![]() The trick in selling premium cars is to build an inexpensive car that looks and feels expensive. ![]() With the rear seats up, the Encore GX has 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space, and it sports a two-level cargo floor and on some versions, a hands-free power tailgate. The rear seats split and fold forward for a total of 50.2 cubic feet of storage, and the front passenger seat folds flat to make room for objects up to 8 feet long. It has less than half an inch more in rear-seat leg room, but the GX feels more roomy than the old Encore. The rear seat cushion tilts at the forward edge for good comfort, and the door cuts make it easy to step into the Encore GX. The bench doles out three seatbelts, but two adults take up most of the available space. The back seat in the Encore GX fares much better. The GX has a deep, narrow center console, and a deep, narrow bin for smartphones, as well as door pockets big enough for water bottles and a usefully sized glove box. It’s a shame the seats are so narrow, though: Like the Chevy Blazer and other recent GM cars, the Encore GX’s best seats still seem too slim and flat to feel comfortable for long-distance driving. We weren’t able to drive a base model with manual seats, but the Essence version we drove had leather power seats with a lot of vertical travel to ensure a good driving position. The Encore GX presents front passengers with an attractive dash, upholstered in synthetic leather on the most expensive versions, and fitted with a cleanly designed touchscreen interface. In all, the Encore GX tames the road better than the standard Encore. While engine noise is muted, the suspension thunks as the tires try to cope with potholes and steel patches. The GX’s light steering doesn’t deliver much feel, though the brake-pedal feedback is tuned well. It takes a more stable set as speeds rise on wide, long curves and outshines the old Encore, which carries into 2021 in a few low-priced trims. It’s absorbent enough on city roads, and mostly calm at highway speeds on decent roads. Ride quality trumps handling with the Encore GX. The Encore GX weighs from 3,025 to 3,273 pounds, and some models can tow up to 1,000 pounds. The CVT acts nearly invisibly, an exception among small cars there’s even a clicker to change through simulated low gears. Behind plenty of sound deadening, the engine sounds well-muted under hard acceleration. We drove the CVT version, which makes the most of the low-rev torque peak and extracts a 0-60 mph time quoted by Buick at about eight seconds. A $395 option, it’s paired with a CVT as a front-driver, and with a 9-speed automatic with all-wheel drive. That 1.3-liter turbo-3 develops 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. Ample back-seat head and leg room turn into 50.2 cubic feet of cargo space with the back seats folded down. Four adults fit well, but Buick fits narrow front seats that don’t fit wider bodies well. Interior space seems more expansive in the Encore GX, though it’s not much larger than the Encore. It rides well, but it’s not so interested in the loopy country roads you save for weekends. Teamed with a continuously variable automatic transmission (CVT) or a 9-speed automatic (front- and all-wheel drive, respectively), the powertrain lays down eight-second 0-60 mph times, plenty for the Encore GX’s commuter-car mission. A lower-output 1.2-liter version comes standard, but a $395 upcharge brings the Encore GX a better-tuned 1.3-liter turbo-3 with 155 horsepower and ample low-end torque. The cabin works harder to earn your vote, with high-end models draped in metallic trim, upholstered dash panels, and a smarter touchscreen with an easier to use interface.Ī turbo-3 engine powers the Encore GX, and it’s more impressive than the 4-cylinder it replaces. The GX’s cresty, curvy body isn’t much bigger or wider than before but it’s more handsome, and wears better details from its chrome roofline trim to its softly rounded LED taillights. The Encore GX revisits the same premium hatchback/crossover puzzle as the prior Encore, but it solves it more convincingly. (We rated the 2020 Encore at 5.0 out of 10.) Offered in Preferred, Select, and Essence versions, the 2021 Encore GX earns a TCC Rating of 6.0 out of 10. ![]() The GX is the Encore you want to drive, though, thanks to gains in styling, safety, and features. ![]() It’s offering the older Encore hatchback while it introduces the new Encore GX, which isn’t much more expensive or much bigger. Buick does a double take for the 2021 model year.
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