2021 Buick Encore GX Road Test and Review

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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 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 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.

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.