General Motors has unveiled its refreshed 2017 Buick Encore, but you’ll have to muscle your way through a mob of leering frat boys in order to catch a peek.
Wait, that might misrepresent the Encore’s market just a little…
The smallest crossover in the GM fold gets a subtle makeover for 2017, trading its previous Buick waterfall front end for the new, corporate “winged” grille that adorns the restyled LaCrosse.
Like the Chevrolet Sonic (whose Gamma II platform underpins the Encore), this new Buick benefits from subtle trim enhancements and improved connectivity, but unlike the Sonic, the Buick receives a boost in power.
Buick says most trim levels will come with GM’s upgraded direct-injection 1.4-liter four cylinder, which makes 153 horsepower and 177 pounds-feet of torque — a significant improvement over the previous engine’s 138 hp and 148 lb-ft. Start/stop technology is offered on the higher output engine.
Buick hasn’t announced the new engine’s fuel economy numbers, but the EPA lists the same engine, minus stop/start technology, as making a combined 30 miles per gallon in the front-wheel drive 2016 Encore (28 mpg city/34 mpg highway).
Inside the Encore, a redesigned gauge cluster, center stack and touchscreen keeps things current, while the vehicle’s upgraded connectivity will now support Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Standard OnStar 4G LTE with a Wi-Fi hotspot should cause passengers to forget painful childhood memories of boring, 10-under-the-speed-limit drives in their granddad’s LeSabre.
Given that it’s an uplevel brand, the Buick Encore offers more standard technology geared towards safety and comfort than its Chevrolet cousin, the Trax. Five trim levels, including a leather edition, should ensure the gap remains when the Encore goes on sale this fall.
[Image: General Motors Corporation]
“a mob of leering frat boys in order to catch a peek.”
Are fratboys with a Gilf fetish really a big enough thing to be a stereotype?
It’s funny that GM claimed they wanted to shake Buick’s “vehicle for seniors” image and then decided to sell the Encore, Cascada, and Verano. They just went from building cars for old men to building cars for old women.
The entire current lineup is about as youthful as Medicare planning while sucking on a horehound candy.
Exactly.
This is true. I don’t exactly see anyone in my age group (early 20s) going gaga over a Cascada when they could buy a Mustang or Camaro convertible for the same money.
But it is a good answer to the departed 200 convertible and the I-can’t-believe-they-still-make-it Eos.
And yet, old women have money. My mother bought (in cash) a new 2012 Verano (she was almost 70 when she bought it). Not sure why Buick would want to shake that image, as those are the ones paying the bills.
” old women have money.” Excellent observation.
Also applies to a huge segment of senior citizens in America who live under the radar with their understated lifestyle.
Read the book, “The Millionaire Next Door.”
Old book. But it looks like a lot of old people today read that book decades ago and took it to heart.
threeer is right. That’s where the money is. Those are ones paying the bills.
The Greatest Generation buying Government Motors vehicles cobbled together with 40% to 80% foreign parts content, including much from China (whole engines and transmissions), and even on the cusp of seeing 100% Chinese assembled and Chinese parts-fabricated Buicks & Cadillacs invading U.S. shores.
‘Murica – where Hecho En Mexico Chevy Silverados roam country roads with that American Flag in the back window! Love it or leave it, partner!!
“Greatest Generation buying Government Motors vehicles ”
For many of that generation it was Detroit iron that they grew up with.
For my dad, the ultimate car was to own a Cadillac before he died.
But for me, my 2016 Tundra CrewMax 5.7 SR5 TRD 4×4 has made MY dreams come true, 18″ Michelins, skid plates and all.
Different strokes for different folks.
I’ll admit it too, my Mom just picked a Lacrosse and got a better deal than I could find anywhere. She liked a cuv/suv but they cost more and got poor fuel economy.
I can’t reply directly to DW’s comment, but I tend to agree (partially) with him that it’s a sad fate regarding the foreign content (and soon to be direct-build) of some of GM’s product. I directed my mother to the Verano because it rated something like 80% domestic content by Kogod. That’s also one of the biggest reasons I wouldn’t let my wife go near a new Encore…the Korean/Chinese content was something like 70/20 (I don’t recall the exact numbers).
For anyonenagreeing with me, gird yourself for attacks from those who are convinced that I’m simply cynical, short-sighted, and need to just get down with the New World Order of Americans are no better than anyone else, therefore their leaders shouldn’t even try to protect, let alone elevate their American Constituents economic interests, and we should all prepare our children for direct competition from $1 USD per hour Cambodians.
DW, we already know that Mercedes, BMW, and Lexus have come down to the $30K’ish level that GM had Cadillac and now includes Buick., that combining the pair have ~50,000 more units last year in the luxury/near-luxury segment.
