Buick Encore GX

The Encore GX is a subcompact crossover SUV with room for up to five passengers. In Buick’s lineup, it slots above the Encore, a fellow subcompact crossover, and below the compact Envision. The Encore GX shares a platform and some components with the Chevrolet Trailblazer, which is built by Buick’s sister company within General Motors.

Buick sells the Encore GX in three trims: the entry-level Preferred, the mid-tier Select, and the range-topping Essence. All versions come handsomely equipped with standard features, including an 8.0-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration and a suite of safety tech that includes forward collision mitigation and lane-departure warning. Niceties such as heated front seats, leather upholstery, a wireless charging pad, and a sunroof are available on higher-level trims or as options, as are more advanced safety features such as blind-spot warning, rear parking sensors, adaptive cruise control, and a surround-view camera.

The Encore GX offers buyers a choice between a pair of available engines and drive types. Front-wheel-drive models come standard with a 137-horsepower turbocharged 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder mill paired with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT), while all-wheel-drive variants are upgraded to a 155-hp 1.3-liter turbo three-cylinder mated to a nine-speed automatic. The 1.3-liter engine is also available as an option on front-wheel-drive versions of the Encore GX and is paired with a CVT in those instances. No hybrid or electric versions have yet been released.