2021 Buick Encore GX Road Test and Review

It took a while, but automakers eventually realized that small cars didn’t have to feel cheap. While many people buy bigger cars when they can afford it, plenty more prefer a smaller, more maneuverable, more fuel-efficient option — as long as it’s just as attractive, quiet, comfortable, and feature-laden as a bigger vehicle.

Buick first applied this lesson to the crossover world with the 2013 Encore. This subcompact crossover, which is still on sale today with only modest changes since 2013, was the first tiny SUV to prioritize an upscale look and feel. The execution wasn’t perfect, but the Encore filled a niche that other carmakers still haven’t fully exploited. Now, Buick sells a second model in this segment: the 2021 Buick Encore GX, which shares nothing but its size and its name with the original Encore. It’s a great leap forward, and if you don’t need to empty an entire Ikea store into the back of your vehicle, you might find the Encore GX the perfect crossover for you. Prices start at $24,200.

The Buick Encore GX was all-new for the 2020 model year, and 2021 brings a few extra features. The GX has more conventional proportions than the standard Encore, known for its stubby profile; the new GX is slightly longer and slightly wider, yet not quite as tall. While it’s still a subcompact vehicle, measuring just 171 inches long, the Encore GX’s graceful curves and upright stance help it avoid the hatchback vibe that’s common in this segment.

Inside, the Encore GX continues to eschew the class norm. Most subcompact crossovers aim to be funky or fun, or settle for downright cheap. The Buick’s interior design is similar to what you’ll find in the brand’s pricier models: a curved dashboard whose varied colors and textures dress it up nicely. We especially liked the “Signet” two-tone color scheme on our test car, which is available only with genuine leather upholstery. Not every piece of plastic you’ll find is luxury-grade, but the overall ambiance is commendable for the price.

The most unconventional aspect of the new Buick Encore GX is its engine options. You get a choice of two different three-cylinders, a rare configuration in the U.S. But thanks to a hearty turbo boost, the Encore delivers unexpectedly punchy acceleration along with decent gas mileage.

Front-wheel-drive Encore GX models come standard with a 1.2-liter engine that makes 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. All trim levels offer a slightly larger 1.3-liter engine, which is also standard if you select all-wheel-drive. Both FWD engines use a continuously variable automatic transmission, while the AWD 1.3-liter uses a nine-speed automatic. The 1.3-liter makes 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. We had this engine in our front-wheel-drive test car, and it proved eager and rich-sounding most of the time. It vibrates more at low speeds or idle, though, a pity in a model that’s otherwise focused on relaxing refinement. EPA fuel economy ratings are an excellent 30 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway with the FWD 1.3-liter, but the AWD 1.3-liter falls by 3 mpg and the FWD 1.2-liter manages a similar 26 mpg city/30 mpg highway.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX isn’t sporty, but it’s confidence-inspiring and easy to drive. The little engines are powerful enough to provide stress-free acceleration and it doesn’t make a big racket. And while handling isn’t sporty, the extra-light steering always feels natural. It’s a boon for parking and tight maneuvers, as is the tight 36.7-foot turning radius.

We also found ourselves tackling winding roads faster than we expected with no complaints from the vehicle. The Encore GX is small enough to be inherently nimble, and you can take advantage of that whether you’re trying to or not. And this little crossover keeps you comfortably isolated from the road whether you’re hustling or cruising, thanks to the well-calibrated steering and suspension, along with ample sound-muffling measures that Buick calls “QuietTuning.”

The Encore GX is a subcompact vehicle, so don’t count on extra space to spread out. Still, even if the front seats aren’t especially wide, Buick did provide long fore-aft seat travel, so tall folks can stretch out comfortably. At the same time, as long as the front-seat occupants don’t need that maximum legroom, there’s space for two adults to be decently comfortable in the back. That’s more than many subcompact crossovers can brag.

Another perk to the Encore GX interior is that its controls are user-friendly. Conventional, sensible buttons and knobs complement a good-sized 8-inch touchscreen infotainment system, which is standard on all models. We only miss a tuning knob. The touchscreen includes Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone integration, and new for 2021, you can use the system wirelessly without plugging in your phone. If you prefer a wired connection or need to recharge your device, Buick also provides two traditional USB ports and two new-style USB-C ports. The top-trim Essence model also has an optional wireless smartphone charger.

