Buick’s Encore GX crossover gets new looks, features for 2024
Entering its fifth year, the fivepassenger Buick Encore GX small crossover gets a makeover for 2024 that includes new exterior and interior styling, along with some new technology.
With the upgrades, the Encore GX becomes the first vehicle in North America to adopt Buick’s new tri-shield logo, as well as the new face of Buick through its revised front-end styling.
Along with the revitalized exterior design and new techcentric interior, the Encore GX for 2024 also is now offered in Buick’s signature high-end Avenir trim level, which Buick calls “a modern, sophisticated and stylish take on the premium small SUV.”
Encore is one of four vehicles in Buick’s all-crossover lineup for 2024. It comes in second on the list above the entry-level Envista, which is new for 2024 and replaces the previous Encore, which was slightly smaller than its Encore GX first-cousin.
Next up the line is the restyled Envision compact, followed by the full-size Enclave three-row crossover.
On the pricing scale, the Envista starts at $22,400 (plus $1,295 freight), followed by the Encore GX at $25,600 (plus $1,295 freight). Envision is next, but it’s not on sale yet and pricing has not been announced. For 2023, though,
the Envision starts at $33,400. The Enclave starts at $44,800, plus $1,395 freight.
Envista, Encore GX and Envision all come with two rows of seating and room for up to five people. The Enclave, which is similar to the Chevrolet Traverse, is the only Buick offered with a third-row seat and room for up to seven.
For 2024, the base Encore GX Preferred front-wheel-drive model comes with a 1.2-liter, three-cylinder turbo engine with 137 horsepower and 162 footpounds of torque.
All of the rest of the Encore GX versions – front- and all-wheeldrive – come only with a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, rated at 155 horsepower and 174 foot-pounds of torque.
There are three GX trim levels offered: the Preferred
model ($25,600 plus the $1,295 freight, front-drive; $27,600, AWD)); midlevel Sport Touring ($28,095, front-drive; $28,400, AWD); and the top-end Avenir ($33,195, front-drive; $33,500, AWD). All-wheel drive is available across the line.
A continuously variable transmission is standard on front-drive models, while allwheel-drive models have a ninespeed 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 previous regular Encore, at 168.4 inches. The GX’S wheelbase is 102.2 inches, compared with 100.6 inches for the discontinued regular Encore.
Encore GX has 94.3 cubic feet of passenger volume,
along with 23.5 cubic feet of space behind the rear seat. That expands to 50.2 cubic feet with the rear seatback folded down.
Our test vehicle was the 2024 Encore GX Sport Touring AWD, with $5,330 in options added to the $28,400 base price.
It came in the Cinnabar Metallic exterior color, which cost $495 extra, and it had the Ebony interior with ebony accents.
Standard features on the Sport Touring model include “leatherette” (faux leather) seats, which were Ebony with Ebony accents.
The Sport Touring trim level also comes with LED headlights, running lights and taillights, heated/power outside mirrors, roof rack side rails, capless fuel filler, 40/60 split-folding rear bench seat, flat-bottom steering wheel, and active noise cancellation.