The Buick Enclave isn’t the most popular SUV, but it’s still a good option for those with bigger families. Consumer Reports rated the Enclave as the best large luxury SUV. However, according to GM Authority, the Buick Enclave took a massive sales dip in the second quarter of this year. 

If you’ve been following the recent trends in automotive sales, you’ve probably noticed a lot of automakers are having trouble. COVID-19 has made many people stop spending money on both new and used cars, plus manufacturing has slowed down. Is this the reason for the Buick Enclave’s poor performance this quarter?

What the Buick Enclave’s numbers say

2019 was a pretty good year for the Buick Enclave. It sold over 51,000 units, with a big 27 percent sales growth in the first quarter of the year. Its sales grew by 21 percent in the second quarter, followed by a relatively small 4 percent increase in the third quarter.

This time last year, a little over 15,000 units of the Buick Enclave had been sold in the United States. However, only 7,453 units were sold in the second quarter of 2020, a decrease of more than 50 percent. It has only sold around 16,000 units for the entire year, a decrease of over 40 percent compared to 2019.

Low sales numbers in other countries

The Buick Enclave’s sales are also suffering in other territories. In Canada, it only sold 315 units for the second quarter, a decrease of more than 50 percent compared to last year’s sales. Only 805 units have been sold for 2020, but that’s only a decrease of around 400 units from last year.

However, the Enclave’s Mexico sales are at an all-time low, with only 42 units delivered for the second quarter. That’s a decrease of nearly 80 percent from Mexico’s Buick Enclave sales last year. So far only 175 units have been delivered for 2020, a decrease of nearly 55 percent from 2019.

Why aren’t people buying the Buick Enclave?

Many car dealerships have had hardships due to the coronavirus, and Buick dealers are no exception. One dealership reported a 30 percent decrease in sales in March, plus a 40 percent drop in the servicing department. GM Authority also cites the release of the Cadillac XT6 as a major contributor to the Enclave’s low sales.

The Cadillac XT6 is a relatively new vehicle, released for the 2020 model year. It comes with the same V6 engine as the Enclave, but it doesn’t boast the highest cargo capacity for its class. Critics have also said that it’s not very agile and doesn’t have the most luxurious interior.

Despite this, the Cadillac XT6 is the only vehicle in the three-row SUV segment that has seen a sales increase for 2020. It sold over 4,000 units in this year’s second quarter, a big increase from last year. However, the XT6 was first released in 2019’s second quarter, so not too many had been sold yet.

Some cars suffered more than the Buick Enclave

The Buick Enclave’s sales may be down, but it’s still not the worst performer for this year. The Infiniti QX60’s sales decreased by nearly 70 percent, with only 3,110 units sold for the second quarter of 2020. The Audi Q7 faired only slightly better than the Buick Enclave, but its sales are still down around 50 percent.

The Cadillac XT5 and Lexus RX also saw profit decreases by more than 50 percent compared to last year. However, sales for these models as well as the Buick Enclave may bounce back once the pandemic ends. The Enclave will also receive a refresh for 2022, which should renew interest from some buyers.