See why the 2020 Buick Encore stands out from the rest! When it was first introduced, the Buick Encore blazed the trail as a compact SUV. The new Encore has a revised front appearance and a quiet cabin, comfortable interior, generous infotainment features, and state of the art technology. The Encore now has an 8-inch color touchscreen infotainment center and is now equipped with Android Auto or Apple Car Play. Smaller than any other Buick in the lineup, this versatile SUV is ideal for commuting, weekend adventures, and families on the go! Are you interested in taking the new Encore for a test drive? Read on to learn more about this top-rated option.
Acceleration is a weakness for the Encore, as it takes 9.8 seconds to get to 60 miles per hour. It is a little less than that with the stronger engine, but not a lot. The fuel economy is estimated at a combined 26 or 28 miles per gallon depending on configuration. It can stop from 60 miles per hour in 123 feet.
The car weighs in at 3,244 pounds. It has a 100.6 inch wheel base. The Encore is 69.9 inches wide and 65.2 inches tall, and has a length of 168 inches. The Encore has 93 cubic feet for passengers, and 19 cubic feet of cargo space.
A lot is new this year with a major update to the Encore. The front end is a little sleeker, and the car is a little lower. The 8-inch touchscreen is a major addition, as well as many other technological advances. A new interior has the feel of luxury even in a small package.
The 2020 Buick Encore is available in four trims: 1SV, Preferred, Sport Touring, and Essence.
Even the base level has a lot of standard features, such as a mobile 4G Wifi hotspot, 18-inch alloy wheels, and a 1.4-liter, four-cylinder engine. The Sport Touring ads fog lamps, rear spoiler and remote start. The Preferred 2 adds dual zone climate controls, household style electrical outlet, and blind spot warnings. The Essence adds LED lights, leather upholstery and other luxuries. The Premium adds front and rear parking sensors and lots of other technologies.
The base engine is a 1.4-liter four cylinder that cranks out 138 horsepower and 177 foot-pounds of torque. A second engine is the same size, but modifications make it have 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The higher powered engine is available on all but the lowest trim levels. All Encores have a six-speed automatic transmission. All-wheel drive and front-wheel drive are available.
A rearview camera is standard at all levels, as well as a trial version of OnStar. Onstar provides crash notification, on-demand roadside assistance, remote door unlocking and stolen vehicle help. A blind spot warning and cross traffic alert are standard at the mid levels. Forward collision warning and lane departure warnings are standard on the Premium version.
Edmunds testing says the smallness of the car gives it a feeling of being nimble. It is easy to operate in city traffic and in crowded parking lots. The suspension favors comfort over handling though, but it can still fit into small parking spaces. The car is very quiet and offers a smooth ride. Critics say the smaller engine does not seem powerful enough, and lacks acceleration, but the larger engine works fine.
Government safety tests gave it five out of five stars for overall crash protection. Frontal crash protection and side impact crashes also received the highest government rating. The Insurance Institute also gave it good marks in crash tests, and for its roof strength.