Buick Encore
"Today's Buicks from the vastly underrated 2013 LaCrosse to the midsize 2013 Regal drive with a sort of relaxed, composed comfort. They'll sail over road imperfections, completely isolating the driver, but do so without the bobbing and buoying we used to associate with big cars. And while it's not a big car per se, the Encore has this same sense of on-road composure."
2013 Buick Encore First Drive
2013 Buick Encore First Drive
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Why does G.M sells the Buick Encore in the U.S. but not the Chevrolet Trax?
Both vehicles are the same except one is a Buick and the other a Chevrolet.
Did you get the cloth or the leather like seats? Just curious what the price points are cause from what I've seen, the mid twenties seem to be the starting point which seems to be a lot. For some reason, I just like the looks of the vehicle and after yesterdays drive of the Verano, I think it could work for either of us and I would not be against buying a domestic really...I just want the best vehicle for the price, one that will last 10 years without too much going wrong as we keep our vehicles now since the prices have gone crazy...flipping every few years is just not our style at all.
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
I'm close to buying an Encore with chrome wheels. My concern is that they may rust sooner than later. I park along the side of the road and the snow plow splashes slush, salt, etc during it's frequent passes. Has anyone with the 2013 model with chrome wheels noticed any rust?
Just keep them clean and you should have no problem.
Pretty quiet here!!!
Been looking at this model but won't buy until the third production year comes into play. If by chance they chance the 15s, I'll look at something else. Not interested in being a guinea pig.
With only 158 miles on the odo it is too early to tell. But the car is responsive, quiet, and handsome. The intellilink system looks complicated but with voice recognition no need to fiddle with the many buttons.
One change I would recommend is to add directional and distance grid lines to the back-up camera. More HP would be nice but not necessary
Almost bought one of these in December so curious about your likes and dislikes. Ended up with the Tuscon and am happy with it but not 100% sure I made the right choice here. Don't get me wrong, it has all the goodies I wanted, and then some but like most folks, there's always that lingering doubt about my choice. Do see more Tuscons on the roads down here in South Florida but the Encore hasn't been out as long. The turbo engine was the big unknown for me and the reason why I didn't get the 2014 cpo'd Escape with 1818 miles on the clock...had read some really bad things about the 1.6 econo boost engine and it was a bit bigger in every dimension with it just fitting on my side of the garage...just fitting! Besides these two issues, I really did like the rig even though it was a Ford!
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
As I said, I won't be a genuea pig. Many times there are many issues that need to be ironed out during the first 1-3 years of a new production model. While this model is a bit of cross breed between different models that have worked fine, I'll still wait until this winter and again, if the 15s are redone, I'll go somewhere else.
After one week of driving our Buick Encore with all wheel drive, saddle leather, navigation and sunroof, here are my overall impressions:
• The Encore appears small in pictures but the interior is very comfortable for four adults. At 6 feet tall and 248 pounds, I have no problem fitting in the driver's and front passenger's seat. I thought I would be compromised in the back seat but there is plenty of head, leg and knee room.
• The sunroof is small and feels like a hole in the roof. A panoramic moon roof would be more desirable.
• I drove the Encore under different road conditions. On the highway, it was silky smooth and quiet, maintaining speeds of 65 mph without the buzzing I would have expected in a 4-cylinder engine. In city driving the Encore actually felt very quick because of its low end torque orientation. At times it felt like a spritely sports sedan rather than a SUV.
• On roads with portholes and imperfections you could feel the jolts and hear the thumps. Compared to my LaCrosse it felt harsh and unrefined. Blame that on its short wheel base of 100 inches and 18-inch tires
.
• Front visibility is quite good but not so for rear visibility. This weakness is mitigated somewhat by the back-up camera. But without directional and distance grid lines the camera is not as not as effective as it should. A major demerit for GM.
• We had a major concern whether the tiny 1.3 liter 138 hp engine could climb steep hills without petering out but the Encore handled those hills (with the AC on full blast to boot) with aplomb.
• Two areas of concern--the steering felt soft and the breaks a little mushy. I did not like the feel of either. They were just too soft for me but my wife thinks they are just right. Since she is the primary driver I have no quarrel with her assessment.
• The gas mileage is very good. After a week's worth of driving (not sure how many miles) the tank is still 1/3 full.
