
Buick Enclave Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
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190 Driving and Operating
Driving and Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better Fuel Economy . . . . . . . 191
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Impaired Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Off-Road Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Ignition Positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
Stop/Start System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Engine Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Retained Accessory Power (RAP) . . . . . . . 207
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . 209
Extended Parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . 209
Automatic Transmission
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210
Manual Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 213
Tow/Haul Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214
Brakes
Antilock Brake System (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
Brake Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Hill Start Assist (HSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic StabilityControl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Driver Mode Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Adaptive Cruise Control (Advanced) . . . . 221
Driver Assistance Systems
Driver Assistance Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229
Assistance Systems for Parking or Backing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231
Assistance Systems for Driving . . . . . . . . 235 Forward Collision Alert (FCA)
System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) . . . 237
Front Pedestrian Braking (FPB) System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Side Blind Zone Alert (SBZA) . . . . . . . . . . 240
Lane Change Alert (LCA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240
Lane Keep Assist (LKA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Fuel
Top Tier Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243
Recommended Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Prohibited Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . 246
Trailer Towing
General Towing Information . . . . . . . . . . 246
Driving Characteristics and Towing Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Towing Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Trailer Sway Control (TSC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On Electrical Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 256

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Driving and Operating 191
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, seeDriver Mode Control
0 218.
.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.
.Do not use a phone in demanding driving
situations. Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read, take notes,
or look up information on phones or
other electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat passenger to
handle potential distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle features
before driving, such as programming
favorite radio stations and adjusting
climate control and seat settings. Program
all trip information into any navigation
device prior to driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked to
retrieve items that have fallen to the
floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend to
children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate carrier or
restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations while
driving, whether with a passenger or on a
cell phone.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road too long or
too often could cause a crash resulting in
injury or death. Focus your attention on
driving.
Refer to the infotainment section for more
information on using that system and the
navigation system, if equipped, including
pairing and using a cell phone.
Defensive Driving
Defensive driving means “always expect the
unexpected.” The first step in driving
defensively is to wear the seat belt. See
Seat Belts 046.

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198 Driving and Operating
Warning (Continued)
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.
SeeTires 0285.
.Turn off cruise control.
.Activate All-Wheel Drive (AWD) mode. See
Driver Mode Control 0218.
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.
{Warning
Using 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.
{Warning
Coasting 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 0218 and
All-Wheel Drive 0214.
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

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Driving and Operating 199
(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. SeeTraction
Control/Electronic Stability Control 0217.
.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) 0215.
.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 0218 and
All-Wheel Drive 0214.
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
0 341. To get help and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust under the
vehicle. This may cause exhaust gases to
get inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO), which cannot be
seen or smelled. It can cause
unconsciousness and even death.
If the vehicle is stuck in snow:
.Clear snow from the base of the
vehicle, especially any blocking the
exhaust pipe.
.Open a window about 5 cm (2 in) on
the vehicle side that is away from the
wind, to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on or under
the instrument panel.
(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
.Adjust the climate control system to
circulate the air inside the vehicle and
set the fan speed to the highest
setting. See“Climate Control Systems.”
For more information about CO, see
Engine Exhaust 0209.
To save fuel, run the engine for short
periods to warm the vehicle and then shut
the engine off and partially close the
window. Moving about to keep warm also
helps.
If it takes time for help to arrive, when
running the engine, push the accelerator
pedal slightly so the engine runs faster than
the idle speed. This keeps the battery
charged to restart the vehicle and to signal
for help with the headlamps. Do this as
little as possible, to save fuel.
If the Vehicle Is Stuck
Slowly and cautiously spin the wheels to
free the vehicle when stuck in sand, mud,
ice, or snow.

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214 Driving and Operating
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 0218.
Drive Systems
All-Wheel Drive
Vehicles with this feature can operate in
AWD Mode.
Press the button to select All-Wheel
Drive (AWD).
The AWD Mode will stay selected until the
mode is changed. See Driver Mode Control
0 218.

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Driving and Operating 217
apply the brake pedal as the driving
situation dictates. Brake Assist disengages
when the brake pedal is released.
Hill Start Assist (HSA)
{Warning
Do not rely on the HSA feature. HSA does
not replace the need to pay attention
and drive safely. You may not hear or
feel alerts or warnings provided by this
system. Failure to use proper care when
driving may result in injury, death,
or vehicle damage. SeeDefensive Driving
0 191.
When the vehicle is stopped on a grade, Hill
Start Assist (HSA) prevents the vehicle from
rolling in an unintended direction during the
transition from brake pedal release to
accelerator pedal apply. The brakes release
when the accelerator pedal is applied. If the
accelerator pedal is not applied within a few
minutes, the Electric Parking Brake will
apply. The brakes may also release under
other conditions. Do not rely on HSA to hold
the vehicle. HSA is available when the vehicle is facing
uphill in a forward gear, or when facing
downhill in R (Reverse). The vehicle must
come to a complete stop on a grade for HSA
to activate.
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic
Stability Control
System Operation
The vehicle has a Traction Control System
(TCS) and StabiliTrak/Electronic Stability
Control (ESC), an electronic stability control
system. These systems help limit wheel slip
and assist the driver in maintaining control,
especially on slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any of the
drive wheels are spinning or beginning to
lose traction. When this happens, TCS
applies the brakes to the spinning wheels
and reduces engine power to limit
wheel spin.
StabiliTrak/ESC activates when the vehicle
senses a difference between the intended
path and the direction the vehicle is actually
traveling. StabiliTrak/ESC selectively appliesbraking pressure to any one of the vehicle
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 0199 and “Turning the
Systems Off and On” later in this section.

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Driving and Operating 219
selected, the suspension, steering, and
powertrain will change calibrations to
achieve the desired mode characteristics.
If equipped, the vehicle may have the
following modes: All-Wheel Drive (AWD),
Tour, Sport, and/or Tow/Haul. When not in
AWD, the vehicle is in Front-Wheel Drive
(FWD) which will provide better fuel
economy. All drive modes may display
indicator or mode on message in the Driver
Information Center (DIC) except FWD.
AWD Mode
AWD Mode is intended for conditions which
demand more traction. In AWD Mode, the
AWD system delivers power to all four
wheels and the system adjusts as needed toimprove 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 0214.
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
0246. 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).

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220 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Cruise 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.
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 0217. If a
collision alert occurs when cruise control is
activated, cruise control is disengaged. See
Forward Collision Alert (FCA) System 0235.
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 (Uplevel) 096 or
Instrument Cluster (Base Level) 094. The
increment value used depends on the units
displayed.
Setting Cruise Control
If
5is on when not in use, SET− or RES+
could get pressed and go into cruise when
not desired. Keep
5off when cruise is not
being used.
1. Press
5to 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.
The cruise control indicator on the
instrument cluster turns green after the
cruise control has been set to the
desired speed. See Instrument Cluster
(Uplevel) 096 or
Instrument Cluster (Base Level) 094.