Buick
is getting quite serious about bringing young consumers into its fold,
with two new vehicles in its lineup aimed squarely at people younger
than 30.
First was the Verano compact sedan, and now comes the Encore
subcompact crossover, which is a foot shorter than the Verano, with a
wheelbase that's 5 inches shorter.
While such a small vehicle may seem odd for a brand with a reputation
that for decades centered on comfortable large sedans and wagons, it's
perfectly in line with the brand's goals both at home and abroad. That's
to bring up-and-coming premium-vehicle buyers into the Buick fold,
where presumably they will work their way up to larger and more
expensive Buicks as they age and grow in their careers and incomes.
Prices begin at $24,200 (plus $750 freight and options) for the base
model and go as high as $29,690 for the Premium all-wheel drive. The
entry-model price makes the Encore quite a bargain considering all of
its standard amenities.
Buick offers the Encore with either front-wheel drive, which is
standard, or all-wheel drive, which is a $1,500 premium above the
front-drive prices.
Our tester had front drive, though, so we didn't get to test the
all-wheel drive. It's designed to send power almost 50-50 to the front
and rear on startup, but favor the front wheels in normal driving until
the automatic system detects wheel slippage.
The size of the Encore also allows it to offer the best fuel economy
in the Buick lineup and EPA ratings that are among the best in the
entire crossover realm. With front drive, the estimates are 25 mpg
city/33 highway/28 combined; for all-wheel-drive models, 23/30/26.
During my weeklong test, I averaged about 28.4 mpg, with a
combination of city and highway driving, although it was heavier on the
highway side.
Surprisingly, the Encore doesn't feel small. Tall people — 6 feet or
more — can ride in comfort in the front bucket seats, and they ride
higher than you would imagine in a vehicle that qualifies as a
subcompact, at least on the outside. There is no feel of being in a tiny
vehicle, sitting close to the ground.
In fact, I felt no different in the driver's seat of the Encore than I
did a week earlier while driving the new Honda CR-V, a compact
crossover.
Outside, the Encore looks like a junior-size version of the
seven-passenger Buick Enclave crossover, with similar front-end styling
and overall shape, and the signature Buick grille.
The Encore is the same length as the boxy Scion xB, and about a foot
shorter than the CR-V. But I couldn't help comparing the Encore —
favorably — to such compact crossovers as the Volkswagen Tiguan, which is about 6 inches longer, and the Audi Q5 and Nissan Rogue, both about 18 inches longer.
We were able to put three average-size adults in the rear bench seat for a run out to dinner, with no real complaints.
The outboard passengers said they had plenty of leg- and knee room,
although the middle rider was a bit cramped and suggested that might not
be a good place for a long trip.
A child safety seat would fit there well, however, with two larger kids or even small- to medium-size adults on each side.
The only cup holders in the back, though, were two in a small
pull-down center armrest that eliminates the middle seating position.
Small door pockets were not wide enough to serve as bottle holders
either in front or back.
Up front, the center console area provides two small cup holders and a
lidded compartment for gadgets. In front of the shifter is a slanted
cubby suitable for a couple of portable devices, and there is a USB port
right next to a 12-volt power outlet in front of the storage spot.
There is 18.8 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat,
accessed through a rear hatch that flips up in one piece for easy
loading and unloading. Fold down the rear seatback, though, and the
cargo area expands to a whopping 48.4 cubic feet. You could get a
big-screen TV box back there, if necessary.
Driving the Encore was rather fun, with its turbocharged 1.4-liter,
four-cylinder Ecotec engine, producing 138 horsepower and 148
foot-pounds of torque. While that doesn't sound like a lot, it's almost
perfect for this vehicle's size and weight (less than 3,400 pounds).
The turbo engine, which is connected to a six-speed automatic
transmission, has quick response and plenty of zip — enough that I found
the vehicle capable of exceeding posted speed limits on freeways
without my realizing it. I made judicious use of the cruise control
while on high-speed highways to help avoid a surprise ticket.
Electric power steering was precise and predictable, and the
four-wheel antilock disc brakes made for quick and sure stopping, even
in the occasional near-panic situations that seem to occur with
frequency when traffic gets thick.
Although noisier than larger, more expensive Buick models, the Encore
is relatively quiet inside, aided by Buick's exclusive QuietTuning,
which uses Bose Active Noise Cancellation technology.
Four trim levels are offered: base, Convenience ($25,010, front
drive), Leather ($26,710) and Premium. Add the $1,500 to any of those
for the all-wheel drive.
The base model comes loaded with features such as OnStar, cruise
control, ice-blue ambient interior lighting, premium cloth upholstery
with “leatherette” accents, heated outside mirrors, six-way power
driver's seat with lumbar adjustment, and power windows/door locks with
remote.
Also included are an AM/FM/CD/XM audio system with 7-inch color display/USB port/Bluetooth
connectivity, leather-wrapped steering wheel, color-keyed carpeted
floor mats, rear cargo cover, roof luggage rails, two gloveboxes, a
theft-deterrent system, 18-inch painted cast-aluminum wheels and a
compact spare tire with jack.
The Convenience model adds a self-dimming rearview mirror, remote
start, dual automatic climate control, 120-volt power outlet and fog
lamps.
With the Leather model comes leather seats, heated steering wheel and
front seats, a power passenger seat and a driver memory package with
settings for seat position, outside mirrors and climate control.
At the top, the Premium model has leather and most of the other
features from the lower levels, along with rain-sensing wipers, a
premium Bose seven-speaker audio system, front and rear park assist,
forward-collision alert, lane-departure warning, cargo net and a cargo
mat.
Among available options are 18-inch chromed-aluminum wheels, a sunroof and an oil pan heater.
Standard safety features include 10 air bags, electronic stability
control, rearview camera, cornering brake control with electronic brake
assist, tire-pressure monitoring and a safety-cage body designed to
protect the occupants.
Courtesy of mysanantonio.com.
