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The idea of a subcompact crossover seems like an imported one, but it's Buick of all brands that has put it into practice. The Encore has the footprint of an economy car, and yet offers everything the public likes about crossovers, albeit on a smaller scale. Because it's a Buick, you have access to a plethora of luxury and convenience features usually associated with larger, more expensive vehicles.
What's New For 2015
The standard Onstar system now comes with a built-in WiFi hotspot.
Choosing Your Buick Encore
The Encore's interior is more spacious than you might expect given its petite exterior dimensions. There's 18.8 cubic- feet of cargo space behind the rear seat, which is more than you get in Buick's largest sedan. With the seat folded, you're looking at 48.4 cubic-feet, which is similar to a compact wagon. The front passenger seat folds down as well, a nifty feature that allows you carry long objects (up to 8 feet) and still close the tailgate.
The Encore's turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder engine produces 138 horsepower and is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive is available across the board in place of the standard front-drive setup. You can expect to get about 28 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
Like other Buicks, the Encore is generously equipped from the start, and becomes downright luxurious as you move up the trim levels:
Base
Comes standard with a power driver seat, Bluetooth phone and audio, a rearview camera, integrated smartphone apps, 18-inch alloy wheels and a six-speaker sound system with satellite radio. Infotainment and communications can be easily managed using Buick's IntelliLink 7-inch touchscreen interface.
Leather
Spruces up the interior with leather upholstery, heated front seats, driver memory, a power passenger seat and a heated steering wheel.
Premium
Tops off the Encore with a premium Bose seven-speaker sound system, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, rain-sensing wipers, and a rear cargo net and mat. (The Bose system and cargo upgrades are available as single options on the Convenience and Leather models.)
You can still add more to the Encore, including individual options such as chrome wheels, a sunroof, navigation and roof rails.
Believe it or not, there's only about a $4,800 difference between the bottom and top of the Encore line. Needless to say, the price increases between trim levels are small considering everything you get. We find the Convenience trim to be an especially good deal.
