The Buick Encore GX is one of two entry-level crossover SUVs from Buick - the other being the all-new Envista. Going with the Encore GX, you get the smallest SUV in the Buick lineup but get more powertrain options than the Envista. This week, Buick has me in their Encore GX to see what this subcompact crossover SUV is all about.
Handsome, yet cute, the Encore GX gets a revised look for 2024. Taking the styling cues from the other Buicks in the lineup, the GX gets a new grille and slim LED headlights, giving it fresh new styling. Outlined wheel arches and heavy on the chrome, there is no doubt this is a Buick.
Interior changes include a new 19-inch digital dashboard comprising of an 11.0-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 8.0-inch gauge display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are included, and a wireless smartphone charging pad is available as an option.
As you might expect, the small quarters make the seating arrangement a little tight. The front seats are somewhat narrow and the driving position is a little more upright than I'm used to. The backseat, surprisingly is decent for two people. The Encore GX is listed as a five-seater, but I would suggest keeping the maximum occupancy to four.
Being that this Buick is so small, it doesn't need a big powerplant to move it around. The base engine is a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine rated at 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. It's paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). On higher trim levels, a slightly larger 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder (155 hp, 174 lb-ft) is used. This engine is paired to a CVT on front-drive models, while AWD versions get a nine-speed automatic transmission.
Standard on all-wheel-drive models and optional for front-wheel-drive models with the Select or Essence trim level, is a slightly larger 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder (155 hp, 174 lb-ft). This engine is paired to a CVT on front-drive models, while AWD versions get a nine-speed automatic transmission.
The Encore GX is available in three trim levels, with the Preferred being the base model. It comes with heated mirrors, keyless entry and ignition and cloth/imitation leather seats. The 11-inch touchscreen, forward collision mitigation and lane departure mitigation systems are all standard. Move up to the Sport Touring and the Encore GX gets the larger engine along with having most of its chrome trim swapped out for black trim and black wheels to give it a more athletic look. At the top is the Avenir, which replaces last years Essence trim. It benefits from LED headlights, heated steering wheel, leather seating, heated and power front seats and a dual climate control system
The tester arrived as an Encore GX Avenir with front-wheel drive. The MSRP is $35,885.
The Encore GX is a nice driver. Now, if performance is your thing, well the Encore is not for you, as back road thrills is not part of the Buick agenda. But the Encore's small footprint makes it a breeze to handle in heavy traffic. On the open road, the Encore delivers a subtle, quiet ride. I need to stress quiet because Buick put a lot of effort into making the Encore GX quiet by keeping outside noises from entering the cabin - and it works. For road trips, the Encore GX is sure to win a lot of praise as it practically glides serenely down the highway.
Despite making less than 160 horses, the Encore's engine feels gutsy and livelier than the numbers suggest. And the CVT transmission, which I'm, still not a fan of (but am getting used to as they are being used more often), does its job perfectly in the little Buick. At the pump, front-wheel drive Encore GX fares well, getting 29 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway.
The Buick Encore GX does excatly what Buick intended it to do - offer a pint-size SUV that has few more premium features than most other mainstream models without getting into luxury-brand pricing. One thing that is for sure - the Encore definitely isn't your father's Buick.