2020 Buick Encore

Trims and Pricing

The Buick Encore is a compact crossover which is offered in four trim levels. 1 SV or the base, Preferred, Sport Touring and Essence. The base 1.4 liter turbocharger engine producing 138 hp is offered in 1 SV and the Preferred variant while the more powerful 153 hp engine is equipped in Sport Touring and Essence trim. All of the variants come well equipped with features while individuals who desire safety and can go with more expensive trims. Buick covers the Encore with a four-year/50,000-mile warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. 

Trims	Encore 1SV	Preferred	Sport Touring	Essence
MSRP (FWD)	$22,990	$24,365	$25,565	$29,065
MSRP(AWD)	N/A	$25,865	$27,065	$30.565
Features	4G Wi-Fi hotspot	1SV+	Preferred +	Essence +
	Enhanced 4.2" multi-color Driver Information Center	Rear Cargo Cover	Exclusive Rear, integrated Sport Spoiler	Bose Premium 7-speaker sound system
	Keyless Open and Start	Front and rear color-keyed floor mats	Remote Vehicle Starter System	Rainsense Wipers
	QuietTuning technology with Active Noise Cancellation		Fog lamps	Front and Rear Park Assist
	Rear Vision Camera			Forward Collision Alert
	6-way power adjustable driver sea			Lane Departure Warning Cargo Net and Rear Carpeted Cargo Mat

“With a refined ride and sound deadening in all the right places, the Encore is a pleasant, albeit slow-moving, place to spend time. The 2020 Buick Encore is have a sluggish acceleration.” -Carconnection

The Encore is offered in two engine options, both of them are different versions of the same turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder. One with a slightly smaller bore and less displacement (1364 cc vs 1399 cc) which produces 138 hp and 148-pound feet of torque. The bigger engine with a higher compression ratio (9.5:1 versus 10.0:1) and fuel injection rather than port, generates 153 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Neither of the powertrains is lively, though the grunt is apt for city driving. Encore feels sluggish when all the seats are occupied.

Both of the engines use the same 6- speed automatic transmission with a manual shifting function, operable by a switch atop the shift lever. A front-wheel-drive is available with an optional AWD. The more powerful engine is available on sport touring and Essence trim.

Models	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Subaru Crosstrek	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
MSRP	$20,520	$20,945	$19,500	$23,200	$20,390	$21,859	21,300	$20,945
Engine	1.8 Liter Inline-4	2.0 Liter Inline-4	2.0 Liter Inline-4	1.4 Turbocharged Inline-4	2.0 Liter Inline-4	2.0 Liter Boxer-4	1.4 Liter Inline-4	2.0 Liter Inline-4
Transmission	2-speed CVT with Overdrive	2-speed CVT with Overdrive and auto-manual	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic with Overdrive and auto-manual	2-speed CVT with Overdrive and Manual mode	6-speed automatic	6-speed automatic	2-speed CVT with Overdrive and Manual mode
Horsepower	141 hp @6500 rpm	144 hp @ 6100 rpm	147 hp @ 6200 rpm	138 hp @ 4900 rpm	148 hp @ 6000 rpm	152 hp @ 6000 rpm	138 hp @ 4900 rpm	148 hp @ 6,000 rpm
Torque	127 lb. ft. @ 4300 rpm	139 lb. ft. @ 3900 rpm	132 lb. ft. @ 4500 rpm	148 lb. ft. @ 1850 rpm	146 lb. ft. @ 2800 rpm	145 lb. ft. @ 4000 rpm	148 lb.-ft. @1850 rpm	145 lb.-ft. @ 4,200 rpm

There is no significant difference in the power outputs of all the rivals, however, the Subaru Crosstrek churns out the most amount of ponies. Chevrolet Trax is identical to the Buick while the Mazda produces the highest amount of horsepower among them.

Acceleration

You can say that the engine is “peppy” as it does 0 to 60 in 7.8 seconds with the more powerful engine option. The lower displacement motor takes 8 .4 seconds to reach 60 mph from a standstill. AWD option adds more weight to the car which in turn affects the performance.

