![]() The Encore’s chops as a utility vehicle start and end with a good performance in our carry-on luggage test. Cloth seats with six-way power adjustments for the driver are standard, as is a manually adjustable tilting and telescoping steering column. The high seating and comfortable driving position will be appreciated, but larger drivers may find the seat bottom too narrow. Front-seat ergonomics are quite good, with controls that are straightforward and with redundant knobs on the dash for climate controls. But soft-touch sections on the armrests and dash pad provide a more upscale ambience the flush-mounted infotainment touchscreen and jewel-colored background accents help, too. There are some hard plastics in the door panels and lower center console, and the glossy black trim on the center stack of our test car didn’t match the glossy gray panels on the doors. Inside the Encore’s compact body lies an interior that is very nearly premium, save for a few missteps. Under the heading "Find & Compare Cars" click on the "Compare Side-by-Side" tool to find the EPA ratings for the make, model, and year you're interested in. For the latest and most accurate fuel economy numbers on current and older vehicles, we use the U.S. Speaking of comfort, the Encore’s suspension soaks up bumps admirably, and harsh impacts are dutifully dampened.ĮPA fuel economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. Steering is well weighted if not particularly engaging, but it’s accurate and will be agreeable for buyers seeking a comfort-oriented small crossover. Sitting high atop a short wheelbase lends the Encore a tippier feel than lower-set rivals, such as the Mazda CX-3, and as a result the Encore leans more heavily in corners. The Encore’s ride is appropriately supple, its brakes are strong and trusty, and its steering feels nicely weighted and accurate. In our testing, the optional engine motivated it from zero to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds. Our front-drive test car was fitted with the more powerful engine, and it felt peppy around town. The first makes 138 hp, but the optional 153-hp version-which also delivers 20 percent more torque-is the one to buy. Two turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-fours are offered to power the Encore. Front-wheel drive is standard, as is a six-speed automatic transmission all-wheel drive is optional. Performance varies from mild to milder with the Encore’s two available turbocharged four-cylinder engines. ![]() A coppery-gold hue called Coppertino Metallic is also new for 2018. An ionizing interior air cleaner enhances the Encore’s climate-control system, HD radio joins the list of features in the infotainment arena, and last year’s gas cap is ditched in favor of a capless fuel-filling system. What's New for 2018?īuick’s petite SUV kicks off the new year with a handful of changes. With the Encore, you pay more, but you get more. ![]() Instead, it makes a case for itself as an in-betweener by outluxing subcompact crossovers from mainstream makers Nissan, Honda, and Chevrolet. This baby Buick aims high but ultimately falls short of competing with luxury-branded crossovers with similarly diminutive footprints, such as the BMW X1 and the Lexus NX-but then it’s not nearly as expensive as those models, either. High-tech infotainment features abound, and the Encore has room for four adults, as long as each one packs lightly. Its interior is comfortable, well designed, and more premium than most of its rivals, but it never quite reaches full-luxury levels of comfort. Slotting into the Buick SUV lineup beneath the garage-hogging Enclave and the middle-child Envision, the Buick Encore distills the near-luxury ambience of its big brothers into a bite-sized niblet.
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