The Buick Encore GX beats many competitors for its usable rear seat, but cargo space is decidedly subcompact. You get 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seat and 50.2 cubic feet with the rear seat folded down.

That’s not bad for a subcompact crossover, and it’s better than the standard Buick Encore. The GX’s rear seat folds more easily than the standard Encore’s multi-step process, too. And that’s important, since you’ll need to fold it down when you want to carry more than you’d fit in the trunk of a typical car. We’re optimistic that there’s still enough room for plenty of folks’ needs, but this isn’t one of those SUVs that will effortlessly swallow anything you toss into the back. The available hands-free power liftgate can open if you kick your foot under a bumper-mounted sensor, handy if you approach the vehicle with your hands full.

A long-running downside to the standard Buick Encore is a lack of advanced safety technology. You can get an optional forward-collision warning and lane-departure warning if you buy a fully loaded model, but automatic emergency braking and automatic steering corrections are unavailable at any price.

The Encore GX solves that by making all four systems standard equipment on all trim levels, along with automatic high beams. A blind-spot monitor with a rear cross-traffic alert is optional on the base model and standard on others. And adaptive cruise control, which varies your speed based on surrounding traffic, is optional on all but the base trim level. Other optional safety tech includes a rearview camera mirror, which eliminates your blind spot by letting you replace the reflection with a live camera view; a head-up display that projects information onto the windshield, and a “surround vision” parking camera that shows a birds-eye view of your Buick and surrounding obstacles. Crash-test scores for the 2021 Encore GX aren’t yet available.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX has a decently affordable base price of $24,200, especially considering its generous standard equipment. Aside from the aforementioned safety tech, even the base Preferred model includes partial-leatherette upholstery, keyless entry and starting, an 8-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a six-speaker sound system. And you can upgrade the Preferred with features that include a power driver’s seat, a power liftgate, heated front seats, and a sunroof; some vehicles make you buy a fully loaded model if you want any of those.

The next-up Select costs $25,800 and adds the blind-spot monitor, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats, and the power driver’s seat. It’s also the first trim level available with options that include a navigation system, the head-up display, the surround-view camera, and adaptive cruise control. The top Essence starts at $28,600 with leather upholstery, a memory system for the power driver’s seat, a power passenger’s seat, and a heated steering wheel. Those base prices are competitive, but they can rise fast; our tested front-drive Essence included nearly $5,000 worth of options for a total of $34,115. Any color but white costs $495, and all-wheel-drive is an extra $2,000.

Another relatively upscale subcompact crossover is the Mazda CX-30, whose elegant design and beautifully finished interior are truly luxury-grade — even though it costs less than a comparably equipped Encore GX. But the Buick has more room and, despite Mazda’s performance pedigree, the CX-30 isn’t any more fun to drive.

Another leading competitor is the Kia Seltos, which is supremely well-rounded at a great price, but which isn’t as upscale or quiet as the Encore GX. You can also consider the Encore GX’s more affordable mechanical cousin, the Chevrolet TrailBlazer, though the Chevy leaves out Buick’s extra attention to quietness and upscale design. And consider the original Encore if you can find a great deal that tempts you away from the GX’s superior safety, fuel efficiency, and spaciousness. You could also shop the Encore GX against a pricier luxury-badged vehicle like the BMW X1 or Volvo XC40 to see if their extra interior opulence justifies their higher prices to you. Lastly, if the maneuverability of a subcompact crossover isn’t a priority to you, know that compact models like the Subaru Forester, Hyundai Tucson, Mazda CX-5, Kia Sportage, or Honda CR-V offer more space for the money.

The 2021 Buick Encore GX continues the original Encore’s theme of comfort, quietness, and elegance in a useful but not overly bulky body. The GX’s superior driving experience, fuel economy, interior space, and safety features make it a far more successful overall package.

We would not recommend the Encore GX if you value the most space for the money. It’s expensive for a subcompact crossover. But that’s because Buick invested real money in making it more upscale than its closest competitors, without forcing you to pay big bucks for all-out luxury. We wish the engine behaved better at low speeds, we wish the turn-signal stalk moved more smoothly, we wish the all-wheel-drive models got better gas mileage, and we wish colors didn’t cost extra. But we’d still happily recommend the Encore GX to anyone who prefers a premium small vehicle over a bigger, more humdrum one.