With the platform sharing GM is making money, hand over fist
I just like that GM is still using the “It’s not your father’s Oldsmobile” riff in the new Buick commercials. One girl says “My grandpa had a Buick” and when the hot guy gets out of the Encore (as it that would ever happen) her friend says “That’s not your grandpa.”
30 years later, same basic pitch.
I’ve seen that Buick commercial but I have never seen any “young people” driving an Encore, or any other Buick for that matter.
Those slogans and visual settings (scenes) remind of the ads for those Caribbean all-in resorts with all those young people partying showing off their tight buns and wrinkle-free skin. Delightful!
Then when you get there, it’s all old people, all wrinkly and nasty looking.
Makes you want to get out an iron and ironing board and iron the wrinkles out of their skin.
Disgusting!
You know what – if you are really fortunate you may live long enough to get a few wrinkles yourself. Time and gravity do not pass anyone by. In the end one learns to live with both factors, and to do it with a certain amount of grace. And maybe, not to be so judgmental of other people based upon their appearance.
JimmyJimmy, DUDE!
NEXT MONTH I TURN 70 YEARS OLD. AND I’M ALL WRINKLY AND NASTY.
And no less disgusting.
This was all about the lying that goes on in advertising and how far removed it is from the real-world truth.
I’m young, 28, and periodically drive a Buick, but it’s old. I have 2003 Century that is primarily available for mom to drive, but I take it once in awhile to keep it limber. It has the typical body rot along the rockers, but it’s decent enough.
For awhile in my teens I had a 91 LeSabre. It was probably my favorite of my hoopties.
tankinbeans, as long as you can keep that car running and functioning, it can serve as another mode of transportation.
And it has to be cheaper than making payments on another new or used car.
I see this as the motivation that many people have who choose to keep their older cars around, perhaps even until they have too many.
Such was the case when I bought that 1989 Camry V6 from my best friend.
He simply had too many old cars he had kept in running condition while buying brand new cars (2012 Grand Cherokee, 2015 Avalon) to upgrade his stable of cars.
And he still holds on to his 1993 S10 ExtCab 4.3 Tahoe. But he told me that is because he has so much money sunk into it to keep it running that he can’t afford to let it go.
Pitching a chitbox Lumina as “not your father’s Oldsmobile” was boneheaded as only GM in the 80s could be. If your father was any kind of car guy he probably had either had or wanted an Oldsmobile and it had a Rocket V8 in it.
Running away from Buick in 2016 at least makes sense in that by now nobody remembers Buicks that weren’t punchlines.
C&D said the Chevy was better than the Buick, but both are just about worst in class.
Didn’t GM invent this particular idea of the micro-cute-ute-near-premium-empty-nester-step-up-car-wagon? I thought the Encore was pretty unique in the US market at least at the time.
Outsells the HR-V with it’s poor North American reception.
As the guy above said, the Encore and Verano are for old ladies.
…that’s right the Verano doubles the Acura ILX sales.
Not quite double, but probably about 80% more just from looking.
2015 USDM 31,886 / Canadian 6360 = 38246
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/buick-verano-sales-figures.html
2015 USDM 18,531 / Canadian 2551 = 21082
http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/12/acura-ilx-sales-figures.html
GM also apparently has about 1,900 BPG dealers vs about 300 Acura shops.
“Buick and GMC customers nationwide are discovering how a more welcoming dealership atmosphere enhances the experience of buying a new car or servicing a vehicle. More than 1,900 dealers, many in major markets, are showing the way.”
http://media.buick.com/media/us/en/buick/
news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2012/Jan/0130_buickgmc.html
And how many sales of the Verano were to rental fleets, and the Encore for that matter?
@sc5door
Buick fleet sales is only 13%
28, add it up since 2012 when they were both introduced and ILX was never a contender with led updates and allot of competition like CLA and A3.
The ILX never sold particularly well since is was a Civic with new front end and trunk sheet metal but identical Civic doors (and the same Civic powertrain). The current generation’s sales should be interesting since they changed it up a little.
The Buick also had the benefit of 1900 dealers and going on sale a full model year earlier. Between the two, I prefer Verano vs gen 1 ILX and so did most buyers not named Dave in Calgary.
Buick Verano has also won every major comparison test against the Acura ILX. Motor Trend even compared them twice, once with performance engine and another with base engine.
@ 28-Cars-Later – Not that it disproves your overall point, but the ILX actually has had unique drivetrains vs the Civic. Pre-facelift, the ILX’s basic engine was a 2.0, which gave it a slight bump in torque over the Civic’s 1.8. Post-facelift, its basic powertrain is a 2.4 with an 8-speed DCT as opposed to the Civic’s 1.5T/CVT commbo.
@Featherston
You are correct but worth noting the ILX/auto gen 1 does share a motor with CR-V, and both ILX gen 1 and Civic Si did share the 2.4 in manual at the time. In the gen 2 I believe the 2.4 is still shared with Civic Si but I’m not sure as Si may have changed.
