Yes, that’s the name of an old Ford engine with double the cylinder count as the subject of this piece, but it’s still a great name. As for the star of this show, Buick’s upcoming Encore GX is a tweener vehicle imported from the other side of the Pacific to fill a gap between the existing Encore and the larger Envision. It’s a gap not many people took notice of, but it’s one GM is nonetheless choosing to fill in its Buick and Chevrolet lineups.
As splashier products land at the L.A. Auto Show, the automaker has filled in a few information gaps on its first-ever three-pot Buick.
As you’re already aware, two three-cylinder turbo engines find a home in the Encore GX — a base 1.2-liter mated to a continuously variable transmission and front-wheel drive, and a tonier 1.3-liter unit offered with a CVT in front-drive guise and a nine-speed automatic when paired with all-wheel drive.
While the smaller of the two engines is said to boast 137 hp and 166 lb-ft of torque, Buick doesn’t want to talk about that, preferring instead to talk up the 1.3L’s 155 hp and 174 lb-ft. That puts the Encore GX well above its smaller namesake on the power ladder. It also shows that there is a replacement for displacement. The aging Encore’s 1.4-liter four-cylinder generates 138 hp and 148 lb-ft.
While a three-cylinder Buick may not sound thrilling, the brand at least lets you dress it up with a Sport Touring (ST) package (see above photos). Yes, there’s red lines all over this car, joining exclusive wheels and a black mesh grille peppered with red lines of its own. Someone’s been hanging out with Chevy too much.
Size-wise, the Encore GX slots nicely between the Encore and Envision, offering boosted cargo room (25.3 cubic feet behind the rear seat) that’s closer to the larger of the two, and its fuel economy does not suffer for it. In fact, the Encore GX is poised to become the thriftiest Buick in the lineup, if not of all time. GM estimates a combined fuel economy figure of up to 31 mpg, which we assume stems from a FWD, CVT-equipped model with the smaller engine.
Put into context, a FWD Encore 1.4L returns 27 mpg combined. The Envision line, on the other hand, tops out at 25 mpg combined when equipped with base 2.5-liter four-cylinder and FWD. Just to tap into history a bit, the thriftiest Encore GX returns the same mileage in combined driving that a Buick Century diesel returned on the highway 35 years ago.
Regardless of trim, all Encore GXes will boast forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator, and IntelliBeam headlamps with automatically-adjusting high and low beams. Pony up extra if you want things like automatic parking assistant with braking, adaptive cruise, and two safety features this writer feels should be standard kit on all new vehicles: blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.
The Encore GX lands early next year. While GM hasn’t released pricing, others have.
[Images: General Motors]
That’s weird, because they could have used the Super-Thrift name from the Chevrolet 153. Whatever . . .
I vote for “stovebolt.”
1.4 Encore, 27 combined.
2.0 Kona, 30 combined.
Nice work, GM.
Chief Wiggum: That’s good work, boys.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED
Encore is 4 inches taller than the Kona. Longer too. (I’ll let Steph W do his thing and *insert* a double-entendre somewhere in here.)
2.5 Camry, 34 combined
Already pre-ordered.
O_o
Trifecta Tune? One for each cylinder? ;-)
That interior is dreadfully claustrophobic looking judging by that last picture.
The steep windshield rake works on a corvette, on this it’s horrid, granted it’s just the first in a long line of poor engineering for this.
nothing says “entry level luxury” like a 3-pot with a CVT.
This may have replaced the beige camry solara as the car in my driveway in hell.
GM seems hellbent on making sure that I never darken their dealership’s doorstep again.
I’ll stick to Mazda. I’d be curious if the super stressed rattle can can even return the mileage quoted.
As it is the EPA estimate is all of 4 mpg off the CX-5
The red line trend is the by far the worst design trend of the moment, and maybe ever. This gives the Forester Sport and Fit Sport a run for their money as the worst example of it
CUVs which are taller than they are long, and have the driving dynamics to prove it, are a good fit for the share of the too-old-and-stiff-to-get-in-and-out-of-a-sedan demographic which has downsized their accommodation by moving into a appartment/condo in a denser neighborhood. These things are basically American sized Smart cars.
Who cares what’s under the hood of this thing. Certainly not anyone who would buy one. Just the fact they’d even consider it proves they’re truly clueless when it comes to automobiles.
Exactly. Truly clueless, and there’s no shortage of ’em out there.
GM couldn’t figure out how to get the Bolt’s powertrain in this, huh? Nor the Volt’s?
A Boltified CUV is coming, but from Chevy, not Buick.
They can call it the ReVolt.
Nice!
Here’s a link to it. The Chevrolet Menlo. According to this report, it’s China only. I’d take a Mach-E over this any day.
https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1125946_gm-reveals-the-chevy-menlo-electric-car-to-china
Menlo? Like Menlo Park, NJ of the Thomas Edison fame? Yeah, your typical Chinese electric vehicle buyer will get that for sure. /s
Looks bad with the color-matched lower cladding and wheel arches.
I wondering how salesmen will greet the customers?
“This model has 3 cylinder turbocharged engine”.
Or, saying nothing about the engine?
“It’s really reliable and gets good mileage”. Reply to “three cylinders ?” is “less spark plugs to buy when you tune it up”.
I predict that 102% of the buyers for the three cylinder Encore will be women.
Nah, at least 109%.
I am not going to judge until I see and drive this but it might not be as bad with a 3 cylinder as many make it out to be. Not crazy about the CVT but again it might not be as bad as the Nissan. Maybe after this is out for a few years it might make a decent buy for the base model. One of the dealerships in Cincinnati had base 2019 Encores for 16,995 which is not bad at that price would make a good commuter and errand vehicle.
Other side of the Pacific… perhaps from a certain republic ostensibly belonging to the people?
Safe money is on S. Korea just like the current one.
Could be very right.
A 3cyl Buick made in Korea. My father is rolling over as we speak!
This is why they had to get rid of the ventiports.
3-Cylinder Clown Car.
The new Buick.
Designed for 3rd world.
This is not the first nor is it the last 3 cylinder vehicle and it is far from being 3rd World. The Yugo, Trabant and the Tata Nano are what comes to mind when talking about 3rd World vehicles. Not my first choice for a drivetrain but I have seen much worse. As for ventiports Buick has had other cars in the past without them (1959 Buick). Buick is making vehicles that will sell which are crossovers and at the same time this vehicle complies with the future EPA standards and is lower cost to manufacture. I prefer the Lacrosse but that didn’t sell. We will be seeing more turbo 3s and 4s in all brands until eventually they will be replaced by EVs.