I’ve driven Buicks since I was in my 20’s. I’ve always appreciated their premium features at prices way lower than other luxury brands. I’m ordering a new Encore GX Avenir tomorrow. Thanks for reinforcing my decision!
Congrats on getting a first look at this! Big brands seem to really respect you, you get early access to a bunch of stuff nowadays! Keep up the good work man.
I love Buicks. I’ve had 3 and everyone is smooth, luxurious, and extremely quiet. Not to mention very reliable. JD power top pick! Buicks are the ONLY brand that keeps the old school American luxury feel. I just got the Envision and my wife has the Enclave. The only thing o wish was different is, I wish I had the new Buick badge. I like what they did there.
Actually looks good inside and outside. I wasn’t expecting Buick to raise the bar this generation. Also liking the redesigned logo as well. Better then older one
@@RaitisRides ooohh...like what? Do tell! I'm really into Buick. I'm hearing some rumors that the Enclave redesign will come out next year for 2025....I'm in the market for a new SUV... wondering if I should just wait to see what the redesign will be. 🤔
We just bought a new 2023 model. Didn't get all the bells and whistles, but it has what we wanted. I was skeptical of the inline 3 but it is impressive. We like it!! And to be honest I like the grill on the 2023 much more than the one reviewed here...to each his own.
I have a 2022 and I couldn't agree more, the new Grill to me screams Ford Escape had sex w/ a Hyundai Kona, and for a brand hoping to be thought of as "luxury" those 2 are not who I should be thinking.
Just bought this in the preferred trim, AWD with comfort package remote start. Totaled my 2017 BMW X1. I’m overall happy with my new Encore GX.. Aesthetics sold me with the new body style. The GX is Quiet, comfortable enough and did not hurt my wallet.
Underrated gem! I drove the 2023 AWD with the 9 speed gearbox and it was a peppy! Also the 3 cylinder has a gurgle to it that IMO sounds more appealing than you average 4 pot.
I just went to test drive a brand new 2023 Encore GX and for the price of $25k that this dealership offered to me, I'm tempted to get one. With remote start, heated seats, and AWD, it's hard to find other cars competitive in the same price range
CX-30 or 5. If you haven’t purchased yet, give them a drive before hand. You may find they aren’t for you but they are worth a look. Very reliable as well.
@@AIGeneratedUser100% agree, I used to work for a car company where I'd take pictures and drive all sorts of cars around to get the right lighting for the pictures and stuff. Mazda is so comfortable, mazda may not be luxury, but they are premium
Great review and a history lesson too! I will acknowledge that Buick is heading in the right direction with this refreshed model, but not enough to sway me from Lexus.
The reason the passenger seat has to have the manual back is so that it can fold flat. A selling feature of this and the Trailblazer is that the front passenger seat can be folded flat for really long items and I do actually use that feature in mine. I plan to trade for a facelifted one too. But yeah, long story short That's why they did that. It wouldn't be practical to have to use the power back to fold that seat flat. I know this was highlighted in the video as a luxury but I'd be scared to drive with anyone like that though lol. So I more so see this feature being for like ladders and such 🙂
I love your videos, not only because it is a car review channel, but your sense of humor like " They´re a valued person as well it´s not only about you !"
Will be trading in my 2022 gx for this new model when it comes out, couldn’t decide on the color but this review made my decision for the red! First car was a 2005 Buick rainier and have been loyal to the brand since!
Excellent video as usual. This new Encore looks nice. For some reason some of the lines look similar to a 2020 Hyundai Tucson, but in general it looks nice. I hope this brand improves its reliability. 👍
Can not wait to race this against the Porsche Macan Turbo!😊 Love the luxury interior white styling! It a limousine in the back too!😮 Place my order for fully loaded Encore GX, $39K!😊
I saw a ‘23 Encore the other day from the rear 3/4 view and I thought it looked better than the X1 it was next to. Yes I was shocked too! This one is even nicer looking but I have yet to see it in person. GM has proven it can make anything it wants to and do it very well!
My wife has the 2023 ST model. I was very sceptical about the 3 cylinder turbo but I have to admit there is nothing wrong with it. It’s more then adequate and pleasant to drive.
I like it! I know it's built on the same platform as the Chevy Trailblazer, & it's better appointed & more costly... but it's a nice alternative. Good job, Buick.
