“I was pleasantly surprised how much I really like the Buick Encore. It's not too big but still has the features of an SUV.”
2017 Buick Encore: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 4, 2026
The biggest change for the 2017 Buick Encore is a mid-cycle refresh that brings updated exterior styling, a redesigned dashboard, and a standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Buick also reorganized the trim lineup.
About the 2017 Buick Encore
1st generation (2013-2022 US), mid-cycle refresh year
Buick positions the Encore as a small premium crossover for people who want an easy-to-park SUV without giving up a quiet cabin, flexible cargo space, and a more upscale feel than mainstream subcompact rivals. The big selling points are city-friendly size, a hushed interior, straightforward infotainment, and useful seat-folding versatility, rather than sporty driving or maximum interior room.
The 2017 lineup ranges from straightforward base and Preferred models to the style-focused Sport Touring and the comfort-and-safety-focused Preferred II. Essence adds leather, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, and LED headlights, while Premium tops the range with Bose audio, parking sensors, and forward driver alerts.
What changed, by category
Styling
Buick updated the front end with its newer grille design and a cleaner bumper, revised the rear styling details, and redesigned the dashboard and gauge layout.
Safety
The new Preferred II trim has blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard equipment. On Sport Touring, blind-spot monitoring changed from standard to optional.
Tech
A new 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto became standard across the lineup. Navigation and the touchscreen became standard on Sport Touring and Premium.
2017 Buick Encore specs and features by trim
| Feature | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4-Cyl, ECOTEC, 1.4T | 4-Cyl, ECOTEC, 1.4T / 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, ECOTEC, 1.4T / 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, ECOTEC, 1.4T | 4-Cyl, ECOTEC, 1.4T / 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter | 4-Cyl, ECOTEC, 1.4T / 4-Cyl, Turbo, 1.4 Liter |
| Transmission | Auto, 6-Spd OD ShftCtrl | Auto, 6-Spd OD ShftCtrl | Auto, 6-Spd OD ShftCtrl | Auto, 6-Spd OD ShftCtrl | Auto, 6-Spd OD ShftCtrl | Auto, 6-Spd OD ShftCtrl |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | 25 mpg | 25 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 33 mpg | 33 mpg | 33 mpg | 33 mpg | 33 mpg | 33 mpg |
| Horsepower | 138 hp | 138 hp | 138 hp | 138 hp | 138 hp | 138 hp |
| Torque | 148 lb-ft | 148 lb-ft | 148 lb-ft | 148 lb-ft | 148 lb-ft | 148 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 48.4 cu-ft | 48.4 cu-ft | 48.4 cu-ft | 48.4 cu-ft | 48.4 cu-ft | 48.4 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 35.8 in | 35.8 in | 35.8 in | 35.8 in | 35.8 in | 35.8 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Alarm System | ||||||
| Blindspot Sensors | ||||||
| Lane Departure Warning | ||||||
| Park Assist | ||||||
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | ||||||
| Rear View Camera | ||||||
| Alloy Wheels | ||||||
| Fog Lights | ||||||
| LED Headlights | ||||||
| Power Moonroof | ||||||
| Rear Spoiler | ||||||
| Roof Rails | ||||||
| Navigation System | ||||||
| Smartphone Interface | ||||||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | ||||||
| Dual Power Front Seats | ||||||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | ||||||
| Heated Front Seats | ||||||
| Heated Steering Wheel | ||||||
| Leather Seats | ||||||
| Memory Driver's Seat | ||||||
| Power Driver Seat | ||||||
| Push-Button Engine Start | ||||||
| Remote Start | ||||||
Frequently asked questions
What is the biggest change to the 2017 Buick Encore?
The biggest change is a mid-cycle refresh. The 2017 Encore has updated front and rear styling, a redesigned dashboard and gauges, and a new standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Does every 2017 Buick Encore have Apple CarPlay and Android Auto?
Yes. Every 2017 Encore trim has a standard 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Which Buick Encore trims changed for 2017?
The 2017 lineup added Preferred, Preferred II, and Essence, while the former Convenience and Leather trim names left the range. Preferred takes the practical middle role, Preferred II emphasizes comfort and safety equipment, and Essence provides the richer leather-lined interior.
What safety equipment changed on the 2017 Buick Encore?
The new Preferred II trim has blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert as standard. Blind-spot monitoring changed from standard to optional on Sport Touring, while Premium retains forward-collision and lane-departure alerts.
Is the 2017 Buick Encore meaningfully different from the 2016 model?
Yes. The 2017 model is still part of the same generation, but it has a fresher exterior, a redesigned dashboard, standard smartphone integration, and a reorganized trim lineup. Those updates make it more than a simple carryover.
2017 Buick Encore Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2017 Buick Encore.
4.2
2017 Buick Encore
(851 reviews)
“I love the smooth drive, it's not too large but big enough for our family of 4. I do love its look. Does well on maintenance and gas.”
“Great in the snow. Seems small on the inside. Has pretty good gas mileage and safety features. Not a lot of cargo space”