2020 Buick Encore GX Review

　　

2020 Buick Encore GX Review

byChristian WardlawCorrespondent

　　Christian Wardlaw has worked in the automotive industry since 1994. He has written nearly 10,000 car-related articles and tested and reviewed more than 2,000 vehicles over the course of his career. Chris is a correspondent at zzdcar and was the first editor-in-chief of zzdcar.com in the 1990s. He has also contributed to Autotrader, CarGurus, J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, NADAguides, New York Daily News Autos and WardsAuto. His mom claims that his first word was “car,” and Chris believes that Miata is always the answer.

　　Having broomed its sedans from its 2020 model-year lineup, Buick is nearly an all-SUV brand. It's even adding one more to the mix: the all-new 2020 Buick Encore GX. It shares a name with the current Encore extra-small crossover SUV, and the distinctions start getting a little murky from there.

　　

Cost to DriveCost to drive estimates for the 2020 Buick Encore GX Preferred 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT) and comparison vehicles are based on 15,000 miles per year (with a mix of 55% city and 45% highway driving) and energy estimates of $3.04 per gallon for regular unleaded in North Dakota.

Monthly estimates based on costs in North Dakota

　　$137/mo  for Encore GX Preferred

　　Encore GX Preferred

　　Preferred 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT) - $24,100 MSRPPreferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A) - $26,100 MSRPSelect 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT) (Most Popular) - $25,700 MSRPSelect 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A) - $27,700 MSRPEssence 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT) - $28,500 MSRPEssence 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A) - $30,500 MSRP

　　vs

　　$166/mo

　　Avg. Compact SUV

　　The current Encore has been on sale since 2013, which is a long time in car years. But rather than simply introducing a second-generation Encore, Buick has decided to name its successor the Encore GX and sell the two vehicles side by side. The Encore GX is slightly larger, and the two SUVs cost almost the same price. Unless you absolutely can't stretch your budget, the Encore GX is the way to go here. It is by far the superior vehicle thanks to its more robust set of features and more modern cabin design.

　　

Is the Encore GX a good value?

Buick has positioned the Encore GX as a premium extra-small SUV. With a starting MSRP in the mid-$20,000s, the Encore GX costs as much as fully loaded competitors, or about the same as larger SUVs such as the Honda CR-V.

　　But its interior design and materials quality are generally more upscale than what you'll find in its less expensive direct rivals, and its turbocharged engine feels relatively sprightly. We hesitate to call the Encore GX an excellent value, but it is clear that you get what you pay for.

　　

How does the Encore GX drive?

The Encore GX's available 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine is surprisingly peppy. Though ultimate acceleration won't blow your hair back, there's enough grunt under the hood to keep you moving with traffic without much issue. The brake pedal is stiffer than you might expect, and stopping smoothly requires a bit of practice.

　　Like most other extra-small SUVs, the Encore GX isn't much fun to drive on twisty mountain roads. There's quite a bit of body roll. While it's tuned well enough to not make you nauseated, the Encore GX is better suited for drama-free city commuting.

　　

How comfortable is the Encore GX?

The Encore GX rides comfortably and its well-tuned suspension reduces harshness from poorly paved streets. Driving over large bumps can be unpleasant since they produce a lot of body motion, but there's no residual floatiness. The cabin is also fairly quiet, thanks in part to the GX's standard active noise-canceling system.

　　Seat comfort leaves a lot to be desired, however. The seats themselves are narrow, and the headrest is set at a slightly aggressive angle, so you are forced into a very upright driving position. That said, we do like that the front passenger seat offers an eight-way adjustment; most passenger seats in this class do not offer height, seat bottom tilt or lumbar adjustment.

　　The back seat is no penalty box either. Though the seat bottom is flat and there are no back angle adjustments, the standard position is pleasant enough. The only downside is a noticeable bump where your lower back presses against the seat.

　　

How's the Encore GX's interior?

The cabin is nicely laid out and looks fetching when you pick the optional black-and-beige two-tone color scheme. Controls for the climate system and various safety systems are intuitively laid out. Visibility is good overall, with a wide and clear view out the front thanks to a tall roof and narrow roof pillars. But the rear pillar is rather thick, resulting in a compromised rear three-quarters view.

　　The most notable aspect of the Encore GX's interior is its sense of space. Our test Encore GX did not come equipped with the optional sunroof, but even then our 6-foot-4 driver sat several inches below the roofline. Headroom in the back is almost as roomy. There's good legroom all around as well — two 6-foot-plus passengers won't have a problem sitting in tandem.

