2014 Buick Encore

PREVIEW

Crossover SUVs come in all sizes and capability levels, but so far only a few automakers make truly small utility vehicles aimed at consumers who drive in crowded cities. The Buick Encore is one of these crossovers. At only 168 inches long, it's 10 inches shorter than the compact Honda CR-V. The Buick's petite dimensions pay dividends when it's time to squeeze into undersized parking spaces, but don't assume that this less-is-more philosophy extends to the Encore's equipment list. Even base versions of this small crossover come with Buick's IntelliLink touchscreen interface and a rearview camera, so the cabin ambience is decidedly upscale considering its sub-$30,000 base price.

In addition, the Encore's interior offers flexibility, as you can fold both the front passenger seat (a standard feature) and the rear seats flat. So done, there's room to stack lumber or anything up to 8 feet long inside the Encore and still close its liftgate. Meanwhile, there's just enough legroom to accommodate 6-footers in the backseat, but as you might expect, hiproom and shoulder room aren't particularly generous.

The primary drawback to the 2014 Buick Encore, though, is its sluggish acceleration. It takes close to 10 seconds to get to 60 mph. Not only is this slower than most similarly sized competitors in this price range, including the Fiat 500L, Mini Cooper S Countryman and Nissan Juke, it's something you'll notice as soon as you hit the gas pedal to merge onto the highway. Until Buick sees fit to upgrade the Encore's engine, this could be a limiting factor for many buyers. On the upside, the Encore returns above average fuel economy for its class, and it's exceptionally quiet once you're up to speed.

If you're looking for a handsome, fuel-efficient crossover to drive in the city, the 2014 Buick Encore is worth considering. If your plans include frequent road trips, however, we'd encourage you to test-drive at least a couple of its competitors, as well as larger crossovers like the CR-V, Ford Escape and Toyota RAV4, which offer significantly more space and, in most cases, better performance for similar money.

FEATURES

The 2014 Buick Encore is offered in four trim levels: Base, Convenience, Leather and Premium.

The base Encore comes standard with 18-inch painted alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, air-conditioning, cruise control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, full power accessories, a six-way power driver seat (manual recline), Bluetooth phone and audio connectivity, a rearview camera, split-folding rear seats, a fold-flat front passenger seat, OnStar telematics and a six-speaker sound system with a CD player, satellite radio, a USB/iPod interface and an auxiliary audio jack. Also included is Buick's IntelliLink control interface, which features a 7-inch touchscreen and integrated smartphone apps.

Stepping up to the Convenience adds foglights, a blind spot monitoring system with rear cross-traffic alerts, remote ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a 120-volt power outlet and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.

As you'd expect, the Leather trim level adds leather upholstery for the front seats, a driver seat with power-adjustable lumbar support, a six-way power passenger seat, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and driver memory settings.

The Premium adds rain-sensing wipers, an upgraded Bose seven-speaker sound system, front and rear parking sensors, a forward collision warning system, a lane departure warning system, and a rear cargo net and mat.

The cargo net/mat is optional on all the lower trims, while the Bose audio is also available on the Convenience and Leather trim levels. Other options, depending on trim level, include chrome wheels, a power sunroof, a navigation system and roof rack cross rails.

UNDER THE HOOD

All 2014 Buick Encore models are powered by a turbocharged 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder engine rated at 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. A six-speed automatic with a manual-shift feature is the only transmission offered, but all versions of the Encore give you the choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive.

Front-wheel-drive Encores receive EPA fuel economy estimates of 25 mpg city/33 mpg highway and 28 mpg combined, while those with all-wheel drive rate 23/30/26. In Edmunds performance testing, a front-wheel-drive Encore accelerated to 60 mph in 9.8 seconds, which is slower than most other crossovers in this price range.

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Buick Encore

Specifications

1. One engine is available, a turbocharged 1.4L 4-cylinder making 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. 2. Fuel economy is rated at 25/33 mpg (city/hwy) for front-drive models and 23/30 mpg for AWD models. 3. 10 airbags come standard. 4. Priced in the range of $24,950 to $28,940 add $750 for destination and an extra $1,500 if you want AWD.

Preview

But losing that might be more difficult than shedding the spare tire stomachs so many of its customers carry to their bridge games. Meet the 2013 Encore: Its latest stab at attracting a new demographic buyers looking for something other than boat-like cars.

A compact crossover without a specific segment to call it’s own, the Encore is similar to a hermit crab in more than its stubby shape. GM says the car doesn’t have any direct competition, but compares it most closely to the MINI Countryman and the Volkswagen Tiguan. That might be a problem, though, when factors like style, brand image and performance come into play – as they always do.

Exterior

Buick’s design language is anything but ugly. In fact, on cars like the Regal, Enclave and even Verano, it’s quite handsome. Little accents like the faux chrome hood vents and the imposing grille full of vertical bars add a touch of class to the General Motors portfolio that, while not particularly inspired, offers a degree of distinction.

Unfortunately, the Encore looks like an Enclave puppy that hasn’t grown into its paws, or in this case, headlights. That’s too bad, especially because Buick is right to recognize the burgeoning compact crossover market. It’s not all bad, though. There are at least some things to love about little utility vehicle. For example, the base model comes with standard 18-inch alloy wheels.

They aren’t as nice as the optional chrome rims, but they’re more than passable. Similarly, projector beam headlights are standard and the blue accents surrounding them distract your glance from the car’s body.

Interior

Anyone with five minutes of seat time in a Buick vehicle, or recent General Motors product for that matter, will find the Encore cabin familiar. That’s neither a good or bad thing, but more a question of preference.

Soft touch materials cover the dashboard, while the center stack’s buttons and dials are easy to understand. A seven-inch LCD display peers out from under a small dash hood. It isn’t a touch screen, but Buick was clever enough to keep it out of easy reach. That means fewer smudge marks from the occasional ignoramus who touches first and asks later.

A six-way adjustable driver’s seat is standard on all models and offers lumbar support that will extend to meet even the most concave of postures.

The seats aren’t bad, but it’s hard not to feel a little jilted when you realize that the high back is still manually adjusted. Not only that, but all the buttons serve as reminders that GM recycles cabin materials across the board.

With the rear seats sitting upright, you’ll only get 18.8 cubic feet of storage. While that expands to 48.4 with those folded, a little perspective is important here. A Hyundai Elantra GT (also a five-door compact) offers 23 cubic feet with the seats up. The two vehicles don’t compete, (by Buick’s own admission the Encore doesn’t directly compete with anything at all) but this utility vehicle is light on cargo room.

Under The Hood

Small touches can go a long way, but in the 1.4-liter turbocharged engine’s case a bigger touch would have been better.Weighing in at 3,190 lbs for the front-wheel drive and 3,309 lbs with the all-wheel drive model, this Buick begs for more power.

Acceleration around town is acceptable, especially in the standard six-speed automatic’s manual mode. Not so on the highway though.Given the small turbocharged engine, it’s disappointing that GM didn’t massage a little more power out of its motor.

You can try using the manual mode, but shifting means using a plus-minus button mounted on top of the shift lever. It’s the same system used in the Malibu and one that’s hopelessly awkward to reach.That’s disappointing because the shifts themselves are smooth and quick, but you’ll rarely want to play with it.

While extra power would make for a more inspiring drive, it would also suck down more gas. As is, the car gets an EPA estimated 25/33 mpg city/highway. That isn’t terribly impressive in today’s world of cars with 40 mpg or higher, but it isn’t bad either.

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