Buick’s Encore GX crossover gives consumers another compact choice
Now in its third year, the five-passenger Buick Encore GX is a small crossover that fits in the lineup just above its slightly smaller Encore sibling and just below the larger Envision model.
For 2022, the Encore GX comes only with a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, rated at 155 horsepower and 174 foot-pounds of torque.
Gone is last year’s base 1.2-liter turbo three-cylinder engine, which was available only on frontwheel-drive models. While that 137-horsepower engine still shows up on the Buick consumer website, dealers say they can no longer order cars with it.
There are three GX trim levels offered: the base Preferred model ($25,995 plus $1,195 freight); midlevel Select ($27,340); and the top-end Essence ($30,120). Those prices are for front-wheel drive models, but all-wheel drive is available across the line.
A continuously variable transmission is standard on front-drive models, while all-wheel drive models have a nine-speed automatic transmission with a disable switch to choose AWD for more traction or FWD for better fuel economy.
The Encore GX, at 171.4 inches, is three inches longer than the regular Encore, at 168.4 inches. The GX’S wheelbase is 102.2 inches, compared with 100.6 inches for the Encore.
The extra length gives the GX
slightly more passenger volume, at 94.3 cubic feet, compared with 92.8 cubic feet for the Encore.
GX cargo space is more generous as well, with 23.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat, compared with 18.8 for the Encore. That expands to 50.2 cubic feet in the GX with the rear seatback folded down, while the regular Encore maxes out at 48.4 cubic feet.
Our test vehicle was the 2022 Encore GX Essence all-wheel drive, with $4,270 in options added to the $30,600 base price.
It came in the Ebony Twilight Metallic exterior color, which cost $495 extra.
Standard features on the Essence model include leather seats, which were a beautiful twotone color, which looked to me to be dark brown with camel-color inserts. Buick called my tester’s
interior “Signet/ebony.”
The Essence also comes with LED headlights and taillights, a heated/leather-wrapped steering wheel, wireless Apple Carplay and Android Auto connectivity, satellite radio, an air ionizer, and a 120-volt power outlet at the rear of the center console.
The Buick Driver Confidence package also comes with the Essence model, bringing Automatic Emergency Braking, Front Pedestrian Braking, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, Following Distance Indicator, and the Intellibeam automatic high-beam assist.
Included on our car was the six-speaker Buick Infotainment System with eight-inch diagonal color touch screen, Bluetooth streaming audio for music and select phones, USB ports that
allow pairing of two phones simultaneously.
Our vehicle’s optional Advanced Technology Package ($1,790) added navigation, HD Surround Vision camera system, a head-up display, adaptive cruise control, and a memory-card receptacle.
The Encore comes with Onstar with 4G LTE connectivity and a built-in Wi-fi hotspot. That gives everyone in the vehicle access to the Internet while the vehicle is in range of cell towers. GM says the hotspot is on whenever the car is running, and it includes a free three-month trial subscription.
A noise-control system with active noise cancellation helped keep our GX quiet at highway speeds.
Outside, our Encore GX came with the Sport Touring Package ($695), which brought 18-inch machined aluminum wheels with