2014 Buick Encore

It is practically unchanged and carries forward from its previous model year. Pricing starts from $24,000 for the standard variant and goes up to $29,000 for the Premium variant. The 2014 Encore competes strongly with the likes of Mini Cooper Countryman S, Subaru XV Crosstrek, and the Mazda CX-5. Continue with the article to know how it performs in front of its rivals in the segment.

The 2014 Buick Encore is offered in a total of four trim levels- Standard, Convenience, Leather, and Premium, where all are available in both FWD as well as AWD options. However, the 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-4 motor is standard among all, which is quite underpowered. The Standard trim starts from $24,160 and offers pretty decent features like a StabiliTrak stability control system, leather-wrapped steering wheel, Bose active noise cancellation system, and single-zone manual AC. However, as you go on higher trim levels, features like dual-zone automatic AC, remote engine start, Bose premium audio system, heated steering wheel, seats with memory function, and some advanced safety systems are added to it.

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We definitely recommend you to go for its top-end Premium trim with its AWD configuration as it provides a true value-for-money package. In this trim, you’ll get plenty of luxurious features and a premium-looking cabin. The features like dual-zone automatic AC, Bose premium audio system, leather upholstery, and heated front seats with memory function will definitely provide you a comfortable ride. And the most important aspect of this trim is its safety features. It features lots of advanced safety features which gives you confidence while driving and ensures the total safety of the occupants.

The 2014 Buick Encore is quite a sluggish car in the segment. It is powered by a 1.4-liter turbocharged motor irrespective of the trim level, which generates 138 horsepower and 148 lb-ft. of torque. The engine comes mated with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The 2014 Encore comes with FWD as standard, although AWD is available for an extra premium of $1,500. Although the motor is turbocharged, it is quite underpowered as compared to its rivals.

The car will take almost 9.0 seconds to accelerate from 0-60 mph and more than 17.0 seconds to cover a quarter-mile distance. The top speed was recorded as 120 mph, which is pretty decent in the segment. But overall, this is not the performance offered in this segment and becomes a major bad mark for the Buick.

Although the Encore has a turbocharged motor, still it does not produce impressive power figures, whereas the Countryman S with the 1.6L turbocharged motor produces superior power in the segment. The Crosstrek and the CX-5 have decent power figures, while the Encore is quite sluggish both in terms of power figures and acceleration. The Countryman S with a quarter-mile completion time of 14.7 seconds is the fastest overall.

You might not be impressed with the power figures and acceleration of the Encore, but you should definitely consider the car looking at its mpg figures. Its 1.4L motor is well refined and delivers a fuel economy of 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Also, the tank capacity of 14.0 gallons can easily give you a driving range of 350 miles in the city and over 460 miles on the highways.

The Encore and the Crosstrek deliver the same fuel economy, which is pretty good, while the Countryman delivers a better economy in the city. The CX-5 has decent mpg figures, and with a tank capacity of 14.8 gallons, it has a significantly higher range as compared to Encore and Countryman S. The Crosstrek with the largest tank of 15.9 gallons delivers a class-leading driving range.

The Encore offers one of the premium-looking cabins in the segment. Moreover, it is totally opposed to how it looks from the outside. The base trim, however, offers some basic amenities like fabric upholstery, manual adjustments for seats, single-zone manual AC, and a basic audio system. As you jump on higher trim levels, you’ll find features like full leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic AC, heated steering wheel, power-adjustable seats with memory function, and Bose premium audio system. 

The steering wheel is covered in leather, which features a heating function as well in the higher trims. The door panels also align with the dashboard design and have a premium wooden treatment on them. The seats are very comfortable and well-bolstered. At the front, you’ll get plenty of room, while at the rear, it has pretty decent room on offer. All the seats are leather-wrapped and are extremely comfortable for long rides as well. Also, you’ll get a decent trunk space behind the second row to hold some mid-sized bags.

The Encore has one of the premium-looking cabins among all, while the front room on offer is almost equal to that of the others. At the rear, it has decent headroom and legroom, while the CX-5 offers the maximum room among all. Coming to the cargo capacity, the CX-5 offers class-leading trunk space, while the Countryman S has the smallest trunk. Standout interior features include:

• Leather upholstery
• Heated steering wheel
• Driver seats with heating and memory function
• Dual-zone automatic climate control
• Wooden trims on dash and doors

How intuitive is the 2014 Buick Encore’s infotainment unit?

The infotainment unit of the 2014 Encore is a pretty decent one. It features a 7-inch LCD touchscreen display and has all the basic features like AM/FM, USB, AUX, Bluetooth connectivity, and many more. The display has a decent touch response and has crisp graphics. For your music needs, you get a six-speaker sound system with a CD Player, which can be upgraded to a Bose seven-speaker sound system. Standout infotainment features include:

• 7-inch LCD touchscreen display
• SiriusXM radio.
• 7-speaker Bose premium sound system.
• Active noise cancellation.
• Voice activation.
• Pandora and Stitcher smartphone compatibility.

From the outside, the 2014 Encore doesn’t look that attractive. It features more curvy edges and gives a stance of bulky crossover. In the front, it features decent-looking headlamps in a combination of projector and halogen along with DRLs. The bottom portion is covered in broader body cladding, incorporates fog lamps and air vents, and gives a bulky look from the front.

In the side profile as well, there is nothing special about this car that really attracts buyers. The rear windows are deep-tinted and have chrome highlights, and the body cladding continues here also. It features 18-inch aluminum alloys finished in grey accents which are standard in all the trim levels. In the rear, it has halogen tail lamps, and the bottom portion is with much broader body claddings.

The Encore is quite bulky among all, but still, it manages its fuel economy quite well. And this might be a reason for its sluggish performance. On the other hand, it is taller than others in the segment, which provides plenty of headroom for the occupants. The Mazda CX-5 has class-leading ground clearance, while others also have decent clearance, but you don’t need to worry about the bumpy roads as they can be tackled very well. Standout exterior features include:

• Projector headlamps with DRLs
• 18-inch aluminum alloys
• Automatic headlamps
• Acoustic laminated windshield
• Heated side-view mirrors

The 2014 Encore is one of the safest options to consider at this price range. The crash test results show an excellent construction of its chassis. NHTSA has given 5 on 5 stars for its overall safety and the IIHS has rated it ‘Good’ in the majority of the domains. It is equipped with a wide range of active and passive safety features, especially its top-end trim is equipped with various advanced features. The car features 10 standard airbags, which provide extra safety to the occupants. Standout safety features include:

• StabiliTrak stability control system
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Forward collision alert
• Park assist
• Lane departure warning
• Tire pressure monitor

The 2014 Buick Encore suits best for someone searching for a decent family wagon that offers a premium and comfortable cabin and advanced safety features. Although the engine is quite sluggish in terms of acceleration, it delivers an impressive fuel economy. Its handling is not sporty, but it is nonetheless enjoyable to drive in the city. The cabin is one of the comfortable places to be in within the segment. At a price range of $25,000 to $29,000, the 2014 Buick Encore is a good option to buy.