One interesting new feature for 2022 is the addition of an electric heater and defroster. The console houses a traditional shift lever, some cupholders, and a small bin. The instrument cluster is topped with a curved hood that artfully swoops across the infotainment screen. But again, the knobs and controls are well-labeled and intuitive. The climate-control system is set lower in the center stack, making it a bit less convenient. The Encore’s infotainment screen is placed high in the middle of the dashboard, and immediately below it are well-marked controls, including a center-mounted knob for audio volume. Buick QuietTuning uses triple door seals and acoustic laminated glass in the windshield to help reduce and absorb unwanted noise. Though the interior isn’t large, it is certainly comfortable and much quieter than the typical vehicle of its size. But we think they accomplished their goal. While some small crossovers are buzzy and vibration-filled, the Buick Encore goes out of its way to provide a quiet, serene experience.īuick designers had a difficult challenge with the Encore because they had to bring the brand’s conservative elegance to a very small vehicle. Its all-wheel-drive is meant to combat snow and ice on paved roads, not to rock-crawl in the wilderness. Many SUVs make at least vague promises of off-road driving adventures, but the Encore seems solidly rooted in urban or suburban settings. It is also easy to get in and out of, another crossover SUV attribute. At the same time, the Encore gives its driver a somewhat elevated driving position. From behind the wheel, you often feel like you’re piloting a subcompact car. That endows it with car-like ride and handling. While it is marketed as an SUV, the Encore uses unibody construction like virtually all contemporary cars. That’s the result of a more elaborate interior and additional sound-deadening materials. Partly because it is, after all, a Buick, the Encore is a bit heavier than many similarly sized vehicles. Photo by Ron Sessions Driving Impressions The base Encore uses front drive, and for those in northern or mountain climates, all-wheel-drive is available. For one thing the engine doesn’t always seem to be straining. The 155-horsepower number might not seems like much but in the small Encore chassis it makes a serious difference in drivability. The engine delivers its torque through a now-rare six-speed automatic transmission. In comparison to the previous engine, horsepower is up 12%, and torque is up 20%. Instead of an anemic 138-horsepower engine, the 2022 Encore features a dual-overhead-cam direct-injection turbocharged engine that generates 155 horsepower and 177 lb-ft of peak torque. The headline change for the 2022 model year is the substitution of a new, more powerful drivetrain. The Buick Encore chassis is tried-and-true, serving as the underpinnings for vehicles sold in several markets around the world. Here is our 2022 Buick Encore Road Test & Review. While the Encore doesn’t offer the luxury of its larger Buick-branded siblings, it still manages to differentiate itself from the Chevy Trax and other non-premium brand offerings. At just over 168 inches, the Encore is three inches shorter than the Buick Encore GX and about the same length as the mainstream-brand Ford EcoSport. The Encore is a member of a premium brand, but with the exception of the MINI Countryman, there are virtually no premium or luxury brand vehicles that share its diminutive length. One way to view the two Encores is this: The Encore is very similar mechanically to the Chevrolet Trax, while the Encore GX has very strong similarities to the larger Chevrolet Trailblazer. Against many experts’ expectations, it became one of Buick’s best-selling vehicles and eventually spawned a slightly larger step-sibling, the Buick Encore GX, to the confusion of some buyers. The Buick Encore is the SUV that led the luxury-brand charge into the subcompact crossover segment.
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