2017 Buick Encore Review: Refresh Works Wonders
Buick was early to the subcompact crossover game, debuting the Encore for 2013 before everyone else jumped on the bandwagon. For the 2017 model year, Buick gives the Encore its first major refresh with styling now inspired by the Avenir Concept and LaCrosse. But underneath a refreshed exterior and interior, the platform and mechanicals remain the same as before. Buyers still have a choice between front- and all-wheel drive and two 1.4-liter turbocharged engines - a 138 horsepower base engine and a direct injection version offering 153 hp. For 2017 the Encore is priced between $22,990 - $32,870, so it's $1,075 cheaper, too, which places it in good stead against rivals like the Nissan Rogue Sport and Kia Niro and setting it aside from the Chevrolet Trax with which it shares underpinnings.
What's the Price of the 2017 Buick Encore?
The refreshed Buick Encore is priced in the market with a lineup starting MSRP of $22,990 for the 1SV. Moving into the mid-tier trims sees a sticker price of $24,365 for the Preferred, $25,565 for the Sport Touring, and $26, 865 for the Preferred II. At the upper echelons of the lineup is the Encore Essence, priced at $29,065, and at the pinnacle of the lineup is the Premium, slapped with a sticker price of $30,465. An AWD configuration will set one back $1,500 and optioning in the more potent engine option another $905. All prices are excluding tax, registration, and licensing fee, as well as Buick's destination charge of $895.
2017 Encore Exterior
Dimensions
Length | Wheelbase | Height | Max Width | Front Width | Rear Width | Curb Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
168.4 in | 100.6 in | 65.3 in | 69.9 in | 60.6 in | 60.6 in | 3,237.0 lbs |
2017 Encore Performance
Handling and Driving Impressions
The Buick Encore rides tall - taller than hatchback-based crossovers like the Mazda CX-3 - and as a result, it feels like there is pronounced body roll around corners. However, the Encore is actually highly composed, even if it isn't the kind of crossover you'll be throwing around corners. It wouldn't give you much joy to do so, either, as the Buick Encore is a vehicle devoid of much driver enjoyment and involvement. The steering is light and direct and responds well to inputs, but it offers minimal genuine feedback.
Likewise, the suspension doesn't really communicate much through to the driver. It filters small bumps and changes in camber out of the drive completely and does a superb job of ironing out larger bumps too. It isolates the occupants from the road with impeccable damping at any speed and on any surface, even mild dirt roads. Despite the comfort levels, it's not a particularly wallowy ride, showing utmost composure at any sane speed. At low speeds, the Encore is highly maneuverable and the commanding view and direct steering make maneuvering tight spots a breeze.
The Encore's party trick is the refinement of its ride and the noise insulation. Noise-canceling speakers and loads of sound deadening do a fine job of keeping wind and road noise out of the cabin, which only becomes truly apparent when you reach highway speeds in near silence. Between the insulation, uncommunicative steering, soft, cosseting suspension, and the smooth automatic gearbox, the Encore completely isolates occupants from the drive.
2017 Encore Interior
2017 Encore Trunk and Cargo Space
Warranty
Basic | Drivetrain | Rust-Through | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
---|---|---|---|---|
4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 6 Years / 70,000 Miles | 6 Years / Unlimited Miles | 4 Years / 50,000 Miles | 6 Years / 70,000 Miles |
US NHTSA Crash Test Result
Overall Rating | Frontal Barrier Crash Rating | Side Crash Rating | Rollover Rating |
---|---|---|---|
5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Verdict: Is the 2017 Buick Encore A Good SUV?
It's a great pity the best safety features are saved only for the top-tier Premium trim, as it's price pushes it into the category of a larger, more premium vehicle, and safety should be more widely available. But that aside, the Buick Encore is, as it has been since 2013, a solid luxury proposition in the subcompact crossover segment. We recommend the Encore in Essence trim with the more powerful engine upgrade, but that said, we only recommend it for those who want an appliance to get from A to B. If an involving drive is what you're after, you'd be better off looking at something else, perhaps the Mazda CX-3 which offers a more engaging driving experience.
What Buick Encore Model Should I Buy?
With the Encore Essence's comprehensive inclusion of standard features and with its availability of the optional 158 hp engine and AWD system, we'd call it out as the smartest pick of the lot. That is of course with those two options taken advantage of. Above the lower-level trim options, the Essence offers a heated steering wheel, heated front seats, a six-way power-adjustable passenger seat, and leather-appointed upholstery. It also has access to the optional eight-speaker Bose audio system as well as an Experience Buick Package which comprises navigation and a power tilt/sliding moonroof amongst other things, both of which we suggest including.
2017 Buick Encore Comparisons
2017 Buick Encore vs Buick Envision
The Buick Envision is plus-minus $10,000 more than the Encore at the base level but is a more premium offering and sits in a larger segment than the Encore. There are both naturally aspirated and turbocharged engines available within the Envision lineup, both more powerful than the Encore's. They are, however, moderately less economical than the Encore's as a result of the Envision's larger size. The Envision is heavily outfitted with features overall as well as with luxury-focused trim elements from the base level trim onward. Moving up the trim ladder compounds on the luxury aspect of the Envision even further. It is also rated for towing with a maximum tow capacity of 1,500 lbs, which with its 26.9 cubic feet of trunk space make it far more practical than the Encore. Deciding between which Buick to opt for comes down to two things; pricing and practicality. As the two models' pricing points represent their relative value quite accurately, the decision comes down to how much the buyer is willing to spend. In terms of practicality, however, the Envision is the no brainer.
2017 Buick Encore vs Honda HR-V
Although the Encore is technically a premium product courtesy of the Buick badge, it has the humble bones of the Chevrolet Trax; some premium finishes can't hide this. Where this starts to show is in comparison with a product like the Honda HR-V. Despite being $3,000 cheaper in base guise, the HR-V feels more premium in general, with the plastic panels feeling of a higher quality. The HR-V is more enjoyable to drive, too, providing more communication and enjoyment than the Buick. It's more spacious, boasts a greater cargo volume, and even boasts comparable gas mileage estimates. It may be lacking in the infotainment stakes and ultimate luxury features, but with several grand in savings, the value for money aspect is impossible to consider. That aside, the HR-V is comprehensively better than the Encore.