• The technology on this baby Buick is amazing---back-up camera, blind side detection, front and rear parking sensors and Intellilink. The Intellilink looks a little intimidating but all major functions can be activated by voice control. In terms of the weather and traffic navigation, we were not sure whether the signal came from Sirius/XM or from GM's Intellilink. (Does anybody know?)
• One final comment. While the Encore is pricey, its interior refinement is very upscale (especially the saddle leather) and it addresses very well the interests of one of its target demographic, the empty nester.
I would be interested in this model if they made a 100% electric version (Think a Spark EV on steroids) , if GM could make it get 100 to 150 miles on a charge. Pricing wise, they would need to keep it at around 40K . I currently have a Ford Focus Electric and am hooked on the no oil lifestyle and around town performance.
Has anyone experienced a clunking sound from the front end when going over speed bumps or small bumps in the road
Hi Dennis,
Are you experiencing these concerns with a clunking noise with your Encore? We'd be glad to further discuss this with you and assist you in any way we can. You are welcome to send an email to socialmedia@gm.com with your VIN and contact information if our assistance is needed.
Andraya
GM Customer Care
Spoke with a customer who owns one and so far, he likes it...especially the turbo. And that's a major reason why I passed, the turbo so maybe it isn't such a big deal. I did like the interior, typical Buick which to say is very nice but something just held me back to be honest. But if I were going to purchase today, that 0% financing would've been a real pro for me. It did feel a bit cramped inside but on a 5 minute or so test drive, many things that seemed big could really be non issues. That's why renting the vehicles that make the final short list ain't such a bad idea...keep them for a few days and see if they fit into ones lifestyle...wish I had done that or had been working at Hertz when I did buy...my outcome might've been different. I've driven so many different vehicles since mid-January that my short list would've been different now!
The Sandman
2023 Hyundai Kona Limited AWD (wife) / 2015 Golf TSI (me) / 2019 Chevrolet Cruze Premier RS (daughter #1) / 2020 Hyundai Accent SE (daughter #2) / 2023 Subaru Impreza Base (son)
Speaking from experience, perhaps the hood is not properly closed. Try that I am almost sure your problems will be solved.
I found the control screen confusing and not very intuitive.
The lane control feature seems like a good idea but the beeps would be intrusive after a short while.
The Buick drove well and had plenty of power (we tested the AWD but would prefer the FWD). I felt like it had a lag when I pushed the accelerator down. My wife didn't notice that. The salesperson bragged on the six speed transmission and I didn't snark that most new cars have gone to eight, unless they have a CVT.
The sunroof worked well, had a shade, titled and opened. My wife really wants a sunroof, and really wants a panoramic one. They are hard to find here in Las Cruces because most people find them too hot. That was true this morning but more so in the Honda for some reason.
The Encore hatch area seemed a bit small compared to the HR-V but not bad. You couldn't flop down the second row seats easily, and you had to lower the headrests and then flip a lever on the side of the seat. Better would be the ability to lower both from the hatch.
The Edmunds review here remarks on the attractive simulated wood trim. It reminded both of us of the plastiwood in our 97 Outback Limited and we both though it made the cabin look dated. The saddle leather was easy on the eyes.
The backup cam worked well but wasn't quite as slick at the HR-V one (there's a wide angle mode in it that's handy). The OnStar, XM and hotspot stuff sounds nice, but I'm not wild about the subscription model for that stuff. We hotspot only as needed with an iPad Verizon setup and will go months without turning that on. Didn't play with the Nav - the salesperson bragged about it being on a hard disk and said it was easy to update every three or four years. Again, I didn't snark about preferring SSDs, or really my Garmin with free lifetime updates.
The AC worked well in 90°F temp (a major failing in the Honda). The dealer installed roof rack bars were nice but I'd likely pass on them since I sold my last canoe last year.
I felt a bit cramped in the passenger seat and my left leg was resting on the console, a pet peeve of mine. Back at the dealer, I kicked the salesperson out of the backseat and moved the passenger seat back an inch and that fixed that issue nicely.
Another pain point was the lack of a passenger side armrest although camping out on the driver's console armrest is an option.
I'm not an audiophile - this model had the Bose (including the noise cancelling gizmo on the spare) and a USB slot for my MP3s. One consumer review here noted that there's no Homelink. I've seen that comment on a few other new cars and that's too bad. Pretty handy feature, even if the range on the one in my old minivan isn't very good.
Oh, the HR-V had a nice keyless entry with push button start. The Encore is using a blade key fob. Not a plus.
