As for the all-wheel drive, it's a partial configuration. The only transmission available is a 9-speed automatic unit (compared to 6 speeds in the Encore) and it works in the shadows without grumbling. However, it’s helps by the fact that despite its bigger size, it weighs less overall The power-to-weight ratio is therefore better in the GX. With 155 hp and available low-end torque of 174 lb-ft, the Encore GX is barely better equipped than the Encore. It's also worth mentioning that small-displacement engines are popular in China, a market which is of course crucially important for Buick and where its products sell far more than here.Įquipped with the 'big' 1.3L engine, my tester wasn’t exactly an acceleration monster. By choosing to offer two tiny 3-cylinder turbocharged engines, GM is betting that consumers will target the Encore GX for its fuel economy first and foremost.

The choice of engines is, of course, the subject of some debate. What's more, the overall quality of execution is in line with the brand's other products.

You can feel it's less cluttered in the centre console some buttons have been relocated not far from the transmission lever. The dashboard has several similarities, especially in the curves of the dashboard and the layout of the ventilation and central touch-screen controls. The interior is also very similar to that of the Encore. It's not a significant gain in both rows of seats, but in the trunk, the Encore GX boasts more than 100 litres more cramming space than the Encore (665 vs 532 ). These bigger dimensions, even if the differences are slight, do translate into improved interior volume. A little longer and a little wider, the Encore GX is also lower to the ground than its cousin in name, while the wheelbase is longer as well. What's worth noting about the Encore GX is that it offers very similar dimensions to the Encore it’s barely larger. The addition of the Encore GX is strategic in my opinion, a bit like the Ford Bronco and its more affordable equivalent, the Bronco Sport. At the same, it could just be a case of the brand's strategists deciding to make good use of the badge’s name recognition After all, the Buick Encore quickly became Buick's best-selling model after it debuted. The Encore GX name suggests we can expect a cancellation of the Encore model that’s been with us since 2013. Here's what I've learned about this newest Buick, and yes, another SUV!ĭiscover Shopicar! All new makes and models and all current promotions. At $37,678, this little urban vehicle isn't exactly a bargain for first-time buyers, but for those who want an agile, easy-to-park crossover, the Encore GX could be a viable option. I had occasion to drive Buick's newest utility model, the Encore GX, in its Essence trim, the most luxurious in the lineup. Remember that Chevrolet is also splitting its small SUV lineup, as the Trax gets nudged over in the lineup in 2020 to make room for the Trailblazer, a non-identical twin of the Encore GX. Does the arrival of the Encore GX mean the end of the 'regular' Encore? It probably does, but for now, Buick has content to offer two Encore models to its customers. At the time of writing, we already know that the Envision will be completely revised for 2021, but for the 'regular' Encore, nothing has been announced yet. Since the arrival of the Enclave in 2008 - and maybe even the Rendezvous in the early 2000s - the automaker has been growing its presence in the utility segment, much like the rest of the automotive industry.įor 2020, Buick welcomes a new member, the Encore GX, which positions itself between the Encore and the Envision. The era when the sedan dominated the American brand's lineup is coming to an end, with the Regal Sportback the only model still active, along with its GS version. The glorious past of the three-shield division is just that – past.

2020 encore interior space