I cannot imagine a real-world buying decision where equal priorities resulted in a comparison between a Buick and a Lexus. They're focused on different things.
@@lucasworktv yeah really, they're japanese and known for their reliability, and buick is american and GM is known for their cheap materials and poorly made vehicles. lexus is generally better
They should not have spelled out BUICK on the back. With the new design and logo it would have alot of people scratching their head wondering what it was. Personally with the new logo, if they didn't write BUICK anywhere, I could see them selling more.
Buick did a nice job with this update but I'm going to wait and see if they do an even better job with the 2024 ENVISION! Hopefully they can update the interior like this and make a little better suspension than before.
@@PatrickJTezak Thanks for the reply. So not a whole new design as with that Electra 5, but a revision. I sure hope they take advantage of the screens versus the Encore and Envista.
For YEARS Raiti's voice has sounded so familiar to me and I could not figure it out, today I have! If anyone remembers Car and Driver television on TNN/Spike, Raiti sounds like the host in later years, Larry Webster
Very well-done review. If I were in the market for a newer vehicle, I would consider the Encore GX. I like the previous generation styling, but the redesign & the updated logo is starting to grow on me. What I am curious about is whether that 3 cylinder is good for the long haul. I also wonder about that digital dash and if that ever zonks out after warranty how much that will cost to repair. Regarding the CVT transmission. I would not touch one with a 10ft pole. Hopefully GM learned something from the Saturn VUE debacle. I am a long time Saturn owner. I remember reading on the Saturn fans website about the many transmission failures that occurred with the first generation VUE & the CVT. Saturn lost a lot of customers over that situation. I hope though that the Encore GX as well other GM vehicles have a switch or button to disable the stop/start feature. That was a dumb decision just to get an extra 1 mpg.
We rented an Encore from Hertz last week for a 2,000 mile road trip around NY, MA, ME, RI, CT. We were two adults and 2 teenagers in back with carryon sized luggage. I had no idea it was only 1.3L engine, it pulled us along at 85 mph and got up to speed fast enough. i guess the 9-spd tranny did its job matched to its miniscule power. We averaged 28 mpg for the trip which included a lot of city driving with the AC full blast. Towards the end of our trip we hit a rasied island in NYC going about 40 mph and bent a wheel, but the car still tracked fine and didnt loose alignment. All that said I was impresssed with the car now knowing what they sell for, its quality feels more Japanese and seems like great value for the money. YMMV and all that.
It can actually do better on the mpg… 50 mph back roads are were these shine… my 2019 can get up to 40. And dont forget this is a legit 4 passenger suv… not a cramped little car.
I have a '17 encore preferred awd...have had for 1 1/2 yrs now..live in midwest and it is very good in snow..super quiet on highway..tight turning radius which I love..great new edition of this suv..great vid as usual too.
Biggest problem I see with this vehicle is not many people want a lousy, anemic 3 cylinder dressed up and sold at a higher price. If your willing to settle with the lethargic motor then you’ll most likely also save on the rest of the vehicle. Also I’m very disappointed that this gets terrible mpg for what you get. This car is light and has a 9 speed but only gets 28mpg out of a small 3 banger? Seems like the engine might be working hard to pull this and drinks to much in doing so. A larger motor might struggle less and get you better mpg like the 29 mpg 2.5 4 banger in the new nx
Stop zonking the antennas, because of the roof rack they make it removable so you can carry any thing that may be flat. A shark fin is to high and usually not removable. The Envista has a shark fin because it doesn't have a roof rack.
I test drove this car the other day and was quite impressed. I am still shopping for a new car, but Im 99% sure Im going to get this in the Sport Touring trim w/AWD. Its such a great looking car and lovely to drive!
I took an Encore on a road trip from San Francisco to Los Angeles and there were times when I felt like it was gna give up on me. Especially on hills. This was a 2023 model as well.
@@JodyDWard darn if you asked this right when I posted this I would of remembered. But I don’t think it’s a power issue my little corolla has made that trip no problem. Wish I could go deeper into my issue but it was just my experience and not sure if this is a reoccurring thing.