So, I'm kind of trying to find reasons not to like it, but it's high on my wife's list. The dealer had a $1,400 mop and glow package on it and that was literally a hoot when I heard that. But they seem to be an old school dealership so I'm sure they'd wheel and deal. The package is a bit of a bummer even if it's free - since they treat every car they get this way, I bet the poor lot attendants do a halfway job at it and likely are rubbing dirty rags all over the car.
They also extend the drivetrain warranty free, but only if you service the car at their shop. I can just guess the "severe service" requirements and upsells on that one.
Hope to get some seat time in the new CX-3 when they arrive in a few weeks, revisit the CX-5, try an Escape and go full circle back to a Prius V and Soul. I think the Honda will fall somewhere in the middle in tech and high on the quiet, comfy ride.
( @bwia and @suydam , would love to hear your latest comments. It's hard to know if stuff you notice on test drives really matters when you live with one a while and I probably missed a lot of pluses)
The lane drift sensor's beeps get tiring in the city. On the highway, I like them on.
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Didn't notice or play with the traction control stuff.
We've had our '14 Encore FWD for 6 months now and both of us really like it. We tend to reach for the keys to the Encore if we have a choice. Pluses and minuses:
1. Really nice interior. Seats are plush and really comfortable. It's a vehicle you feel good being inside. We have the convenience trim with sunroof. I usually like leather but these leather trimmed cloth seats are really nice. Controls feel solid and well made. The controls seem busy at first but are actually quite simple to operate. Six rows of presets is pretty nice -- 36 in all. We do like Sirius but I don't know if we will keep the Onstar or not. I didn't get the Nav as Google Maps in my iPhone works fine. Minuses: I would prefer push button start and Homelink, but those aren't deal breakers.
2. It is really quiet and the Bose stereo is good. I have never driven a small car with so little road noise. I love the seating position and it is surprisingly roomy for such a small vehicle.
3. It's got just enough power and with the turbo it's completely fine. The plus is the gas mileage which is better than expected -- I am getting 27-28 around town and 35 highway. Transmission is very smooth and brakes are good.
4. Only dogs are in our back seat and so back seat comfort isn't an issue. Again, more room than you think -- we've had a Golden, a Lab, and a Brittany all back there. The cargo area also holds more than you think. We've carried six bags of mulch easy. We also got a power washer in there by just folding the top half of the seats back -- it didn't have to lie flat although they can.
5. Handling is terrific. Never feels tippy, takes curves well, and parking is a breeze. The rear cross traffic alert is wonderful. Visibility is surprisingly good probably because we leave the back headrests folded down.
6. Exterior. Love the look. Looks more SUVish than just a raised hatch. I get a lot of compliments on it. The carbon black metallic is really sharp and doesn't show dirt as much as I thought it would. I even like the Buick accents like the blue ringed lights, the grill, and even the ventiports. They're distinctive and not in a cartoonish way like the Juke. And I've never owned a GM car so I'm not predisposed to them the way I would be towards Honda or Mazda.
7. What would I like to see? Our '14 didn't have backup camera lines and I really miss them. Would like push button start and homelink would be nice. Even better fuel economy. Maybe a controls interface with less buttons. It's a pretty great all around vehicle.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
We have the 2014 saddle-leather trim level with all the goodies except for the 6-speaker Bose stereo--in hindsight a big mistake. Since my wife is the primary driver of the Encore I merely tag along for the compliant and quiet ride.
The vehicle is spacious enough for 4 adults but certainly not five; and I agree with everything that @suydam said. The GPS and infotainment system is very intuitive, at least for me, since I also own a Buick LaCrosse. However, the GPS address entry is cumbersome. We do not use that feature, instead we rely on voice command or Onstar. The voice recognition is great, very infrequently do we have to repeat instructions. Nonetheless, the high resolution 3-D map is first rate. Kudos to Intellilink.
One major and two minor complaints. My wife believes that the liftgate should have an automatic feature. When it is raining it is very inconvenient to manually open the lift gate. Although the Encore looks and feels upscale it lacks push-button start and directional grid lines in the back-up camera. Not a deal breaker but it would have been a nice touch.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
Was interested in the Escape but the "too big" comment is telling. That was part of the issue with the CX-5 and the CR-V. Really would like to go a bit smaller.
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
'24 Chevy Blazer EV 2LT
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