What Gas Mileage Does a Buick Enclave Get in Houston Driving?

A current Buick Enclave, the 2026 model year, is EPA-rated at 20 mpg city, 25 highway and 22 combined with front-wheel drive, and 20 city, 24 highway and 21 combined with all-wheel drive. Houston driving mixes stop-and-go streets and freeway miles, so real results land between the city and highway numbers. Group 1 Buick GMC North in northwest Houston has the Enclave in its new Buick lineup.

Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Houston. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.

What are the Buick Enclave’s EPA city, highway and combined mpg?

The combined rating is the number to plan around in Houston, because daily driving mixes freeway miles and stop-and-go traffic. For the 2026 model year, the front-wheel drive Enclave is rated at 20 mpg city, 25 mpg highway and 22 mpg combined, while the all-wheel drive model rates 20 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 21 mpg combined. Both use the 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine.

The combined figure is not a simple average of the other two. EPA weights the city number at 55% and the highway number at 45% (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2026). In Houston, where traffic keeps speeds low for long stretches, the city number carries more of the real result than the highway number does.

How much mpg does an Enclave give up with all-wheel drive?

For the 2026 Enclave, all-wheel drive gives up one mpg combined, 21 against 22, and one mpg on the highway, 24 against 25. The city ratings match at 20 mpg. The gap is small, so the decision rests mostly on whether you need the traction.

Over a year, the gap adds up. Illustratively, at 15,000 miles a year, the all-wheel drive Enclave at 21 mpg uses about 714 gallons, and the front-wheel drive model at 22 mpg uses about 682 gallons, a difference of 32 gallons. The 15,000-mile year is the illustrative assumption, and the gallon counts are its arithmetic. Buyers who need the extra grip on their roads pay that fuel gladly, and buyers who do not can keep it in the tank.

Buick Enclave mpg by model year and drivetrain for Houston buyers

Model year and drivetrain both move the number. The 2025 front-wheel drive Enclave holds the best combined rating in this group at 23 mpg, while the 2023 and 2024 V6 models rate 20 to 21 mpg combined.

The 2025 figures are for the 2.5-liter turbo four-cylinder with an 8-speed automatic (fueleconomy.gov, 2025). The 2023 and 2024 figures are for the 3.6-liter V6 (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2024). For a used purchase, the V6 years rate one to two mpg lower combined than the 2025 turbo, so the model year you choose changes your fuel bill as much as the drivetrain does.

How do Houston traffic and heat change Buick Enclave mpg?

Houston traffic and heat both pull mpg away from the sticker, so treat the EPA rating as a starting point rather than a forecast. The mean travel time to work for Houston city workers age 16 and older is 27.2 minutes (U.S. Census Bureau, 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-year estimates).

Congestion is measurable on the roads Houston drivers use. The stretch of FM 1960 from Tomball Parkway to the North Freeway is an 8.27-mile segment, and the state counts 185,246 hours of annual vehicle delay on it (TxDOT and Texas A&M Transportation Institute, 2025). Stop-and-go driving there pushes mpg toward the city figure, which is the number EPA’s city test is built to simulate (U.S. EPA).

Heat adds a second penalty. Running the air conditioner is the main contributor to lower fuel economy in hot weather, and in very hot conditions AC use can reduce a conventional vehicle’s fuel economy by more than 25%, particularly on short trips (fueleconomy.gov). A short errand with the air on full combines a cold start, a short trip and heavy AC use, which is the worst case for mpg.

How much does gas for a Buick Enclave cost per year in Houston?

Regular gasoline in the Houston metro averaged $3.74 a gallon, and premium averaged $4.79 a gallon, as observed October 22, 2026 (Gasolytics, 2026). The EPA certification record puts the annual fuel cost at $2,850 for the front-wheel drive Enclave and $2,950 for the all-wheel drive model.

Illustratively, at 15,000 miles a year and the Houston regular price, the front-wheel drive Enclave burns 682 gallons, or $2,551, and the all-wheel drive model burns 714 gallons, or $2,670. That makes the all-wheel drive premium $119 a year. Every dollar figure in that sum is arithmetic on the ratings and the Houston price, not a quote.

Frequently asked questions

What fuel does the Buick Enclave use?

The 2026 Enclave front-wheel drive listing on fueleconomy.gov names regular gasoline as its fuel. The EPA and the Department of Energy recommend regular unleaded at 87 octane for most gasoline vehicles, and higher octane does not improve performance or efficiency under normal conditions (U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE, 2026).

How far can a Buick Enclave go on a tank of gas?

The 2026 Enclave front-wheel drive holds 19.4 gallons, and the all-wheel drive model holds 21.7 gallons (Edmunds, 2026). Illustratively, at 22 mpg combined the front-wheel drive tank covers 427 miles, and at 21 mpg the all-wheel drive version goes 456 miles.

How can I get better mpg from an Enclave in Houston traffic?

Shut the engine off when you wait in a long line, because idling gets zero miles per gallon. Keep to the speed limit, since each 5 mph over 60 mph can cut fuel economy by 7% (fueleconomy.gov). Park in the shade and air out the cabin before turning on the AC, and use the AC at highway speeds rather than running it on max in stop-and-go traffic.

Does towing lower Buick Enclave fuel economy?

Yes. In one test vehicle, pulling a 3,500-pound enclosed trailer cut fuel economy by 30% in city driving and by 50% at 80 mph (Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 2014). The 2026 Enclave is rated to tow 5,000 pounds for every drivetrain, since the Trailering Package is standard across the 2026 lineup (GM Authority, 2025).

How does the Enclave save fuel in stop-and-go traffic?

The Enclave has Stop/Start Technology, which turns the engine off when the vehicle comes to a complete stop and restarts it when you release the brake pedal (Buick). The Buick support page says this can improve fuel efficiency. Garagedex lists start-stop on both 2026 Enclave configurations (Garagedex, 2026).

Why does my Enclave’s real-world mpg differ from the EPA sticker?

The sticker is a lab result, and your route is not a lab. Automakers test a representative vehicle over five defined test cycles on a dynamometer, and EPA audits the manufacturer’s data and independently confirms a share of the results (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2026). Stop-and-go traffic, heat, AC use, speed and towing all move your number away from the test, and the combined figure already blends city and highway driving.

How Group 1 Buick GMC North lets you start an Enclave deal online

The EPA ratings show what an Enclave burns under test, and Houston traffic decides what it burns on your route. Group 1 Buick GMC North sells new Buick Enclaves at 11300 FM 1960 W in northwest Houston, so you can compare the front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive models against your own commute. Our Google record is 4.4 stars across 7,919 reviews, and 79 in 100 of them are five-star (Google, 2026).

Customers describe the process in their own words. In an August 2026 Google review, Somer D. wrote: “Darrin and Mike have been amazing to work with. They answered all my questions and made the buying process very simple! I highly recommend Beck and Masten if you are looking for new/used car!!” In an August 2026 Google review, Jennifer F. wrote: “My sales person Chris Crespo was beyond amazing. He listened, was understanding and very helpful making me comfortable with my purchase.”

At Group 1 Buick GMC North, we offer an online trade-in tool, a secure online finance application, and new Buick inventory, including the Enclave, to see in person.

Group 1 Buick GMC North turns the front-wheel drive Enclave’s 22 mpg combined rating into a decision you can test against your own Houston commute. Start with an online trade-in offer or a secure finance application, then come see the Enclave in person.

Group 1 Buick GMC North answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Houston showroom, or call (281) 897-6690.

Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact Group 1 Buick GMC North for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.