Buick has been selling the little Encore for the last seven years, and it’s a hit for the company.
General Motors had good reason to add the new Buick Encore GX for 2020. It’s nicer inside, and it has grown in some important areas. For a small vehicle, the cabin is rather spacious. The front cabin has plenty of space and ample headroom even for taller drivers. Two adults can comfortably occupy the back seat. The two-tone seats offer a more upscale look than before.
The new exterior styling of the Encore GX is more in line with other Buick crossover models. It looks more like a shrunken Enclave with a revised front end. The distinct double grill is separated by a chrome trim piece, and the Buick badge stands out. Its small size is evident when you look at the Encore GX from the side, especially when it’s parked around larger crossovers.
With a tiny turbocharged, three-cylinder engine, I wasn’t expecting much performance, but was surprised. The 155hp engine moves the Buick very well. It’s no sports car, but there is plenty of pep when needed. The CVT transmission is well-behaved for the most part, feeling more like a standard automatic.
Cost: $28,500; as tested $33,970.
MPG: 26 MPG city; 31 MPG highway. I managed 30.2 in 297 miles of mixed driving.
Safety: Rear park assist; auto park assist with brake; adaptive cruise control; head-up display; rear camera mirror with washer; automatic emergency braking; front pedestrian braking; lane keep assist with lane departure warning; forward collision alert; following distance indicator; IntelliBeam headlamp control; side blind zone alert and lane change alert; rear cross traffic alert; tire fill alert; child presence detector.
Options: $1,790 advanced technology package; $1,500 experience Buick package; $770 convenience package; $495 Chili Red paint.
Things to know: The Buick Encore GX is bit bigger than before. Still with its small stature outside, it’s rather large inside. A more luxurious interior and a bit more pep from a fuel-thrifty turbo engine makes it a good premium commuter car.
Pros:
- New Encore GX has a very generous cabin size for a small crossover
- Nice driving, with a quiet cabin and a good suspension that soaks up bumps
- Gets good fuel economy even with optional engine
Cons:
- Not the best visibility out the back due to some larger rear pillars
- Comfort-based ride isn’t good for sporty handling on back roads
- The three-cylinder engine has a different sound and feel than normal four-cylinder engines
