The new Encore GX becomes the first Buick to wear the brand's new tri-shield logo.
Buick has introduced the 2024 Encore GX, the first product to officially wear the brand's new tri-shield logo. The badge signifies a new era for Buick as it moves away from the rebadged Opel era after GM sold that particular part of its portfolio to Groupe PSA before it became Stellantis.
The updated design is a welcome departure from the pre-facelifted car's unimaginative exterior. It wasn't particularly offensive, but rather 170 inches of generic compact SUV. As you can see, the refreshed exterior uses styling cues first seen on the Buick Wildcat EV concept and, more recently, on the incoming Electra EV.
This is as substantial as facelifts get, with an entirely new front-end design that consists of slim LED daytime running lights, an elegant grille flanked by the main LED headlights, and that new badge now pasted prominently and proudly to the body. The updated rear is more subtle, but it also has the new badge and redesigned taillights, LED items on ST and Avenir trims.
The updated interior is built around what Buick calls the Virtual Cockpit System (VCS). VCS consists of an 11-inch infotainment system and a configurable eight-inch digital instrument cluster. Both screens are angled toward the driver, and the infotainment side comes standard with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Thankfully, Buick has kept the HVAC controls separate and within easy reach.
To keep things classy, the interior has the obligatory soft-touch materials and upmarket stitching patterns. The Avenir and ST logos are also stitched into the headrests of their respective trims. The ST also has a flat-bottomed steering wheel for that sporty feeling.
Speaking of, this is the first time the Avenir is being used as a trim designation for the Encore GX range. This follows after Buick saw adoption rates of this particular trim increase to 27% and 28% on the Enclave and Envision, respectively.
The Encore GX Avenir ships with a model-specific grille, clear lens LED taillights, unique 19-inch wheels, chrome accents on the front and rear bumpers, and black carbon metallic body side molding.
As you'd expect, the interior is plush. Standard features include an interior finished in Whisper Beige and Jet Black, leather seats, power-adjustable front seats, a heated steering wheel, and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
All models are equipped with the Buick Driver Confidence package, which consists of automatic emergency braking, lane keep assist and departure warning, and IntelliBeam automatic headlights.
Customers can add more advanced driving assistance features like adaptive cruise control with automatic emergency braking, lane change alert and blind-spot monitoring, and a rearview mirror with a camera display.
The standard 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine is carried over unchanged, as is the optional 1.3-liter turbo. Buick's standard powertrain produces 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, while the additional 0.1 liters of capacity takes outputs up to 155 hp and 174 lb-ft.
Front-wheel drive is standard, as is a CVT transmission. An all-wheel-drive option is available for all models, and it adds a more conventional and responsive nine-speed automatic transmission. According to GM's estimates, FWD models can do 30 mpg on the combined cycle, and opting for AWD will result in a three mpg penalty.
Buick will start production of the 2024 Encore GX next month, and it will be available at dealers this spring. Pricing starts at $26,895 for the Preferred trim, increasing to $28,095 for the Sport Touring. The all-new Avenir trim starts at $33,195.
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