![]() That said, it’s never as solid as a German alternative, but it’s not the same price either. But it is smooth, refined and feels of good quality, so it at least has that going for it. The Encore GX gets the job done and that’s about it. However, don’t expect anything thrilling or as engaging as a Mazda CX-30 or even a Seltos. ![]() Obviously, because the 2021 Buick Encore GX rides on the same platform as a Trailblazer, its driving dynamics are rather similar, and that’s a good thing, because this platform has a nimble, spirited feet to it that allows the Encore GX to be rather enjoyable to flog around on a highway offramp. Final price for the model you see here was $37,683 due to all the added packages. However, you are getting a considerably more upscale vehicle with the Buick. The one I’m driving is the top-shelf Encore GX Essence, which stickers for $34,748, or about $2,000 more than a top-spec Trailblazer. Strangely, the Encore GX kicks off at an almost identical 26 098 $ base price as its Chevy twin. Now, when I say it’s a better value than a Trailblazer, I refer to what you’re getting for the price. That engine is also paired to a much more interesting nine-speed automatic transmission. Once you tick off the all-wheel-drive option, engine displacement is bumped to 1.3 liter, with horsepower climbing to 155 and torque set at 174 lb-ft. This engine can only be mated to a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and front-wheel drive. This therefore rides on the same platform, and offers the same drivetrain options as a Chevrolet Trailblazer, meaning the base engine is a 1.2-liter unit good for 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. The Encore GX therefore slots over the puny little Encore, but underneath an Envision within the Buick lineup. When I say the Encore GX is an extension of the Encore lineup, I mean that like the Trailblazer, it fits in a new in-betweener segment of crossovers that sit somehwhere between subcompact and compact dimensions. Given 2020 was its first year of production and, well, a global pandemic happened, that’s pretty good. This Encore GX, which isn’t a replacement, but an extension of the original Encore lineup, has already shipped 50,000 North American units. The last generation Encore sold quite well, with about 110,000 units sold in the US and Canada combined. Whatever Buick’s strategy is with this thing, it seems to be working. And, perhaps ironically, it’s an even better value than the Chevrolet it’s based on. I reckon this is more of a direct rival to the recent crop of cute-utes from mainstream brands like the Mazda CX-30 or Kia Seltos. So no, the 2021 Buick Encore GX doesn’t measure up to an Audi Q3, BMW X1/X2, Mercedes-Benz GLA or even GM’s own Cadillac XT4 in terms of luxury, but it is sold at a much more affordable price point.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |