Textual content by Tom Appel
2025 Buick Encore GX Avenir
Specs
Class: Subcompact Crossover
Coloration: 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 replicate Client Information’s impressions of your entire mannequin lineup. | |
| Large & Tall Consolation | |
| Large Man | B+ |
| Tall Man | A- |
| Large & Tall consolation scores are for entrance seats solely. “Large” 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 sort: Common gasoline
Base worth: $33,100 (not together with $1295 vacation spot cost)
Choices on check automobile: Avenir Expertise Bundle ($1395), Avenir Comfort Bundle ($1195)
Value as examined: $37,085
Execs and Cons
The nice: Comfy and refined
The nice: Gas environment friendly, upscale really feel
The not so good: Engine coarse at low velocity
Evaluate
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 yr, the subcompact Envista has stunned shoppers, melding sturdy greenback worth with surprisingly uplevel consolation, model, 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 worth.
Buick Gross sales
For 2024, the 2 entry-level Buicks mixed for greater than 100,000 gross sales, suggesting that the American client is wanting extra for inexpensive consolation and luxurious, than for energy and sportiness. The Buick model, having fun with a renaissance of types, noticed gross sales enhance practically ten % for 2024. An all-new Enclave ought to maintain the momentum rolling in 2025.
Envista versus Encore GX
Whereas the Envista is designed to hit a decrease beginning worth level, it’s really the bigger of the 2 small Buicks—although not by a lot. The Envista rides on an extended wheelbase than the Encore, affording just a little extra rear-seat legroom. Nevertheless, the Encore GX sits greater, and offers considerably extra rear-seat headroom, and extra cargo area aft of the rear seat. Probably the most-significant distinction between the 2 fashions comes all the way 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 trip high quality. And, we’ll say this now, if one among these rides is in your test-drive checklist, make certain and take a look at the opposite as nicely.
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 means of the entry Most popular, midlevel Sport Touring, and luxury-oriented Avenir.
Having lately hung out with an Envista, Client Information turned its consideration to the Encore GX. We lately spent per week behind the wheel of an Ocean Blue Encore GX Avenir with each the Avenir Comfort Bundle and the Avenir Expertise Bundle. Together with vacation spot, our loaded Encore got here to $37,085.
Cabin
Moving into and out of the Encore GX is straightforward sufficient. Class-typical trip 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 just a little tighter than that of the Envista, there’s nonetheless loads of 4-adult area, offering front-row occupants don’t modify their seats absolutely 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 establish at a look, and contact inputs are responded to immediately. We’re stunned to discover a basic, old-school, mechanical gear selector in a lately redesigned automobile, however haven’t any complaints relating to its operation.
Quietness
And, in basic Buick custom, the Encore GX is among the many quietest autos in its measurement class, mainstream or luxurious. Listening to music, or having a dialog, at elevated freeway speeds isn’t any drawback. The engine isn’t particularly quiet, although. Extra on that under.
Engines
Buick appears reluctant to establish the engines supplied within the Encore GX as 3-cylinder mills, preferring to make be aware of the displacement, as a substitute. In actuality, each accessible powerplants serve up adequate energy, and even just a little 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
Other than 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 adequate reserve of energy for moderately spirited freeway passing and merging exercise.
Journey and Dealing with
The place the Encore actually shines, nevertheless, is in trip high quality. The little Buick is properly remoted from the highway, and is never upset by even bigger floor imperfections. Certainly, the Encore GX is among the many finest driving small crossovers at any worth 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 nice expertise. The accessible 7-speaker Bose-brand audio setup sounds higher than most audio methods 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 check 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 nice information. As we recognize the additional energy and foul-weather traction afforded by the Encore GX, we lean barely towards that mannequin. However, once more, make certain and check drive each, there’s quite a bit right here to love.
2025 Buick Encore GX AvenirHearken to the Automotive Stuff Podcast
2025 Buick Encore GX Avenir Photos
(Click on under for enlarged pictures)