The 2019 Buick Encore comes in 4 trims; 1SV, Preferred, Sport Touring, and Essence. The base trim only has an FWD drive drivetrain option and comes with very basic features like keyless entry, heated mirrors, and Android Auto and Apple CarPlay as standard. The Preferred trim doesn’t add anything substantial, but it makes you eligible to have optional extras. It’s the Essence trim that takes this SUV to luxury areas as it comes equipped with power seats for the passenger and memory function for the driver seat. Rain sensing wipers, genuine leather bucket seats, navigation, and advanced safety features are still optional.

Which trim should you buy?

The 2019 Buick Encore in base trim is very basic, and you can option the vehicle out the way you want. But for that, you would need to have Preferred trim at least. This is a very tricky situation actually. Having the Encore Essence trim makes some sense as it has most of the features regarding comfort and convenience straight out of the factory, and the few remaining can be added.

The 2019 Encore has been blessed with 2 engine options. The base trim comes with a 1.4L turbo I-4 engine that churns out 138 hp and 148 lb-ft. This engine takes its sweet time to respond, and we are not complaining, just telling. You just cannot expect anything special at this point. The Encore is supposed to let you have a comfortable and relaxed experience. And with the insulation done in the right places, this SUV feels like a pleasant place to be in. 

The higher trims will allow you to have a more powerful 153 hp 1.4L turbo 4-pot motor and a start/stop feature. The base engine takes almost 10 seconds to reach 60MPH, but it does it calmly because the NVH levels are very good in this one, so it is forgiven. The 153 hp mill might improve performance, but the half or one-second difference isn’t winning you any races, so no point in paying extra for that.

The Honda HR-V is the slowest of the bunch as it comes with an underpowered engine. The Subaru Crosstrek has some brawn, and it’s the best off-road capable SUV in the competition. Nonetheless, Hyundai Kona offers the best acceleration figures, and it is also the least expensive of the lot. While Honda HR-V and Subaru Crosstrek come with CVTs, Kona offers a 6-speed automatic at a much lower price. If you want a more engaging driving experience, the Crosstrek also comes with a manual transmission setup.

How well does the 2019 Buick Encore handle?

The 2019 Buick Encore is a super tiny SUV, and that will work in its favor if you live in bustling metro cities. The suspension setup is softly sprung and works well if you are with just a passenger and have no cargo in the back. Load it fully with people, and it will start sweating. The steering wheel on this SUV is surprisingly well done as it is responsive and the weight is on point. 

The center of gravity sits a bit high, and that will generally result in a wobbly ride, but the body roll is controlled and feels it can handle corners well for the most part. The 6-speed automatic transmission shifts properly. The engine has some turbo lag, but it is expected. Overall, the 2019 Encore is a tailor-made SUV for city driving.

Braking Performance

The 2019 Encore is a heavy SUV if compared to its rivals, but the overall braking performance is better than the competition. The rotor sizes aren’t anything out of the box, just average, but they manage to stop this SUV at 127 feet, one of the best performers in this segment. Talking about the braking feel, the pedals are squishy but won’t let you have any feel. You will have to anticipate, but it becomes a habit once you drive every day. The brakes work effectively, and that is the most important factor.

The 2019 Honda HR-V is doing better in braking than anyone else, thanks to a lightweight body and large rear brake rotors. Hyundai Kona, on the other hand, still isn’t doing any better than it was expected. It is the lightest SUV in the group, has similar brakes, yet the stopping distance of 132 feet doesn’t inspire any confidence.

This should be one of the most important concerns for you in this price range. You can change upholstery to make the car more comfortable, live without smartphone integration, but fuel economy cannot be compromised. Well, the 2019 Buick Encore is slightly behind in this area compared to rivals. It returns 25 MPG in the city and 30 MPG on the highway. We are grateful that at least the fuel tank capacity is acceptable at 14 gallons.

The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek has managed to have both, better overall economy and a big fuel tank. Hyundai Kona and Honda HR-V are neck to neck in both aspects. Hyundai Kona didn’t manage the braking very well, but that low weight has certainly helped it in fuel economy. Well, something to cheer for at least. When comparing the overall range, Subaru stands way ahead of its rivals with a combined range of 481.4 miles.

The interior space of the 2019 Encore is designed well and doesn’t have anything that will distract you. Color choice is mostly monochromatic, and shiny plastic inserts are kept to a minimum. The dashboard has a good multilayered design. The steering wheel has some nice slots to hold onto which is a big boon in such a budget vehicle. The infotainment screen sits flush in the center console and only has necessary switches, unlike some others who still put 9 dedicated switches for the radio presets.

