2013 Buick Encore

Powered by a 1.4L turbocharged engine the 2013 Buick Encore delivers good fuel economy for the class on both FWD and AWD drivetrains. These admirable qualities make it an attractive choice for a compact crossover. But the power output outmatches the weight of the ride and further optimizations for fuel efficiency hurts the performance of the Encore. The SUV competes with the likes of Volkswagen Tiguan, Mini Countryman, and the Mazda CX-5.

The 2013 Buick Encore is available in four trims with the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The trims are Base, Convenience, Leather, and Premium. All trims come with the same 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine that delivers 138 hp power. The base Encore at $24,200 offers 18-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, a tilt and telescopic steering wheel, a six-way power driver seat, and more. At $25,010 and $26,710, the Convenience and Leather trim offers more premium features. The top-tier trim, the Premium, is priced at $28,190 and provides the latest features like parking sensors and an improved sound system.

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All the trims offer a better upgrade over the previous trim with the Leather trim being a more luxury-oriented cosmetic change. The most expensive Premium trim offers the most features and the best value for money with the added safety features. We recommend the FWD option of the 2013 Buick Encore as it is the best value-for-money variant. With the all-wheel drive, it is adding more weight to the engine already short on power. Also, the FWD Premium trim is cheaper than the AWD Leather trim.

The 2013 Buick Encore motor remains the same irrespective of the trim you opt for. You get a 1.4L turbocharged engine that makes 138 hp of power and 148 lb.-ft of torque. The engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission that features manual style-shifting capabilities. 

The combination yields impressive fuel economy but the performance is substandard. The 3300-pound body is a bit too much for the small engine to handle. The 2013 Buick Encore always leaves the driver wanting more performance.

The Mini Countryman S offers the best performance among the rivals with impressive 0-60 and quarter-mile timings clocking 7.4 and 15.8 seconds. However, the Countryman S comes with a manual 6-speed transmission. In terms of raw performance numbers, the Volkswagen Tiguan produces the most power and torque at 200 hp and 207 lb-ft respectively. The 2.0L turbocharged engine on the Tiguan makes it a solid performer in the segment. The Mazda CX-5 might not have the horsepower and torque counts but it offers an excellent fun-to-drive nature clocking similar timings as the Buick of 9.8 seconds. 

The 2013 Buick Encore gas mileage is impressive for the crossover segment. The SUV returns an average of 25 MPG in the city and 33 MPG on the highways while yielding a combined mileage of 28 MPG. These are the figures for the lighter front-wheel-drive variant. The all-wheel-drive version also performs well in fuel efficiency at 23 MPG in the city and 30 mpg on the highways providing a combined 26 mpg. The 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder engine combined with a rush to the top gear programming optimizes the fuel efficiency but reduces the responsiveness.

The Mazda CX-5 and the Mini Countryman S lead the competition with similar fuel economy figures. Both the cars offer 26 MPG in the city and an impressive 32 MPG on the highways. Moreover, the bigger fuel tank of the Mazda CX-5 provides a better range than the Mini. The Tiguan is the least fuel-efficient car among the rivals but its larger tank puts its driving range comparable to the rivals.

With the all-new Buick Encore, the brand is trying to replicate the comfortable and easy-to-use layout of the Verano. The 2013 Buick Encore interior build quality is praiseworthy. The interior spots soft-touch materials and wood tones with metallic accents that provide a luxury vibe. At the front, there is plenty of room with wide seats providing comfortable seating even for long rides. The seats are high with good visibility. 

The back row is where things turn against the Encore. The rear row has ample legroom for adult passengers but the shoulder and hip room are less due to the narrow cabin. With three adults on the rear row, long rides could be difficult and tiresome but not impossible. The cabin is free from all sounds and noises with Quiet tuning and a Noise control system with active noise cancellation.

The Mini Countryman has the smallest cabin as well as the least cargo capacity. At the front, the 2013 Buick Encore has almost the same space as that of its competitors. The Mazda CX-5 is the most spacious on front and rear rows of seating and has the largest cargo capacity among the competition. The Volkswagen Tiguan has almost similar interior dimensions to the Mazda CX-5 and offers the second-best cargo capacity of 23.8 cubic feet among the rivals here. Standout interior features in the 2013 Buick Encore are:

• Noise control system with active noise cancellation.
• Heated driver and passenger seat with memory
• Leather-appointed driver and passenger seats with 6-way power and memory
• Leather-wrapped steering wheels with controls.
• Particle Air filter
• Power tilt-sliding sunroof

How intuitive is the 2013 Buick Encore’s infotainment system?

The infotainment system on the 2013 Encore comes with a 7-inch touch screen with satellite radio, Bluetooth connectivity, a navigation system, and more. The system uses Buick’s IntelliLink feature that uses voice commands to run mobile functions. The vehicle is also equipped with OnStar and can stream audio from different sources like Bluetooth, Pandora, Satellite Radio, USB. The infotainment system is supported by a Bose 7 speaker audio system with an amplifier. Standout infotainment features in the 2013 Buick Encore include:

• 7-inch touch screen
• Buick IntelliLink with Smartphone control via voice commands
• SiriusXM Satellite radio
• Bose 7 speaker audio system with an amplifier
• OnStar
• USB port and iPod Support

The 2013 Buick Encore exterior follows a new design language benchmarked by the Regal and Enclave models. The Encore puts out a spin on the contemporary design to create a package that is more appealing to the targeted youthful and progressive minds. The Encore’s highlighted body works and accents are well supported by the projector headlamps and the led tail lights. The 18-inch Chrome alloys provide an aggressive touch to the package. You also get options for upgrading to chrome wheels and adding a power sunroof.

In terms of dimension, the Mini Countryman S is the closest rival to the 2013 Buick Encore. The Encore is longer and higher than the Mini Countryman while the Mini is wider and has a longer wheelbase. The Buick weighs 3309 pounds which is more than the Mini and the Mazda. In terms of dimension, the Mazda CX-5 is the biggest car and has the largest wheelbase with the most ground clearance. Standout exterior features in the 2013 Buick Encore include:

• 18-inch chromed aluminum wheels
• Halogen Composite projector beam with automatic exterior lamp control
• Heated and power-adjustable outside mirrors
• Daytime running lamps
• Rain-sensing wipers(optional)

The 2013 Buick Encore might be small but it packs in most of the latest safety technology such as 10 airbags, stability control, rearview camera, and more. To supplement its safety features the vehicle receives great safety scores from both the IIHS and the NHTSA. The NHTSA provides a 4-star rating to the vehicle while the IIHS gives the best possible “Good” rating to the SUV. Standout safety features in the 2013 Buick Encore include:

• Traction and Stability Control
• Automatic crash response and on-demand roadside assistance with OnStar
• Forward collision warning
• Lane departure warning
• Theft-deterrent system with Engine immobilizer and content theft alarm

Despite having a small engine and lacking an exciting nature, the 2013 Buick Encore emerges as a good choice for young buyers and other people who don’t need a full-size SUV. With an impressive fuel economy and a bold design, the 2013 Encore would be an attractive option to some people whose major requirement is not power. Overall, the Buick Encore is a safe and reliable car with impressive fuel economy and a well-built interior.