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- Highs Comfortable and well-designed cabin, peppy-enough optional engine, a host of tech features.
- Lows Aims at interior luxury but falls a bit short, mild-mannered standard engine, excessive lean in corners.
- Verdict The 2018 Buick Encore provides a comfortable ride, plenty of cargo room, a wealth of tech features, and a pleasant-enough interior that falls just short of true luxury.
Overview
Slotting into the Buick SUV lineup beneath the garage-hogging Enclave and the middle-child Envision, the Buick Encore distills the near-luxury ambience of its big brothers into a bite-sized niblet. Its interior is comfortable, well designed, and more premium than most of its rivals, but it never quite reaches full-luxury levels of comfort. High-tech infotainment features abound, and the Encore has room for four adults, as long as each one packs lightly. This baby Buick aims high but ultimately falls short of competing with luxury-branded crossovers with similarly diminutive footprints, such as the BMW X1 and the Lexus NX—but then it’s not nearly as expensive as those models, either. Instead, it makes a case for itself as an in-betweener by outluxing subcompact crossovers from mainstream makers Nissan, Honda, and Chevrolet. With the Encore, you pay more, but you get more.
What's New for 2018?
Buick’s petite SUV kicks off the new year with a handful of changes. An ionizing interior air cleaner enhances the Encore’s climate-control system, HD radio joins the list of features in the infotainment arena, and last year’s gas cap is ditched in favor of a capless fuel-filling system. A coppery-gold hue called Coppertino Metallic is also new for 2018.
Pricing
Original MSRP:
- Base: $23,985
- Preferred: $25,395
- Sport Touring: $26,595
- Preferred II: $27,895
- Essence: $30,095
- Premium: $31,595
Engine, Transmission, and Performance
Performance varies from mild to milder with the Encore’s two available turbocharged four-cylinder engines. Front-wheel drive is standard, as is a six-speed automatic transmission; all-wheel drive is optional. Two turbocharged 1.4-liter inline-fours are offered to power the Encore. The first makes 138 hp, but the optional 153-hp version—which also delivers 20 percent more torque—is the one to buy. Our front-drive test car was fitted with the more powerful engine, and it felt peppy around town. In our testing, the optional engine motivated it from zero to 60 mph in 7.8 seconds. The Encore’s ride is appropriately supple, its brakes are strong and trusty, and its steering feels nicely weighted and accurate. Sitting high atop a short wheelbase lends the Encore a tippier feel than lower-set rivals, such as the Mazda CX-3, and as a result the Encore leans more heavily in corners. Steering is well weighted if not particularly engaging, but it’s accurate and will be agreeable for buyers seeking a comfort-oriented small crossover. Speaking of comfort, the Encore’s suspension soaks up bumps admirably, and harsh impacts are dutifully dampened.
Fuel Economy
EPA fuel economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. For the latest and most accurate fuel economy numbers on current and older vehicles, we use the U.S. Department of Energy's fueleconomy.gov website. Under the heading "Find & Compare Cars" click on the "Compare Side-by-Side" tool to find the EPA ratings for the make, model, and year you're interested in.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Inside the Encore’s compact body lies an interior that is very nearly premium, save for a few missteps. There are some hard plastics in the door panels and lower center console, and the glossy black trim on the center stack of our test car didn’t match the glossy gray panels on the doors. But soft-touch sections on the armrests and dash pad provide a more upscale ambience; the flush-mounted infotainment touchscreen and jewel-colored background accents help, too. Front-seat ergonomics are quite good, with controls that are straightforward and with redundant knobs on the dash for climate controls. The high seating and comfortable driving position will be appreciated, but larger drivers may find the seat bottom too narrow. Cloth seats with six-way power adjustments for the driver are standard, as is a manually adjustable tilting and telescoping steering column. The Encore’s chops as a utility vehicle start and end with a good performance in our carry-on luggage test. Otherwise, the little Buick’s interior measurements, difficult-to-fold rear seat, and class-average storage space for small items do little to impress. Despite its stubby dimensions, the Encore excelled in our carry-on storage test, matching the larger Nissan Rogue Sport with its rear seats folded.
Infotainment and Connectivity
Touchscreen infotainment, high-tech smartphone interfaces, and internet access—the Encore has it all, and it’s all standard. This is one seriously connected crossover. The Encore's standard tech goodies include an 8.0-inch touchscreen infotainment system—dubbed IntelliLink—with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a 4G LTE data connection with onboard Wi-Fi. Navigation with live traffic and weather updates is optional on Sport Touring, Preferred II, Essence, and Premium trims. But if you can’t afford the upgrade, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto can provide turn-by-turn directions via compatible smartphones. A six-speaker audio system with SiriusXM satellite radio is standard and can stream audio from smart devices via Bluetooth, USB, or an auxiliary input jack. A Bose premium audio setup with seven speakers is optional on Sport Touring, Preferred II, and Essence models and comes standard on the top-spec Premium.
Safety Features and Crash Test Ratings
Overall Safety Rating (NHTSA)
For more information about the Buick Encore’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
Warranty
Some older vehicles are still eligible for coverage under a manufacturer's Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program. For more information visit our guide to every manufacturer's CPO program.