　　

How's the Encore GX's tech?

The Encore GX is loaded with standard tech features such as a sizable touchscreen, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration, an in-vehicle Wi-Fi hotspot and several advanced safety features. It offers several features — including a 360-degree parking camera, an automated parking system, and a digital rearview mirror — that are either rare for the segment or exclusive for the Encore GX.

　　Our Essence trim test vehicle came with two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad and a 115-volt, household-style outlet. In short, there's zero chance your devices will run out of juice.

　　

How's the Encore GX's storage?

The Encore GX offers a useful amount of storage inside. The front door pockets will each hold a water bottle plus other goodies. And you can place small items in the front storage bin (where the wireless charging pad is housed), in the cubby aft of the cupholders, or in the narrow but deep under-arm storage. Back-seat space is a little more limited, but the door pockets will hold a water bottle.

　　Cargo space is relatively roomy, and the rear seats fold completely flat. And even if the front seat is pushed back for a tall driver, the rear seats will lower without needing to move the front seat up.

　　

Which Encore GX does zzdcar recommend?

The Encore GX Select should hit the sweet spot for most shoppers. It's equipped with the most desirable safety features and available with appealing upgrades should you have room in the budget. Just make sure to get the optional 1.3-liter engine for its higher power output.

　　

2020 Buick Encore GX models

The 2020 Buick Encore GX is an extra-small crossover SUV offered in three trim levels: Preferred, Select and Essence. Standard on all front-wheel-drive models is a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine (137 horsepower, 162 lb-ft) paired to a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT). Standard on all-wheel-drive models — and optional for front-wheel-drive Select and Essence trims — is a turbocharged 1.3-liter 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.

　　Preferred

　　The base Preferred model comes standard with:

　　Heated mirrors Keyless entry and ignition Height-adjustable driver's seat Cloth/imitation leather combination upholstery

　　Included safety and technology features:

　　8-inch touchscreen Onboard Wi-Fi hotspot Six-speaker audio system Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration Forward collision mitigation (warns you of an impending collision and applies the brakes in certain scenarios) Lane departure mitigation (warns you of a lane departure when a turn signal isn't used and can automatically steer to maintain lane position)

　　Options for the Encore GX Preferred include a sunroof and a power liftgate. You can also add the following packages:

　　Cold Weather Comfort package

　　Remote engine start Power-adjustable driver's seat Heated front seats

　　Safety package

　　Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse) Rear parking sensors (alerts you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)

　　Sport Touring package

　　Sporty exterior body kit Remote engine start Roof rails

　　Select

　　Moving up to the Select trim adds:

　　Cold Weather Comfort package Roof rails Dual-zone automatic climate control Rear armrest Blind-spot monitor (alerts you if a vehicle in the next lane over is in your blind spot) Rear cross-traffic alert (warns you if a vehicle behind you is about to cross your vehicle's path while in reverse)

　　The hands-free liftgate is optional for the Select as well. Other options include:

　　Advanced Technology package

　　Navigation system Head-up display (displays important information in your sight line onto a piece of plastic near the windshield) 360-degree camera (gives you a top-down view of the car for tight parking situations) Adaptive cruise control (adjusts speed to maintain a constant distance between the vehicle and the car in front) Rear parking sensors (alerts you to obstacles that may not be visible behind the vehicle when parking)

　　Experience Buick package

　　Sunroof Navigation High-definition rearview camera

　　Essence

　　The top-trim Essence comes standard with:

　　LED headlights In-cabin air ionizer (helps remove air particulates) Auto-dimming rearview mirror Heated steering wheel Driver-seat memory settings Power passenger seat Leather upholstery

　　As with the other trims, several options are available for the Essence. These include:

　　Advanced Technology package Experience Buick package Hands-free liftgate Convenience package Wireless charging pad Automatic wipers Rearview camera integrated with rearview mirror (allows you to display a live rear camera video feed on the rearview mirror) Automated parking system (steers into a parking spot with no driver intervention) Seven-speaker Bose audio system Sport Touring package

　　

2020 Encore GX Highlights

Trim: PreferredSelectEssencePreferred

　　

Base MSRP	$24,100
Engine Type	Gas
Combined MPG	28 MPG
Cost to Drive	$137/month
Seating	5 seats
Cargo Capacity All Seats In Place	23.5 cu.ft.
Drivetrain	front wheel drive
Warranty	3 years / 36,000 miles