Buick Encore
The Buick Encore is a subcompact crossover SUV built by General Motors since 2012. It is Buick's first subcompact crossover SUV and fourth SUV overall after the 2002 Rendezvous, 2004 Rainier, and 2008 Enclave.[1]
Buick Encore | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | General Motors |
Production | 2012–present |
Model years | 2013–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Subcompact crossover SUV |
Body style | 5-door SUV |
First generation (2013)
First generation | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Opel Mokka Vauxhall Mokka (United Kingdom) |
Production | 2012–present 2012–2019 (China) |
Model years | 2013–present |
Assembly |
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Body and chassis | |
Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive |
Platform | GM Gamma II platform |
Related | Chevrolet Trax Chevrolet Aveo/Sonic |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,555 mm (100.6 in) |
Length | 4,280 mm (168.5 in) |
Width | 1,775 mm (69.9 in) |
Height | 1,646 mm (64.8 in) |
Kerb weight | 1,293 kg (2,851 lb) (2WD) 1,386 kg (3,056 lb) (4WD) |
The first generation Buick Encore is essentially the North American version of the Opel Mokka. The First generation Encore debuted at the 2012 North American International Auto Show[2] in Detroit on January 10, 2012, and went on sale at the end of 2012. It is available in front wheel drive (FWD) and all wheel drive (AWD) versions.
The 2013 through 2015 Buick Encore was offered in Base, Convenience, Leather, and Premium level models with the A14NET 1.4-liter inline-four multi port fuel injected (MFI) VVT turbo gasoline engine rated at 138 hp @ 4900 rpm coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
For 2016, a new Sport Touring second tier model was added which included unique 18" aluminium alloy wheels with midnight silver finish, rear spoiler, body color door handles, remote start, fog lamps, and a new more powerful GM B14XFT Ecotec inline four cylinder direct fuel injection (DI) VVT engine rated at 153 hp @ 5600 rpm in the Buick Encore literature. However, Opel rates the engine at 112 kW (150 hp) @ 4900-6000 rpm.
The Ecotec direct injection engine package includes Stop/Start technology to improve fuel economy and was made available as an option on all but the base model for 2017 and 2018.[3] In 2017, the model levels became Base, Preferred, Sport Touring, Preferred II, Essence, and Premium.
2017 facelift
For 2017, the Buick Encore received revised headlights and bumpers, LED tail lights, and the interior received a revised dash and gauge cluster with a 4.2 inch information screen, a revised center stack, and infotainment system with an 8-inch frameless screen. The faux fender ports, marketed as VentiPorts on models from 2013 to 2016, were deleted.[4][5]
- 2013 Buick Encore (U.S.)
- 2013 Buick Encore rear view (U.S.)
- 2017 Buick Encore (China)
- 2017 facelift Buick Encore (U.S.)
2013–2018 owner's manuals for the Buick Encore state that the vehicle is not designed for trailer towing.[6] However, the 2013 through 2018 owner's manuals for the Opel counterpart of the Buick Encore, the Opel Mokka, do provide information for trailer towing.[7] This is due to the different regulations in Europe and the United States.
The 2018 Opel Mokka X brochure includes a data table indicating allowable trailer weights for Mokka X vehicles, having various FWD and AWD powertrain configurations, including the 1.4-liter engines coupled with automatic transmission.[8] An aftermarket class II 1 to 1/4" receiver style hitch rated for 3500 lbs. maximum gross trailer weight is available for the Buick Encore. The Buick Encore is assembled at the GM Korea plant in Bupyeong, South Korea and marketed in North America. The Chinese market Buick Encore is assembled in Shanghai.
