equipped with the Traction Control
System (TCS), the system may
begin to limit wheel spin while you
are using cruise control. If this
happens, the cruise control will
automatically disengage. See
Traction Control/Electronic Stability
Control 0 200 . If a collision alert
occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is
disengaged. See Forward Collision
Alert (FCA) System 0 221 . When
road conditions allow you to safely
use it again, cruise control can be
turned back on.
Cruise control will disengage if
either TCS or StabiliTrak/Electronic
Stability Control (ESC) is turned off.
If the brakes are applied, cruise
control disengages. 5 : Press to turn cruise control on
or off. A white indicator comes on in
the instrument cluster.
RES+ : If there is a set speed in
memory, press the control up briefly
to resume to that speed or press
and hold to accelerate. If cruise
control is already engaged, use to
increase vehicle speed.
SET − : Press the control down
briefly to set the speed and activate
cruise control. If cruise control is
already engaged, use to decrease
vehicle speed. * : Press to disengage cruise
control without erasing the set
speed from memory.
The speedometer reading can be
displayed in either English or metric
units. See Instrument Cluster (Base
Level) 0 111 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 0 114 .
The increment value used depends
on the units displayed.
Setting Cruise Control
If
5 is on when not in use, SET − or
RES+ could get pressed and go into
cruise when not desired. Keep
5 off when cruise is not being used.
1. Press
5 to turn the cruise
system on.
2. Get to the speed desired.
3. Press and release SET − . The
desired set speed briefly
appears in the instrument
cluster.
4. Take your foot off the
accelerator pedal.

Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
13527524) - 2020 - CRC - 4/10/19
Driving and Operating 205The cruise control indicator on the
instrument cluster turns green after
the cruise control has been set to
the desired speed. See Instrument
Cluster (Base Level) 0 111 or
Instrument Cluster (Uplevel) 0 114 .
Resuming a Set Speed
If the cruise control is set at a
desired speed and then the brakes
are applied or
* is pressed, the
cruise control is disengaged without
erasing the set speed from memory.
Once the vehicle reaches about
40 km/h (25 mph) or more, press
RES+ up briefly. The vehicle returns
to the previously set speed.
Increasing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
Do one of the following:
.
Press and hold RES+ up until
the vehicle accelerates to the
desired speed, then release it. .
To increase vehicle speed in
small increments, press RES+
up briefly. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) faster.
Reducing Speed While Using
Cruise Control
Do one of the following:
.
Press and hold SET − down until
the desired lower speed is
reached, then release it.
.
To slow down in small
increments, press SET − down
briefly. For each press, the
vehicle goes about 1 km/h
(1 mph) slower.
Passing Another Vehicle While
Using Cruise Control
Use the accelerator pedal to
increase the vehicle speed. When
you take your foot off the pedal, the
vehicle will slow down to the
previously set cruise speed. While
pressing the accelerator pedal or
shortly following the release to override cruise control, briefly
pressing SET − will result in cruise
set to the current vehicle speed.
Using Cruise Control on Hills
How well the cruise control will work
on hills depends upon the vehicle
speed, load, and the steepness of
the hills. When going up steep hills,
you might have to step on the
accelerator pedal to maintain your
speed. When going downhill, you
might have to brake or shift to a
lower gear to keep your speed
down. If the brake pedal is applied,
cruise control will disengage.
Ending Cruise Control
There are four ways to end cruise
control:
.
Step lightly on the brake pedal.
.
Press
* .
.
Shift the transmission to
N (Neutral).
.
To turn off cruise control,
press
5 .