GM's budget-friendly small crossovers had a good run.
This should not come as a surprise to anyone. In fact, it's amazing how long both of these subcompact crossovers have been on the market. The Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore are set to be discontinued at the conclusion of the 2022 model year, according to a report from GM Authority. They'll be replaced by the already on sale Chevy Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX.
The Trax and Encore went on sale for the 2015 and 2013 model years, respectively and GM has updated them over the years to keep things fresh. Many assumed they would have been dropped from the lineups a couple of years ago when the Trailblazer and Encore GX arrived but GM opted not to. Why? Because both maintained very strong sales.
Their successors are far more upmarket and, therefore, could quickly become more expensive once option packages were factored into the equation. However, sales have gradually declined since those successors hit the market. There's simply no reason to keep them around any longer. Both are assembled in South Korea and production will officially conclude in August.
GM always intended to discontinue them but the timing had to be right. With sales of the Trailblazer and Encore GX stronger than ever, that time has come. Last year, Trax sales dropped by 60 percent while Encore deliveries were down by 52 percent. A few years ago, GM had a choice: either heavily update the now-outgoing crossovers or replace them entirely.
The latter decision has proven to be the correct one. The Trailblazer and Encore GX both have longer wheelbases, enabling greater overall rear-seat space and cargo capacity despite only being a few inches longer. Their interiors are also far more premium thanks to better styling and higher quality build materials.
Interestingly, a GM spokesperson has not officially confirmed the models' discontinuation at this time. We've reached out to both Chevy and Buick and we'll update this space if we receive a response. What's for certain is that Chevy will continue to sell five crossovers and Buick will have four.
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