AFFORDABLE BUICK ENCORE IS A COMFY, LUXURIOUS RIDE
In the market for an affordable subcompact two-row, five-seater SUV with hints of luxury? Then you would be remiss to ignore the Buick Encore GX Sport Touring, which has undergone a front design overhaul for 2024.
Based on a body-on-frame, the Encore has plentiful power to propel the 3,079-pound plus vehicle. The ride is solidly built for rapid acceleration from any speed, generous passing ability and precise balance/handling. And who can forget Buick’s legendary QuietTuning, which insulates occupants from road and wind noise?
Under the hood resides a sole 1.3-liter inline-3 turbocharged engine that develops 155 horsepower @ 5600 rpm and churns out 174 pounds-feet of torque @ 1600 rpm. Power is routed through a smooth but somewhat noisy continuous variable transmission. Available as a front-wheel or all-wheel drive, suspension is driven by an able MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear. The electric power rack-and-pinion steering is quick, accurate and direct.
A first for a Buick vehicle, the revamped Encore front shows off a new and centered tri-shield emblem with an updated gloss-black mesh grille and polished black and silver accents. It is surrounded by winged LED headlamps and daytime running lights. This being a Buick, and the smallest one of the family, you are assured of a luxurious and generous cabin. A curved panel made up of an 11-inch infotainment display and an 8-inch driver cluster screen sits atop the dashboard and behind the steering wheel. The flat-bottomed steering wheel makes it effortless to turn the SUV at tight turns and corners. With the rear 60/40 seat folded, you get a notable 94.3 cubic feet of space. Go for the $1,295 comfort package, which will fetch you eight-way power driver and front-passenger fold-flat seats, heated steering wheel, remote vehicle start and a rear center armrest. Other standard goodies include synthetic/leather upholstery, wireless Android Auto/Apple CarPlay and a six-speaker audio system.
Duel front and side airbags, side curtain airbag, stability and traction controls, auto emergency and four-wheel antilock brakes, rearview camera, forward-collision, rear-cross traffic and blind-zone alerts, lane keep/departure warning, keyless entry and tire pressure monitoring system come at no extra cost.
The competition is stiff in the premium small SUV segment but the sporty and lavish Encore delivers a powerful performance, generous cargo/passenger room, and worthy fuel mileage. Besides, how many crossovers can you purchase for an inexpensive $26,800 in the era of swelled vehicle prices?
Nitish S. Rele operates motoringtampabay.com and Khaas Baat, and was an automotive editor/columnist for the Tampa Tribune. Email him at motoringtampabay@gmail.com.