CROSSOVER SLOTS BETWEEN PREMIUM AND MAINSTREAM
Cute ute is getting long in the tooth but can still hold its own against the competition
Argue all you want about whether Buick is a luxury brand or not — or even a premium brand — it deserves credit for getting ahead of the subcompact crossover curve when it introduced the Encore for the 2013 model year. If you believe it is a luxury brand, then the somewhat oddly proportioned, jelly bean-shaped Encore handily outsells BMW’s X1 and X2, Audi Q3 and others. If you don’t, then it’s still competitive in the more mainstream segment, the one where crossovers such as Nissan’s Qashqai, Subaru Crosstrek and Mazda CX-3 are the prime movers.
It was very much a crapshoot for Buick when it was recovering some of its former status in the marketplace. Would a fresh audience of buyers, looking for fuel-efficient, sportier-looking, all-wheel-drive transportation take a shine to this diminutive sport cute? And make no mistake, the Encore (as well as the lower-priced Chevy Trax, its corporate sibling) is small. At 4,277 millimetres in length with a truncated 2,555-mm wheelbase, the Encore is by far the smallest vehicle in Buick’s portfolio. Yes, General Motors does describe the vehicle as a five-seater. Realistically, however, three in the rear seat is valid only if those occupying them are of average height and, more importantly, supermodel thin.
Not that the baby Buick won’t cut it as a highway cruiser or a family vehicle, but its compacted dimensions and tight turning circle make it particularly suited for in-city use, particularly slipping into small parking spaces.
Powering the South Koreanbuilt Encore is GM’s go-to engine for many of its compact vehicles (notably the Chevy Cruze and Sonic) is the Ecotec 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder, bolted to a six-speed automatic transmission. In basic form, it puts out 138 horsepower and 148 poundfeet of torque starting at 1,850 rpm. The engine’s wide maximum torque ensures the crossover has enough beans for aroundtown driving. Foot-to-the-floor acceleration is a different matter entirely. With all-wheel-drive versions tipping the scale at 1,523 kilograms, the crossover takes a leisurely approach to hitting 100 kilometres an hour.
But, starting with the 2016 model year, GM added a more potent version of the turbo 1.4-L engine to the lineup (a $1,030 option), one with direct injection. With 153 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, the Encore can run with larger-sized dogs; it’s about 1.5 seconds quicker to 100 km/ h than with the base engine. Considering the Encore’s intended audience, the zippier engine seems quieter at harder acceleration and higher revs than the base 1.4 L, and commendably quiet at a steady cruising speed, thanks in large part to Buick’s QuietTuning, a process designed to block or absorb sound and dampen or eliminate vibrations. The key is Bose Active Noise Cancellation, which uses ceilingmounted microphones to detect audible engine noise, the frequencies of which are processed by a computer that directs counteracting sound waves through the audio system’s speakers.
Considering the Encore’s short wheelbase, a choppy (or choppier compared with other Buicks) ride might be expected. The suspension, consisting of MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam design at the rear, does a pretty fair job of isolating the worst tarmac nasties from the passengers.
There is very little new about the Encore for the 2018 model year; this after a fairly comprehensive makeover in 2017 that saw a thorough redesign of the crossover’s front end (new grille, fenders, etc.) as well as an updated interior with a revised cockpit-style design. The instrument panel was redesigned with push-button start, a new gauge cluster and 4.2-inch colour driver information centre, plus a centre stack made intuitive for IntelliLink use and a frameless, eight-inch colour touch screen. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity is also available.
There are plenty of storage areas, including eight drink holders, four bins in the dash, pockets in the seatbacks and bins under the rear load floor around the spare tire. Opening the rear liftgate reveals 532 L (18.8 cubic feet) of storage behind the splitfolding rear seat and 1,371 L (48.4 cu. ft.) with the rear seats flipped and folded. The front passenger seat also folds flat to extend the cargo length and accommodate items up to eight feet long.
Six years ago, I could fearlessly state that I loved the Encore interior design, especially the cocoa and saddle two-tone combination — coincidentally also the colour scheme of this current tester — which looked as rich as anything I had seen at the time in a then-$35,000 crossover. It still looks pretty good, but there is also a fair amount of plastic throughout, which is more acceptable at the base price of $26,000 (for the front-wheeldrive model), less acceptable at the topline Premium AWD tester’s $38,620 sticker. If you can do without such handy parking and safety features as lanedeparture warning, forwardcollision alert and front- and rear-park assist, one of the three lesser trim levels might make more sense.
What’s the bottom line here? Yes, the Encore is a mature model in an increasingly crowded segment, and, except for some minor content alterations, will remain unchanged for the 2019 model year. Still, Buick has managed to keep the crossover reasonably competitive and its strength lies with being able to comfortably slot between the pricier European models and the mainstream, primarily Asian rivals.