@Norm
Did MT test the second generation ILX or just the first? Honda seems to have addressed some of the ILX’s issues in the second generation.
28, in June 2015 the ILX A-spec was tested again by MT to be almost a half of a second slower to 60 mph and worst fuel economy than EPA suggests.
Every thing said about the Verano vs ILX is true, but the reliability of the Acura product is much better. That has to be worth something, actually a lot in my book.
@Fred
I would take a period Verano over a period ILX when it first came out, but now I think the Buick’s main merit is pricing since Acura “fixed” the ILX.
@Norm
Those are fair points but as a buyer I know EPA fuel economy is a guide and not law, while half a second on 0-60 is m’eh to me.
C&D also said the Honda HR-V was ranked just ahead of the Chevy/Buick. Behind the Fiat 500whatever, Jeep Renegade, Kia Soul, Juke and the class-leading Mazda CX3.
They also said of the newly revised ILX A-Spec, “We’ll wait for the B-spec, thanks…entry level luxury is more university than junior high”
Are you sure this was the right article for you to be throwing stones?
So C&D ad spend and wine and dine budget in that issue from least to most…
Buick
Honda
FCA (gee the 2 FCA products came in order of each other, shocked I tell you)
Kia
Nissan
And the biggest ad spend…Mazda
C&D reviews have about as much value as toilet paper.
I mean who in God’s name even buys a Juke, and Fiat can’t give away the 500.
“C&D reviews have about as much value as toilet paper”
I agree APaGttH, but since a certain commenter here loves to quote C&D rankings whenever it suits him (yay Honda! Boo everyone else!), I thought a counterpoint using this source was appropriate.
And apparently Honda doesn’t spend nearly as much for the HR-V as they have giving the Accord a guaranteed reserved seat on the 10 best.
Chrysler called, they want their corporate logo back.
They said GM can keep the cheap plastics in the interior, though. FCA has plenty of that on hand already.
Meanwhile, I’m pleased to see a return to the colored tri-shield, which up to now was used only for Buick of China.
Well, given that the Encore is something like 19-20% Chinese content, that really should be no surprise!
I was thinking more Opel.
I never thought the Encore was particularly good-looking, but this front fascia is much improved…I must say.
Individual items may look good, but the overall shape and size of this thing stikes me as off balance. Too short, too tall, too narrow I don’t know what but it just don’t look right.
Yes, it—like the rest of its Gamma-II siblings—is quite narrow. My mom was going to buy a new one in 2013 to replace her 2005 Murano (with which there was nothing wrong; she just wanted something new). I went with her to the Buick / GMC dealership. Shoulder room was decidedly at a premium. I’m of fairly slight build, and even I said “no”.
As far as the shape, I agree. In particular, I hate that crease in the C-pillar. I mean, I see what they were trying to do, but it looks like an unintentional dent from certain angles.
Buick sales are up across the board, so they are doing something right, and the Encore seems to be catching on. 68000 were sold last year, and Buick is outselling Audi, Infiniti, Lincoln, etc.
Buick rules this segment and other near-luxury segments.
Trifecta tuned Buick CUVs (preferably with magnaflow exhaust & massive Brembos) are all the rage among the Blue Hairs.
I’m sure they are. And I do like some of their other cars. But the Encore is ugly.
Huge improvement over the waterfall. Shame about what is behind the grill though.
It appears that the Ventiports have vanished from the hood too. It’s a bit more bland, but a much more cohesive design. Inside looks much improved too. The outside is much less Buick Rendezvous Jr now and I think the Buick wears this new design better than the Chevy Sonic does. I thought the old Sonic was distinctive looking with the quad lights, now it’s rather bland.
If they would have offered the Sonic for the “less than your cell phone plan” lease on the Sonic, there’d be one in my driveway instead of the Cruze Limited I have. But the salesman said the Sonic never leases like the Cruze does.
God, I wish this were made by Honda or Toyota. I adore it.
But I prefer the waterfall front; it’s clean, simple and distinctive.
Honda does make a similar model, I’m surprised you’re not in one.
The HR-V is a stone disappointment to me. It’s only 2″ taller than my wife’s Fit with microscopically more ground clearance but less cargo capacity because of roof-plummet past the B-pillar and rearward visibility is atrocious.
It’s People’s Exhibit A of how CAFE will ruin CUVs in another few model generations. In that way, it’s a predictor and an industry leader.
The only good thing about the one I tested was the Misty Pearl Green paint job which I love.
I am continually impressed by the ingenuity of
Americans in finding new ways to blame CAFE for all their problems.
Scrunch-cars are vox populi?
That’s a shame as I know you are a general fan of Honda and the segment.
One would think Honda would just copy the successful CR-V to miniaturize it.
I like the old grille a little more, but actual color on the trishield makes up for this one.
Are the knobs still cheap feeling though?