Encore Makes Its Debut
Encore Makes Its Debut
When it comes to innovative, cutting-edge vehicles, Buick is probably the last brand to spring to mind. And yet that's exactly what the Encore is -- a new and unique type of utility vehicle that is perfect for both the American market and Buick's budding new brand image. What make the Encore so great? Let's drive it and find out.
First Glance
What sets the Buick Encore apart from other SUVs? Well, for one thing, it's in a size class of its own. Though it's hard to tell from the photos -- and, frankly, even when you're standing right next to it -- the Encore is about a foot shorter and slightly narrower than small SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. In fact, it's only a bit longer and wider than a Honda Fit -- and yet at 65.2" high, it stands nearly eye-to-eye with the GMC Terrain.
Even micro-SUVs like the MINI Countryman and Nissan Juke don't quite compare on size; they are either longer or taller. The Encore's form factor is closest to the now-defunct Pontiac Vibe and nearly-defunct Toyota Matrix.
As you can probably guess, the Encore's lineage is European. It's based closely on the Euro-market Opel Mokka, but unlike the Buick Regal -- another Opel transplant -- this one fits more comfortably into its Buick clothing; as with the bigger Enclave, the the waterfall grille blends beautifully with the Encore's smartly-styled sheetmetal and wide-eyed headlights. Subtle two-tone paint jobs that emphasize the Encore's height and give it an almost concept-car-esque look. Actually, not all of the paint jobs are that subtle; along with the usual pallette of greys and browns, the Encore will be available in bright red and blue, colors that Buick hopes will help attract younger buyers.
In the Driver's Seat
I like my luxury cars to be warm and welcoming rather than cold and austere, and the Encore fits the bill nicely with artful shapes and high-quality materials. I prefer the "cocoa" theme with its multiple shades of browns and beiges, but even the all-black interior, trimmed in dark wood and subtle chrome, feels properly luxurious. Base models get lovely patterned-cloth seats with faux-leather accents, while pricier Encores get genuine cowhides.
The seats themselves are comfortable, if a bit small.
From behind the wheel, it's easy to forget that you're driving one of the smallest SUVs on the market; the Encore gives its drivers the same commanding view of the road provided by larger SUVs. Cast your eyes downward and you'll find gauges that are at once stylish and easy-to-read. My sole complaint is the climate and stereo controls; the designers have crammed a lot of hard-to-read buttons into a very small space, and the menu structure for the stereo and (optional) navigation is less than intuitive. Good thing the voice commands work so well -- I was able to program the nav system by speaking.
The back seat is surprisingly generous considering the Encore's small size; with the front seats adjusted for my 5'6" frame, I found decent space in back, though my taller colleagues weren't as comfortable. Cargo space is 18.8 cubic feet with the seats up, about the same as a small hatchback like the Chevy Sonic but considerably less than CUVs like the aforementioned Honda CR-V (37.2) and Mazda CX-5 (34.1).
The rear seats can be flipped and folded down, opening up and the front passenger seatback also folds down, providing a long (if not perfectly flat) load floor.
The Encore is powered by the same 138 hp 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the Chevrolet Sonic and Cruze Eco, tied to a six-speed automatic transmission. Tiny as it is, the engine is a good match to the Encore's 3200 lb curb weight -- it's no muscle car away from the lights, but I felt comfortable passing slower traffic on two-lane roads.
The Encore offers a choice of front- or all-wheel-drive, the latter using an electronic clutch pack to direct power to the rear wheels.
Unlike most FWD/AWD systems -- which start out sending power to the front wheels and shift power backwards as needed -- the Encore starts from a stop in all-wheel-drive, giving a more sure-footed feel on slippery roads. AWD adds about 120 lbs of weight, and EPA fuel economy estimates are 23 MPG city/30 MPG highway, compared to 25/33 for the front-wheel-drive Encore. During my brief stint of mixed city and highway driving, I averaged 25 MPG in the all-wheel-drive Encore and 27 in the front-driver.
As with other Buicks, priority is given to a quiet, serene ride. The Encore features an active noise-canceling system, similar to the ones found in Bose headphones. Although it can't do much about the engine -- which gets a bit shouty under hard acceleration -- the Encore is well isolated from wind and road noise, which contributes to its big-car feel. Handling, though, is like a small car -- the ride is firm, though comfortable, and the Encore loves to scoot around corners and squeeze into tiny gaps.
With its ultra-small size, parking is a breeze, and you can open the doors wide without worry of obliterating the Honda Civic parked next to you.
Pricing for the Encore starts at a very reasonable $24,950, a price that includes Bluetooth, a power driver's seat, 18" alloy wheels, OnStar, and a USB-compatible stereo with satellite radio and a 7" LCD display. Leather-lined Encores are priced at $27,460, while a full-boat Encore Premium with rain-sensing wipers, a fantastic Bose stereo, and optional navigation, sunroof and chrome-clad wheels will run you $32,350.
Considering the Encore's sharp styling, upscale cabin, and high levels of equipment, I think it delivers excellent value-for-money.
The Encore really has no direct competitors. Subaru's XV Crosstrek offers similar space at a lower price, but it feels more like a butched-up car than a proper SUV. The Nissan Juke has a similar small-car feel, but not nearly as much back seat and cargo space. You can get plenty of small SUVs in the same price range -- the Honda CR-V and Chevrolet Equinox are perennial favorites of mine -- and while they offer a lot more cargo space, they have a lot more bulk than the city-friendly Encore.
So what we have here is a truly unique crossover -- one that feels like an SUV but drives (and parks) like a small car. And while I never would have expected such a car to come from Buick, I'm glad it did -- being a Buick adds a degree of luxury and class normally missing from small utility vehicles. This is a great product, and I'm sure it's going to sell well.