The 2024 Buick Encore GX looks great. Back 20 years ago if you bought a compact or subcompact those vehicles were designed to be basic transportation. The interiors looked so cheap. Manufacturers have come a long way. Buick needs to get their face out there. I bet if you had a prospect looking for a small crossover they probably don't have Buick on their list because they don't know about this vehicle. I think Buick has some of the nicest designs out there at the moment. Buick doesn't build passenger cars anymore. All their vehicles are crossovers. One thing I do not like is with the exception of the Enclave, all of Buick's vehicles are either built in China or South Korea. Buick is an American Brand. I know it's dollars and cents but All Buicks should be built in America. Cheers!!!
I LOVE THE STYLING. THE COLOR........AWD with 9 speed would be my choice. I'd leave the CVT tranny out. I'm sure Nissan owners would agree......PS: I think the price is surprising. GM should sell a lot of these. THANKS JOE !
I don’t know. Definitely improved inside and out, and these days not a bad value at ~34K loaded. Is the 155HP 1.3 enough? If so, barely. I can’t imagine why anyone would bother with a 1.2 CVT. The foldaway front seat has strong Korean domestic market vibes.
I've been so looking forward to this review; many thanks to you and Lori. I currently own a 2013 Buick Verano and plan to trade for the Encore GX Avenir, once it comes out. Pity it doesn't come with common features like a shark fin antenna or side mirror turn signals. Also, a hybrid powertrain or a stronger ICE would have been nice. Well, at least it has a spare tire! I hope it's as peppy as this peppy 68 yo senior lady!
Well to a point I disagree the power lumber is a plus because when you position the back of the seat you really don’t move that vs lumber you move it or look for one to be comfortable on a trip.
Highly doubt it. My friend's wife had the prior gen Encore and it was a nightmare, they had to replace (or fix) the turbos 3 times within the first 50k miles
I had a 2001 Chevy Metro 3cyl for my first car 😂 that was my only experience with one but it did have a little over 100k miles when I sold it and was still running 🤷 This probably would be fine for at least that long I would think but I'd get the extended warranty just to be safe.
I love how we focus on food storage🤣 Detroit style pizza in the side door panel and a Dunkin’ donut blueberry muffin in the middle storage compartment! 🥰🤣
Haha love the Sega Master System reference, I was a Altered Beast fan! Glad to see Buick updating the tech inside. Still want the velvet material plush seats my parents Century had lol. Keep bringing it Lori and Joe!
Really like-like the cockpit update. The rear is way more attractive and functional. I like the nice touches of Avenir and overall style. Comfort? Head rests look like they push to far forward. The boomerang thingies look out of place. Turn 'em sideways on fenders. Performance? 1.3l, 3 cylinders. Ho-hum.
Great review. I currently drive a 2019 Envision Essence. It has been a great vehicle. This is definitely a contender when I trade. And by the way I'm 49.
Wildcat front had the hood in line with the lights. I don't like how they switched it on this. It's pretty much my only problem with this redesign, design-wise. Would have been interesting if they had made it a 2-door vehicle.
I actually like The styling. And the pricing is very, very good. It's interesting that the driving lights in front and the tail lights in back seem to have the same shape as the colored portion of the reworked Buick badge. That's a nice touch. It's a little embarrassing that with a three-cylinder engine they can't even break into 30 miles per gallon on the highway..... Also, people may be reluctant to buy a car built in China.
Excellent review Joe! I would never buy a Buick in 1 million years but they did try a little. It just looks very cheap. Especially for the top trim. No ventilated seats or no power passenger back support is a huge no.
So much of this Encore GX is identical to my 22 Bolt EUV Premier, including the overall exterior styling. The only thing that would make this Buick better would be if it had the Bolt's electric drivetrain for much better performance and economy. If they sold THAT, I would drive this in a heartbeat for the more upscale styling and materials of a Buick VS a Chevy.
You can tell Encore GX which debuted in 2020 (this is a refresh) was designed in partnership w/Opel before sale. Virtual cockpit is very similar in Opel & called Pure Panel. Also, both brands use "Pure" when discussing design language. This was meant to be Opel Mokka. Envision, too, was obviously Europe bound sharing lighting set up w/Opel Corsa built after PSA take over. GM quit Mokka as it was breaking even and nearly merged with Opel
The Encore GX is cool but Buick isn't the brand it once was. I prefer the Lexus over this vehicle. Thank you Joe for the on throttle action and Lori for the angles!