Safety
Small overlap frontal offset impact – driver side | Good |
Small overlap frontal offset impact – passenger side | Acceptable |
Moderate overlap frontal offset impact | Good |
Side impact | Good |
Roof strength | Good |
Head restraints & seats (power leather seats) | Good |
Headlights | Poor |
Second generation (2020)
Second generation | |
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Overview | |
Production | 2019–present |
Model years | 2020–present |
Assembly | China: Shanghai (SAIC-GM) |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Subcompact crossover SUV |
Body style | 5-door SUV |
Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel drive or all-wheel-drive |
Platform | GM GEM platform |
Related | Chevrolet Tracker (2019) |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,570 mm (101.2 in) |
Length | 4,295 mm (169.1 in) |
Width | 1,798 mm (70.8 in) |
Height | 1,616 mm (63.6 in) |

The second-generation Buick Encore was revealed alongside the Buick Encore GX during the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show.[10] It will be available with either a 1.0 liter inline-3 turbo petrol engine producing 92 kW (123 hp) or a 1.3 liter inline-3 turbo petrol engine producing 121 kW (162 hp).
The second-generation Encore will not be exported to North America, since it uses the GEM platform intended for emerging markets. The first generation Encore will continue to be sold in North America instead, except in Mexico where it has been replaced by the Encore GX. The larger Buick Encore GX will be added to both the Chinese and North American markets in 2020.
Sales
Calendar year | United States | China[11] |
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2013 | 31,956[12] | 61,563 |
2014 | 48,892[13] | 82,346 |
2015 | 67,549[14] | 82,013 |
2016 | 78,565[15] | 71,945 |
2017 | 88,035[16] | 41,129 |
2018 | 93,073[17] | 15,177 |
2019 | 102,402[18] | 21,381 |
2020 | 41,752[19] | 20,538 |
References
- "2013 Buick Encore Takes the Stage". General Motors. Retrieved 25 June 2012.
- "GM teases five-seat 2013 Buick Encore mini crossover SUV ahead of North American International Auto Show reveal in Detroit". Car and Driver. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 14 December 2011.
- Auto Engine Stop/Start Archived 2016-07-05 at the Wayback Machine, 2016 Buick Encore Owner's Manual, General Motors LLC., 2015, p.158
- 2014-2016 Buick Encore Dash Archived 2016-03-22 at the Wayback Machine, 2016 Buick Encore Brochure, General Motors LLC., 2016, p.6
- 2017-2018 Buick Encore Dash Archived 2016-11-08 at the Wayback Machine, 2017 Buick Encore Brochure, General Motors LLC., 2017, p.6
- Trailer Towing Archived 2017-12-13 at the Wayback Machine, 2018 Buick Encore Owner's Manual, General Motors LLC., 2017, p.197
- Trailer Towing, 2018 Opel Mokka X Owner's Manual, Adam Opel Gmb, Rüsselsheim, Germany, 2017, pp. 174-177
- Weights and Towing Data Archived 2017-12-06 at the Wayback Machine, 2018 Opel Mokka X Brochure, Opel Automobile Ireland Limited, p.37
- 2016 Buick Encore IHS crash worthiness and avoidance ratings Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute
- Golson, Daniel (22 April 2019). "This Is (Probably) the Next-Gen Buick Encore for the U.S." Car and Driver. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
- "Buick Encore China Sales".
- "GM U.S. Deliveries for December 2013" (PDF). General Motors. 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-01-06.
- "GM Deliveries up 19 percent in Blockbuster December". General Motors. 2015-01-05. Retrieved 2015-01-08.
- "GM, Chevrolet Lead with Industry's Largest Retail Market Share Increases of 2015". General Motors. 2016-01-05. Retrieved 2016-01-07.
- "Chevrolet and GM Lead U.S. Retail Sales and Share Gains for 2016". General Motors. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2017-01-04.
- http://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2018/jan/0103-gmsales.html
- https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2019/jan/0103-gmsales.html
- "GM Sells More Than 1 Million Crossovers Again in 2019, and Over 1 Million Full-Size Trucks". 2020-01-03.
- https://media.gm.com/media/us/en/gm/home.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2021/jan/0105-gmsales.html