2013 Buick Encore

Stand-up:  No one is doing small premium better than Buick these days and their latest effort is a variation on the small SUV.  This is the all-new Buick Encore.

Buick continues to carve out a niche for itself by importing some of its global portfolio to the United States with a focus on small-premium.  And the Encore builds on the success of the recently introduced Verano sedan by following a similar formula of blazing a new trail.

Sized a little smaller than the departed Pontiac Vibe but with a taller profile to give it more of an SUV-like appearance, the Encore delivers a higher driving position yet maintains a motoring style more akin to a sports compact.  Though at first I viewed the Encore as being too stubby, its modern crossover design really grew on me and the attention given to sculpting tasteful details into the body won me over.  The white pearl tricoat, blue-accented projector-beam headlamps and 18” chromed aluminum wheels combine to complete the winning look.

Fit it with a spunky turbo, a willing 6-speed auto with manual mode, quick and tactile electric steering and a European tuned ride quality favoring sporty handling and the Encore has that fun-to-drive attribute most often found in small, nimble vehicles.  A perfect fit for the urban environment, the diminutive Encore happily slices up traffic and squeezes into tight parking spaces furthering its driver connectedness.  It’s got a bit of go-cart in its genes.  Power stems from a 1.4-liter Ecotec 4-cylinder with a broad power range that can sustain 148 pound feet of torque.  Stepping-off, the Encore isn’t go to blow you away with its acceleration, which takes over 9-seconds to reach 60mph, but rarely did I ever think about a need for more power with perhaps the exception of times when the Encore was climbing a long, steep country road.  Gas mileage, on regular, is rated at 23mpg city/30mpg highway.  It’s an engaging drive but its short wheelbase and taut suspension tuning, including a torsion beam in the rear, mean you’ll feel a lot of the road beneath you though not in an invasive way.  Buick’s first application of Bose Active Noise Cancellation keeps the sound of moving parts to a minimum and QuietTuning is standard.

Stand-up: The Encore’s cabin has a rich, welcoming, modern feel.  And even though the dimensions are tidy you can still transport up to 5 in comfort.

I love the saddle interior on my tester, smartly complimented by wood and metal accents.  This top trim Premium model also comes with an impressive list of features that places it in the premium segment sweet spot: remote start, memory package, heated front seats, heated steering wheel, rain sensing wipers, forward collision alert, lane departure warning and more.  Optionally, the navigation system displays on a bright, high-res 7”-screen and includes all of the goodies bundled with IntelliLink, like music services, weather and more. And of course, On Star in onboard.  Rear seat head and leg room are comfortably ample and the cargo area opens up to accept over 48 cubic feet.

Stand-up: One of the not so flattering aspects of the new Encore is its generally poor outward visibility highlighted by these thick A pillars which always seem to be in the way.

Acknowledging this fact, Buick has added built-in blind spot circles to the side view mirrors.

Available in 4 trims levels with or without all-wheel drive, pricing starts at about $25,000 and comes in loaded like this one for $32,975.  It’s another success for Buick and should have shoppers calling for an Encore.