Determined to make a statement, the honchos at General Motors have introduced not one, but three sport utility vehicles over the past two years. Not coincidentally, the Rainier, Rendezvous (both SUVs) and the Terraza minivan were given their pink slips, stepping aside for the new models.

While the mid-sized Saturn Outlook and the GMC Acadia were similar in their offerings when unveiled a year ago, the Buick Enclave was introduced for 2008 and owns a little different pedigree, billed as a luxury SUV.

Being in that class is a heavy burden for the new Enclave, which gets tossed into the fray with the likes of the BMW X5, Mercedes M-Class, Acura MDX and the Lexus RX 350. The Enclave does have a trump card, listed less than the competition, costing between $32,055 and $36,255. However, after a week of test driving the Enclave, I would pay the extra freight and go with a sure thing while Buick does some tweaking with this high-end SUV.

Not that there is anything seriously wrong with the Enclave. While sharing the basic design of both the Outlook and the Arcadia, the Enclave is GM’s largest SUV and has three rows of seating. It’s a big SUV, but not bulky, sitting on a car-like platform that provides a seriously smooth ride.

The all-wheel drive Enclave proved quite adept at providing peaceful, comfortable transportation during an afternoon of wine tasting recently in the rolling hills and back roads near Healdsburg. Even on dirt roads the 2008 Enclave CXL was under control, cushioning the bumps, providing responsive braking power while managing to maintain a quietness most sedans would envy.

What was not as responsive was the acceleration. More than a few industry publications have mentioned the lack of power on demand, a somewhat annoying trait that I discovered as well. The Enclave’s transmission displays a hesitation, caught in too high a gear and limiting the proper acceleration needed to quickly operate in passing situations.

That doesn’t mean this is an SUV lacking totally in the power department. Both versions of the Enclave (CX, CXL) have an identical 3.6-liter, V6 engine with 275 horsepower and 6-speed automatic transmission, plus a hauling capability of 4,500 pounds. The mileage is a selling point as well at 16-24 mpg.

Another plus concerning the Enclave is comfort. It’s tough to beat the head and leg room offered to front seat occupants, who will find entry and exit easy to execute. The second seating is also roomy and the cargo area is the largest among all luxury SUVs. When the second seat is folded up, a sizable flat level area is created. Various storage bins and cubicles are another handy feature of the Enclave.

Befitting of a luxury SUV, the Enclave is an attractive vehicle that features a bold grille, appealing exterior body panels, and plenty of distinctive interior styling modifications, like a center console that has an adjustable armrest.

Fast Facts

Power: 3.6-liter, V6, 274 horsepower.

Mileage: 16-24 mpg.                                          

Standard features include: stability control; traction control; tire pressure monitoring; power liftgate; heated front seats; 8-way driver seat, 4-way passenger seat; CD/MP3, XM satellite radio; keyless entry; power windows, doors, mirrors.