When it comes to innovative, cutting-edge vehicles, Buick is probably the last brand to spring to mind. And yet that's exactly what the Encore is -- a new and unique type of utility vehicle that is perfect for both the American market and Buick's budding new brand image. What make the Encore so great? Let's drive it and find out.
First Glance
What sets the Buick Encore apart from other SUVs? Well, for one thing, it's in a size class of its own. Though it's hard to tell from the photos -- and, frankly, even when you're standing right next to it -- the Encore is about a foot shorter and slightly narrower than small SUVs like the Honda CR-V and Mazda CX-5. In fact, it's only a bit longer and wider than a Honda Fit -- and yet at 65.2" high, it stands nearly eye-to-eye with the GMC Terrain.
Even micro-SUVs like the MINI Countryman and Nissan Juke don't quite compare on size; they are either longer or taller. The Encore's form factor is closest to the now-defunct Pontiac Vibe and nearly-defunct Toyota Matrix.
As you can probably guess, the Encore's lineage is European. It's based closely on the Euro-market Opel Mokka, but unlike the Buick Regal -- another Opel transplant -- this one fits more comfortably into its Buick clothing; as with the bigger Enclave, the the waterfall grille blends beautifully with the Encore's smartly-styled sheetmetal and wide-eyed headlights. Subtle two-tone paint jobs that emphasize the Encore's height and give it an almost concept-car-esque look. Actually, not all of the paint jobs are that subtle; along with the usual pallette of greys and browns, the Encore will be available in bright red and blue, colors that Buick hopes will help attract younger buyers.
In the Driver's Seat
I like my luxury cars to be warm and welcoming rather than cold and austere, and the Encore fits the bill nicely with artful shapes and high-quality materials. I prefer the "cocoa" theme with its multiple shades of browns and beiges, but even the all-black interior, trimmed in dark wood and subtle chrome, feels properly luxurious. Base models get lovely patterned-cloth seats with faux-leather accents, while pricier Encores get genuine cowhides.
The seats themselves are comfortable, if a bit small.
From behind the wheel, it's easy to forget that you're driving one of the smallest SUVs on the market; the Encore gives its drivers the same commanding view of the road provided by larger SUVs. Cast your eyes downward and you'll find gauges that are at once stylish and easy-to-read. My sole complaint is the climate and stereo controls; the designers have crammed a lot of hard-to-read buttons into a very small space, and the menu structure for the stereo and (optional) navigation is less than intuitive. Good thing the voice commands work so well -- I was able to program the nav system by speaking.
The back seat is surprisingly generous considering the Encore's small size; with the front seats adjusted for my 5'6" frame, I found decent space in back, though my taller colleagues weren't as comfortable. Cargo space is 18.8 cubic feet with the seats up, about the same as a small hatchback like the Chevy Sonic but considerably less than CUVs like the aforementioned Honda CR-V (37.2) and Mazda CX-5 (34.1).
The rear seats can be flipped and folded down, opening up and the front passenger seatback also folds down, providing a long (if not perfectly flat) load floor.
The Encore is powered by the same 138 hp 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine found in the Chevrolet Sonic and Cruze Eco, tied to a six-speed automatic transmission. Tiny as it is, the engine is a good match to the Encore's 3200 lb curb weight -- it's no muscle car away from the lights, but I felt comfortable passing slower traffic on two-lane roads.
The Encore offers a choice of front- or all-wheel-drive, the latter using an electronic clutch pack to direct power to the rear wheels.
Unlike most FWD/AWD systems -- which start out sending power to the front wheels and shift power backwards as needed -- the Encore starts from a stop in all-wheel-drive, giving a more sure-footed feel on slippery roads. AWD adds about 120 lbs of weight, and EPA fuel economy estimates are 23 MPG city/30 MPG highway, compared to 25/33 for the front-wheel-drive Encore. During my brief stint of mixed city and highway driving, I averaged 25 MPG in the all-wheel-drive Encore and 27 in the front-driver.
As with other Buicks, priority is given to a quiet, serene ride. The Encore features an active noise-canceling system, similar to the ones found in Bose headphones. Although it can't do much about the engine -- which gets a bit shouty under hard acceleration -- the Encore is well isolated from wind and road noise, which contributes to its big-car feel. Handling, though, is like a small car -- the ride is firm, though comfortable, and the Encore loves to scoot around corners and squeeze into tiny gaps.
With its ultra-small size, parking is a breeze, and you can open the doors wide without worry of obliterating the Honda Civic parked next to you.
Pricing for the Encore starts at a very reasonable $24,950, a price that includes Bluetooth, a power driver's seat, 18" alloy wheels, OnStar, and a USB-compatible stereo with satellite radio and a 7" LCD display. Leather-lined Encores are priced at $27,460, while a full-boat Encore Premium with rain-sensing wipers, a fantastic Bose stereo, and optional navigation, sunroof and chrome-clad wheels will run you $32,350.
Considering the Encore's sharp styling, upscale cabin, and high levels of equipment, I think it delivers excellent value-for-money.
The Encore really has no direct competitors. Subaru's XV Crosstrek offers similar space at a lower price, but it feels more like a butched-up car than a proper SUV. The Nissan Juke has a similar small-car feel, but not nearly as much back seat and cargo space. You can get plenty of small SUVs in the same price range -- the Honda CR-V and Chevrolet Equinox are perennial favorites of mine -- and while they offer a lot more cargo space, they have a lot more bulk than the city-friendly Encore.
So what we have here is a truly unique crossover -- one that feels like an SUV but drives (and parks) like a small car. And while I never would have expected such a car to come from Buick, I'm glad it did -- being a Buick adds a degree of luxury and class normally missing from small utility vehicles. This is a great product, and I'm sure it's going to sell well.
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