Overview
As the smallest model in Buick’s all-SUV lineup, the 2024 Encore GX carries a heavy weight on its compact shoulders. It’s tasked with luring younger buyers to the brand, but its premium-but-not-quite-luxury look and feel is a hard sell once it’s parked next to the Audis, BMWs, and Volvos it competes with. While it’s cheaper than SUVs from those brands, its allure is also far lower. Those who take a chance on the Encore GX will find a similar level of equipment but also mainstream interior material quality and weak-performing, turbocharged three-cylinder powertrains. Handling is downright boring, but Buick’s brand ethos doesn’t include back-road thrills. Like other Buick SUVs, the Encore GX’s ride is comfortable, and its hushed cabin is well isolated from road noise—which we think is this SUV’s most luxurious feature.
What’s New for 2024?
The Encore GX receives a styling makeover for 2024 complete with sleeker exterior lighting elements, reshaped front and rear bumpers, and an updated grille. The refresh also includes new wheel designs and the introduction of Buick’s updated Tri-Shield logo on the nose and tail. Interior changes are intended to bring the Encore GX upmarket and include a new 19-inch digital dashboard comprising 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. The mid-range Select trim has been replaced with the Sport Touring model that wears black aluminum wheels, a gloss-black mesh grille, and a flat-bottomed steering wheel. The top-level Essence trim has been replaced with the Avenir trim, which gussies up the Encore GX further with specific exterior finishings. The Avenir also features a more luxurious cabin with leather upholstery, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, an air ionizer, and embroidered headrests bearing the Avenir logo.
Pricing and Which One to Buy
Preferred
$26,895
Sport Touring
$28,095
$33,195
When compared to rivals such as the BMW X1 and the Mercedes-Benz GLA250, the most expensive Avenir trim looks like a great value. Its starting price is thousands less than those German SUVs, and while interior materials in the Buick aren’t quite as nice, the Avenir trim stuffs the Encore GX with proper luxury features.
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
The Encore GX lineup relies on a pair of turbocharged three-cylinder engines. The base version is a 1.2-liter that develops 137 horsepower, and an optional 1.3-liter unit bumps that up to 155. A continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) is standard on front-wheel drive models, while AWD variants upgrade to a nine-speed automatic. An AWD Encore GX with the larger 1.3-liter four-cylinder required a slothful 9.3 seconds to reach 60 mph. This is a bummer since the Encore GX’s luxury-brand rivals offer more powerful engines and far quicker acceleration times. Thankfully, the Encore GX feels peppier than its acceleration results suggest, particularly around town where the small turbo engine makes the most of its reasonable low-end grunt. The Buick’s ride is also agreeably smooth and controlled, but it doesn’t offer any handling thrills.
More on the Encore GX SUV
Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG
While the EPA has not released fuel economy estimates for the 2024 Encore GX yet, we expect those numbers to be unchanged from the 2023 model. Ironically, the larger of the two three-cylinder engines received the highest fuel-economy ratings from the EPA in 2023. With front-wheel drive and the CVT, the turbocharged 1.3-liter achieved up to 32 mpg highway. Going with the smaller 1.2-liter mill dropped that figure to 30 mpg. Opting for the 1.3-liter with all-wheel drive and the nine-speed automatic netted a highway rating of 29 mpg. However, on our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test route, the Encore GX with the larger engine, all-wheel drive, and nine-speed automatic managed 30 mpg, beating the EPA’s estimate by 1 mpg. For more information about the Encore GX’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Buick’s positioning in the market straddles the line between luxury and mainstream, so it’s better equipped than base-level versions of rivals such as the Nissan Kicks and Subaru Crosstrek, but it doesn’t provide the same level of fit and finish as an Audi, a BMW, or a Volvo. The Encore GX’s front-passenger seat folds flat to aid in loading longer items. We fit five carry-on suitcases behind the GX’s rear seats and 16 with the rear seats folded, which is only a few less than the slightly larger Cadillac XT4.
The Car and Driver Difference
Infotainment and Connectivity
The Encore GX’s infotainment system looks slick in its curved panel that extends from behind the steering wheel to the center of the dashboard. An 11.0-inch touchscreen provides access to Buick’s latest user interface, which is both snappy in its responses and intuitive to use. A separate 8.0-inch screen serves as the driver’s gauge display. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard, as is a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot.
How to Buy and Maintain a Car
Safety and Driver-Assistance Features
The Encore GX offers numerous standard driver-assistance technologies; a rearview camera mirror and 360-degree camera system will be optional. For more information about the Encore GX’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include:
- Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection
- Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist
- Available adaptive cruise control
Warranty and Maintenance Coverage
The Encore GX offers more warranty coverage than mainstream rivals such as the Nissan Kicks and the Mazda CX-30, as well as luxury-branded offerings such as the Mercedes-Benz GLA-class and the Audi Q3. However, the Buick falls short against the X1 and XC40, both of which offer free maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.
- Limited warranty covers 4 years or 50,000 miles
- Powertrain warranty covers 6 years or 70,000 miles
- Complimentary maintenance is covered for the first visit
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Specifications
Specifications
2020 Buick Encore GX AWD
VEHICLE TYPE
front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 5-passenger, 4-door wagon
PRICE AS TESTED
$35,720 (base price: $27,095)
ENGINE TYPE
turbocharged and intercooled DOHC inline-3, aluminum block and head, direct fuel injection
Displacement
82 in3, 1338 cm3
Power
155 hp @ 5600 rpm
Torque
174 lb-ft @ 1600 rpm
TRANSMISSION
9-speed automatic
CHASSIS
Suspension (F/R): struts/torsion beam
Brakes (F/R): 11.8-in vented disc/10.4-in disc
Tires: Hankook Kinergy GT, 225/55R-18 98H M+S TPC SPEC 3139 MS
DIMENSIONS
Wheelbase: 102.2 in
Length: 171.4 in
Width: 71.4 in
Height: 64.1 in
Passenger volume: 92 ft3
Cargo volume: 24 ft3
Curb weight: 3335 lb
C/D TEST RESULTS
60 mph: 9.3 sec
100 mph: 31.2 sec
Rolling start, 5–60 mph: 10.1 sec
Top gear, 30–50 mph: 4.8 sec
Top gear, 50–70 mph: 7.0 sec
1/4 mile: 17.0 sec @ 80 mph
Braking, 70–0 mph: 174 ft
Roadholding, 300-ft-dia skidpad: 0.84 g
Standing-start accel times omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec.
C/D FUEL ECONOMY
Observed: 22 mpg
75-mph highway driving: 30 mpg
Highway range: 390 miles
EPA FUEL ECONOMY
Combined/city/highway: 28/26/29 mpg
More Features and Specs