Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Buick Encore GX Avenir
Specs
Class: Subcompact Crossover
Colour: Ociean Blue
Seating Capability: 5
Miles pushed: 157
Actual-world gas economic system: 27.7 mpg
| CG Report Card | |
|---|---|
| Room and Consolation | B+ |
| Energy and Efficiency | C+ |
| Match and End | A- |
| Gas Financial system | B |
| Worth | B+ |
| Report-card grades are derived from a consensus of test-driver evaluations. All grades are versus different autos in the identical class. Worth grade is for particular trim degree evaluated, and should not mirror Client Information’s impressions of the complete mannequin lineup. | |
| Huge & Tall Consolation | |
| Huge Man | B+ |
| Tall Man | A- |
| Huge & Tall consolation rankings are for entrance seats solely. “Huge” score primarily based on male tester weighing roughly 350 kilos, “Tall” score primarily based on 6’6″-tall male tester. | |
| Drivetrain | |
| Engine Specs | 155-horsepower 1.3-liter |
| Engine Kind | Turbo 3-cylinder |
| Transmission | 9-speed automated |
| Drive Wheels | AWD |
Driving combine: 65% metropolis, 35% freeway
EPA-estimated gas economic system: 26/28/27 (metropolis, freeway, mixed)
Gas kind: Common fuel
Base value: $33,100 (not together with $1295 vacation spot cost)
Choices on take a look at automobile: Avenir Know-how Package deal ($1395), Avenir Comfort Package deal ($1195)
Worth as examined: $37,085
Professionals and Cons
The nice: Snug and refined
The great: Gas environment friendly, upscale really feel
The not so good: Engine coarse at low velocity
Evaluation
Whereas Buick’s compact Envision and midsize Enclave crossovers stay true to the model’s mainstream luxurious mission, a few new fashions are shaking issues up on the backside finish of the lineup. New for the 2024 mannequin 12 months, the subcompact Envista has stunned shoppers, melding sturdy greenback worth with surprisingly uplevel consolation, fashion, and practicality. And, although no bigger, the Encore GX crossover—up to date for 2024–takes issues up a notch, including options and tools to the menu, although at a nonetheless affordable value.
Buick Gross sales
For 2024, the 2 entry-level Buicks mixed for greater than 100,000 gross sales, suggesting that the American shopper is wanting extra for reasonably priced consolation and luxurious, than for energy and sportiness. The Buick model, having fun with a renaissance of types, noticed gross sales enhance practically ten p.c for 2024. An all-new Enclave ought to hold the momentum rolling in 2025.
Envista versus Encore GX
Whereas the Envista is designed to hit a decrease beginning value level, it’s truly the bigger of the 2 small Buicks—although not by a lot. The Envista rides on an extended wheelbase than the Encore, affording a little bit extra rear-seat legroom. Nonetheless, the Encore GX sits larger, and supplies considerably extra rear-seat headroom, and extra cargo house aft of the rear seat. Essentially the most-significant distinction between the 2 fashions comes right down to the powertrain choices. The Envista is obtainable solely with a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine and front-wheel drive, whereas the Encore could be had with a punchier 1.3-liter engine and AWD.
Costs and Trim Ranges
Each are in any other case very a lot Buicks, that includes quiet and fashionable cabins, and impressive-for-the-class journey high quality. And, we’ll say this now, if one in every of these rides is in your test-drive listing, ensure and take a look at the opposite as effectively.
Base costs for the Envista vary from $23,995 to $29,695, and for the Encore GX the run from $27,295 to $34,395.
Trim ranges for each fashions ascend by the entry Most popular, midlevel Sport Touring, and luxury-oriented Avenir.
Having just lately hung out with an Envista, Client Information turned its consideration to the Encore GX. We just lately spent every week behind the wheel of an Ocean Blue Encore GX Avenir with each the Avenir Comfort Package deal and the Avenir Know-how Package deal. Together with vacation spot, our loaded Encore got here to $37,085.
Cabin
Stepping into and out of the Encore GX is straightforward sufficient. Class-typical journey top means sliding into the Buick is simple sufficient, and the big door openings—entrance and rear—simplify the method. And although the Encore cabin is a little bit tighter than that of the Envista, there’s nonetheless loads of 4-adult house, offering front-row occupants don’t alter their seats totally aft.
The sprint/console design is straightforward and trendy, with a single, contiguous panel serving as each the infotainment touchscreen and the instrument panel. Display screen icons are massive and straightforward to determine at a look, and contact inputs are responded to immediately. We’re stunned to discover a basic, old-school, mechanical gear selector in a just lately redesigned automobile, however don’t have any complaints relating to its operation.
Quietness
And, in basic Buick custom, the Encore GX is among the many quietest autos in its dimension class, mainstream or luxurious. Listening to music, or having a dialog, at elevated freeway speeds is not any downside. The engine isn’t particularly quiet, although. Extra on that beneath.
Engines
Buick appears reluctant to determine the engines supplied within the Encore GX as 3-cylinder mills, preferring to make notice of the displacement, as a substitute. In actuality, each out there powerplants serve up ample energy, and even a little bit additional. Entrance-wheel-drive variations of the Most popular trim degree are powered by turbocharged 1.2-liter 3-cylinder engine rated at 137 horsepower. That is the one engine supplied within the Envista. All different Encore variants are fitted a 1.3-liter turbocharged 3-cyinder engine mated to both a CVT-style automated transmission, or a 9-speed auto. Entrance-drive fashions (1.2 or 1.3) include the CVT, AWD fashions the 9-speed.
Energy and Efficiency
Aside from some course noise throughout low-speed acceleration, and a few throb at idle, the 1.3-liter engine does a pleasant job of propelling the Encore round in visitors, and even has a ample reserve of energy for moderately spirited freeway passing and merging exercise.
Journey and Dealing with
The place the Encore actually shines, nevertheless, is in journey high quality. The little Buick is properly remoted from the highway, and isn’t upset by even bigger floor imperfections. Certainly, the Encore GX is among the many greatest driving small crossovers at any value level. Dealing with is respectable, too, although we’d cease simply shy of suggesting that the Encore is actually sporty. Sporty sufficient, maybe.
Worth
We discovered common commuting within the Encore GX Avenir to be a pleasing expertise. The out there 7-speaker Bose-brand audio setup sounds higher than most audio techniques on this class, and the general refinement helps make the each day slog simpler. With AWD and a bigger engine, we didn’t match our take a look at Envista’s thrifty 30+ mpg efficiency, however our noticed 28 mpg nonetheless feels frugal to us.
We’re fairly impressed by each of Buicks little crossovers, and anticipate we’ll quickly see extra of them on the highway. For shoppers wanting extra for consolation than efficiency from a subcompact crossover, Buick’s foray downmarket is sweet information. As we admire the additional energy and foul-weather traction afforded by the Encore GX, we lean barely towards that mannequin. However, once more, ensure and take a look at drive each, there’s rather a lot right here to love.
2025 Buick Encore GX AvenirHearken to the Automotive Stuff Podcast
2025 Buick Encore GX Avenir Photos
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