Buick Encore Vs Buick Encore GX – the king is dead, long live the king!
The Buick Encore was one of the best small crossovers on the market for years on end. And that’s a difficult feat to pull of considering just how competitive the segment is. But in 2020, it started to look its age and Buick decided to introduce its predecessor in the form of the Encore GX.
Because the Encore is still such a solid car and enjoys a great following, instead of getting scraped and replaced, it lives on side by side with the newer model, the GX.
The name is a bit confusing as you’d be tempted to think the GX is just another Encore trim, when in fact, it’s a completely different vehicle. Let’s see why and how they compare.
Exterior design
Looking at the two crossovers side by side, it’s very easy to tell the difference. The Encore is still dashing and sports that adorable-chic look but it’s obvious that the Encore GX is the newer model. It has clean, sharp lines, much more suited for 2020 and beyond than its namesake. It frankly looks like a grown-up version of the Encore and we can’t imagine many buyers would be attracted to the old crossover over the new.
Interior roominess and quality
Inside, future owners will feel the small differences in size as the GX is 2,7 inches bigger at 171.1 inches total bumper to bumper, 1,3 inches wider at 102.2 wheelbase, and 1.8 inches higher at 64.1 inches total.
Slim margins but they add up to give an extra 4.5 cubic feet of cargo room behind the second row with the GX offering 23.5 cubic feet and the Encore just 19.
As far as materials used and craftsmanship go, both crossovers are on par with Buick’s high standard of quality. Nothing but soft-touch materials to make an interior that’s clean, durable, and upscale, especially for the price tag it comes with.
Engine power
At first glance, the two models have comparable engines, and as far as base powertrain performance goes, that’s correct. Where the GX is superior is the number of miles per gallon it delivers plus the power of its second, optional engine, a feature the Encore lacks.
In default settings, the GX is powered by a 1.2-liter three-cylinder that puts out 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, which is almost identical to Encore's 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 that will produce 138 horsepower.
But the GX available-only upgrade wins the race with its 155 horsepower, 174 pound-feet of torque, and 31 miles per gallon combined – 15% higher than Encore’s 27.
Features
The long lists of standard features are almost identical, both over-delivering as compared to the price category the crossovers fall under. Perks like a superb 8.0-inch, highly responsive, color touch, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, plus Bluetooth audio streaming come standard on both. But... the GX also offers automatic emergency braking, which is an advanced safety feature the Encore doesn’t offer on any trim, not even as a pay-extra option.
Considering both cars are aimed at families and that advanced safety features have become the norm in these past two years, the GX wins this race as well.
If you want to see the most advanced Encore version, then head on over to O'Neill's Chevrolet Buick in Avon, CT . Our dedicated sales team will gladly show you all 2020 Encore GX trims and most available colors and we can even arrange for you to take the car out for a spin.
Visit us now or book an appointment, we’ll take care of the rest.