Models	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Subaru Crosstrek	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
0-60 MPH (sec)	9.3*	11.0	10.0	8.4	8.6	9.0	9.3	8.9
Quarter mile (sec)	16.8*	18.4	17.3	16.2	16.3	16.9	16.8	16.6
Engine	1.8-L I-4	2.0-L I-4	2.0-L I-4	1.4-L I-4	2.0-L I-4	2.0-L H-4	1.4-L I-4	2.0-L I-4
Emission (Tons/yr. of CO2 Emissions @ 15K mi/year)	6.3*	6.0	5.9	6.3	5.7	7.0	6.3	7.1

If compared to the rivals such as the Chevrolet Trax, Honda HR-v it is a second quicker in accomplishing the 0 to 60-mile mark.

Ride and Handling

The Encore is staggering as a daily driver. Buick like in its premium cars provides a comfortable ride even over rough patches, there is little body roll around corners. Crossover’s little size makes it agile and maneuverable, which is helpful in traffic and tight spaces. You will feel short on power for highway driving and handling is tactile but not sporty.

Encore's ride is smooth on a lower speed, it can get wallow over the uneven landscape on higher velocities. Buick has incorporated some energetic styling prompts like a thick-rimmed steering wheel, yet the Encore is considerably more suited as an urban cruiser than a lively crossover.

Braking

The brake bite is enough for red light stops and city jaunts, pedal travel is small with high response. You will certainly hear a weird squeal from the pads after using it repetitively. No automatic emergency braking limits the 2020 Buick Encore's appeal.

Model	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Subaru Crosstrek	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Brake Front (in.)	11.5	11.8	11.8	11.8	11	11.6	11.8	11.6
Brake Rear (in.)	11.1	11.1	9.0 (Drum)	10.6	11.1	10.8	9.0	11.9
Curb Weight (lbs.)	2906	3300	2890	3237	2809	3113	2805	3,032
60-0 MPH (ft.)	N/A	N/A	N/A	122	N/A	N/A	N/A	118

The front-wheel-drive Encore returns 26 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway. For all-wheel-drive models, reduce 1 mpg from both numbers. The combined MPG is slightly above the average for its class. The more powerful engine is actually efficient which is surprising.

Model	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Subaru Crosstrek	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
MPG (city)	28	27	27	26	29	27	25	24
MPG (highway)	34	31	33	31	34	33	33	30
MPG (combined)	30	29	30	28	31	25	28	27

The 2020 Mazda CX-3 returns even better fuel economy and will be lighter on your pocket, while the identical Chevrolet earns 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway which is slightly below average.

“As long as space isn’t a priority, the 2020 Buick Encore delivers a refined experience and premium feel”. - Carconnection

Seating and Comfort

The Buick Encore may be branded entry-level crossover but don’t consider it an “econobox”. It can be equipped with different materials like fabric, leatherette or genuine cowhide, the cabin is well laid and refined. The front seats are comfortable, and drivers have great visibility due to a high seating position. The back seats have a fair measure of headroom and can fit two grown-ups without grumbling. There's more space than the outside impression would recommend, however it could get confined with three grown-ups toward the rear.

Model	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Subaru Crosstrek	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Passenger Capacity	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5
Front (cu. ft)Headroom	39.5	38.1	39.6	39.6	38.4	39.8	39.6	39.4
Shoulder room	56.8	49	55.5	54.2	53.5	56.7	54.1	56.2
Legroom	41.2	43.5	41.5	40.8	41.7	43.1	40.8	41.6
Rear (cu. ft)Headroom	38.3	38.3	37.8	38.8	37.2	38	38.8	37.9
Shoulder room	54.5	52.5	54.5	52.5	50.4	55.6	52.8	55.5
Legroom	39.3	31.7	34.6	35.8	35	36.5	35.7	36.3

Despite its small footprint, the Encore feels roomy inside because of its tall roof and a high seating position. It's less outright fun to drive than most of the rivals but there's good space inside for an average size individual, which is a squeeze in some of those competitors. The Honda HR-V offers the most amount of rear space in the subcompact crossover SUV class.

Interior Features

• Available features inside of the 2020 Buick Encore includes:
• Remote start
• Moon roof
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Seven-speaker sound system
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror
• Forward collision alert
• Parking assist and lane departure warning

Infotainment System

The Encore comes with lots of tech goodies and an 8.0-inch infotainment screen. It is known by the name “IntelliLink” with the following features:

• Android Auto & Apple Car Play
• Onboard Wi-Fi
• 4G LTE
• Bluetooth audio and phone
• Voice command
• USB input

Cargo volume

U stands for utility in SUV, Encore despite its smaller size can hold a large amount of cargo than most of the bigger vehicles. The space behind the rear seats is large enough for moderate grocery loads and 7 to 8 carryon bags. It provides 18.8 feet of cubic feet of cargo and increases to 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats down. A fold-flat front passenger seat allows you to carry very long items.