The seats on the Encore are fine, but there is no bolstering whatsoever to support you sideways. Power adjustability on the seats can have full marks and can even be had with a memory function for the driver. The cushioning is slightly stiff, and having leather upholstery won’t help here. The second-row seats are flat almost and combined with the firm cushions, chances are high you might feel uneasy than expected. Again, thanks to the height, headroom is no issue. Legroom is bound to suffer as this is a tiny SUV. Oh, one more thing, the climate control on this car works fantastic, chills the entire cabin in a minute or less.

The cargo capacity of the Encore is hindered due to its size, but we still have some decent space to live with. The seat folding mechanism is a little weird, first, you’ll have to fold up the lower part of the seat, then lower the headrests to the full and fold the seatback. You might need to adjust the front seats to make these fold flat. You can fold the front passenger seat as well to store super long items in there. The cargo capacity on all the rivals is more or less the same, interesting is how the HR-V still manages to have the best trunk space and the highest amount of legroom on the second row. Standout interior features include:

• Leather upholstery
• Heated front seats
• Six-way power-adjustable front passenger seat
• Driver’s seat memory settings
• Heated steering wheel
• Dual-zone climate control
• Front passenger folding seat
• Scooped out seatbacks for more knee-room

What’s there to keep you entertained?

The 2019 Encore comes equipped with an 8-inch touchscreen with Android Auto & Apple CarPlay as standard. Factory navigation is an optional accessory, but we don’t need it when we have smartphone integration. The Bose sound system works well and is more than enough for everyone. The touchscreen works well, and the input lag is very minimal. Icons and texts are big and easy to read. Standout infotainment features include:

• 8-inch touchscreen
• SiriusXM
• Android Auto & Apple CarPlay
• Factory Navigation
• USB ports
• Bose sound system

The Encore has undergone a design upgrade in the year 2017, and for 2019, there aren’t any changes. The dual DRL strips are something you don’t regularly see on small cars. The front bumper design is a little unconventional as it is more recessed inward than the grille. The grille is going to be the first casualty here if you hit something rather than the front bumper. 

The hood has few body lines going, making the car look aggressive, while the rear end is the dullest part of this vehicle. How nicely they designed the front headlights setup, they equally ruined it in the back. The underbody guards are there just for aesthetic purposes. The 18-inch wheels are the most pleasing assets of this vehicle and are standard on all trims. Overall the 2019 Encore looks nice except for the taillight setup. 

The 2019 Buick Encore is a perfect example of a small city car, and so is the HR-V, and yet it managed to provide better trunk space than anyone else. A shorter wheelbase will make it quite unstable at high speeds, but the engine won’t let you anyway. The Subaru Crosstrek has struck a nice balance between compact overall size and an overall decent wheelbase, which is great for high-speed stability. Standout exterior features include:

• Twin layered LED DRLs
• Sport 18-inch wheels
• Fog lights
• Moonroof
• Rear cargo cover

Buick has managed to build the 2019 Encore very sturdy, and the NHTSA crash tests reflect the same thing. The 2019 Encore has got a 5-star rating in every crash category with a rollover risk of just 19.8%. The Encore almost managed to get the Top Safety Pick award from IIHS. The 2019 Encore comes with optional front crash prevention tech and has scored a Basic rating. Overall, the structural integrity is okay on this one. Standout safety features include:

• Lane departure warning
• Front and rear parking sensors
• Rear cross-traffic alert
• Blindspot monitor
• Forward collision warning

2019 Buick Encore vs 2019 Subaru Crosstrek

Subaru does everything better than the Encore. Yes, the overall length is more, but 8 or 9 extra inches aren’t going to hurt your neighbor’s car. The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek also has the fuel economy advantage, and combined that with a greater interior space and off-road capabilities, there isn’t any solid reason to consider the Encore over the Subaru Crosstrek. 

2019 Buick Encore vs 2019 Hyundai Kona

Hyundai Kona has an overall better design than the Buick Encore. The optional turbocharged engine is quicker than the weak base engine. The 2019 Hyundai Kona comes with more safety features as standard over the Encore, but the adaptive cruise control is missing even from the options list. Both the SUVs are on the same page more or less, this time we are letting you be the decision-maker.

2019 Buick Encore vs 2019 Honda HR-V

These are proper rivals if only the size was the constraint, otherwise, Encore lacks on some fronts and excels on some. Cargo space is better on the HR-V and has a better infotainment system. The 2019 Encore is much quicker, but the fuel economy is dismal compared to Honda. All in all, for us, Honda offers a better deal between the two in the comparison.

The 2019 Buick Encore can handle only very specific duties, but it does them great. Buick knew most of the crowd would use this in urban environments, and that’s why they have some proper noise insulation. The overall driving experience in this SUV is fun, and that 1.4L engine has just enough power for the cities. The thing is, the 2019 Buick Encore gets expensive as you add options. And for that price, you have a better option like Hyundai Kona as it has some off-road capabilities as well. If you are really in love with the compact size and design of the Encore, only then consider it, otherwise, it is wise to look elsewhere.