Model	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Subaru Crosstrek	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Trunk Volume (ft.3)	24.3	19	19.2	18.8	12.4	20.8	18.7	21.7
Cargo Volume with Rear seats folded (ft.3)	58.8	36.4	45.8	48.4	44.5	55.3	48.4	49.5

Most of the rivals provide a similar amount of cargo space like the Chevrolet Trax and Mazda Cx-3. The Honda HR-V is a class leader when it comes to capacity.

“For the 2020 model year, the Encore gets a visual refresh both inside and out, and gives prospective buyers more of the options they want to keep”–New York Daily

Design and styling

From its winged grille and sculpted hood to the classy 18-inch alloy wheels, the Encore looks athletic and designed to stand out. The dynamic outlook is to attract people of younger generations. The utility-vehicle's profoundly etched bodywork and a classy variety of brilliant emphasize bits are adequately set off by conspicuous LED-highlighted projector-pillar headlights and LED-mixed taillights. Brushed-aluminum fake back skid plates and a wide wheelbase bundle include more aggressive silhouette to the general blend.

Model	Honda HR-V	Toyota C-HR	Hyundai Kona	Buick Encore	Mazda CX-3	Subaru Crosstrek	Chevrolet Trax	Mitsubishi Outlander Sport
Curb weight (lbs.)	2906	3300	2890	3237	2809	3157	2805	3,032
Length(in)	170.4	171.2	164.0	168.4	168.3	175.8	167.2	171.9
Width(in)	69.8	70.7	70.9	70.1	69.6	71	69.9	71.3
Height(in)	63.2	61.6	61	65.2	60.7	63.6	64.9	64.8
Ground clearance (in)	5.4	5.9	6.7	6.2	6.1	8.7	6.2	8.5
Wheelbase (in)	102.8	103.9	102.4	100.6	101.2	104.9	100.6	105.1
Track width (in) F/R	60.4/60.6	60.6/60.6	61.2/60.2/60.3	60.62/60.62	60/59.5	61/61.2/61.2	60.6/60.6	60.6/60.6

Exterior Features

• Some of the exterior features include:
• LED headlights in Essence and Premium
• Halogen headlights in all trims except Essence and Premium
• LED DRL
• Fog lamps in Sport Touring and above
• 18-inch alloy wheels on all trims

The Encore does not provide many safety features. The only standard feature is a rearview camera. The available safety features include:

• Rear cross traffic alert
• Blind-spot monitoring
• Forward collision alert
• Parking assist
• Lane departure warning

Buick Encore Vs Mazda CX-3

The CX-3 is young and brimming with soul. Mazda mixes the CX-3 with excellent handling and balance with an addition of a solid motor that outpaces the Encore. The CX-3 additionally has one of the most pleasant cabins among rivals. Encore advantages lie in the rear seat, which is much more spacious than Mazda’s. Also, Encore has more standard and available features.According to the cost-to-feature ratio, the Mazda is a clear winner. It costs a few thousand dollars less than Encore and doesn’t compromise with comfort or performance.

Buick Encore Vs Honda HR-V

The HR-V is somewhat more versatile than the Buick. It's back seat overlaps to make an extensive floor-to-roof stack floor that is ideal for transporting bicycles or other tall articles. The HR-V is the ace of performance and utility in this rivalry. The Encore can't stand in front of the Honda overall, yet it beats the HR-V in the quality of its cabin materials.

Buick Encore Vs Chevrolet Trax

Mechanically, the Trax and Encore are about equivalent. They share similar dimensions, power outputs since they belong from the same parent organization. The Trax offers a rundown of standard highlights like the Encore and inside is entirely utilitarian. It takes care of business, yet it won't inspire you with the quality of its materials. This likewise makes it less expensive than the Encore by a couple of thousand dollars, so it's a savvy decision on the off chance that you simply require essential subcompact SUV utility.

 

The Buick Encore is possibly the company’s most successful effort. It has attracted numerous buyers in a younger demographic for a small upscale crossover. Ranking among the top subcompact SUVs, it has one of the nicest interiors in its class and an impressive list of standard features. The performance is not, though it has a comfortable ride and composed handling. There are many reasons to like the Encore when contrasted with other rivals.