It’s no secret that General Motors is entering uncharted territory with the 2013 Buick Encore. Not the automaker, nor the Buick brand, have ever had a vehicle like the Encore — a subcompact crossover that’s smaller than the very popular Chevy Equinox/GMC Terrain or the fleet-only Chevy Captiva Sport (aka Saturn Vue) — on sale in North America.
So while Buick’s Enclave is attracting conquest buyers left and right, we wondered if the much smaller crossover — the segment for which doesn’t even exist in the U.S. as of this writing — would have any kind of success and whether Buick should have introduced a larger-than-Encore crossover first. But if preliminary order numbers are any indication, then we were wrong to doubt the Gamma-based Encore.
According to President of General Motors North America Mark Reuss, The General expected roughly 1,500 initial Encore orders from its dealer body; instead, it got nearly 9,000. Buick dealers, according to Reuss, are “thrilled to have an exclusive” — a scenario that came about thanks to the non-shared nature of the Encore’s crossover-tuned Gamma architecture in GM’s U.S. market. Other markets, of course, offer vehicles built on the same platform, such as the Opel/Vauxhall Mokka and Chevrolet Trax — albeit with different trim and features. Even so, we’ve been told that the Encore and the Trax are what the Buick Verano is to the Cruze — an entirely different experience, through and through.
The Encore is set to launch in the first quarter of 2013 at a base price of $24,950. GM lists the vehicle’s competitors as the BMW X1 and Audi Q3 — both of which are acutely more expensive and more powerful than the 1.4 liter turbocharged engine’s 140 horsepower in the Encore; the engine is also available in the Chevy Cruze and Sonic. We’ll see how the Encore performs over time in the real world when it launches. In the meantime, all we can do is speculate.
[nggallery id=390]
Comments
That’s crazy
These little Buicks seem to be a hit. Whodathunk?
If there was ever a time I thought “I think it’s time to get 4 doors and tons of space, with the seats up”, ie time to get a CUV. I’d show up at Cadillac dealer, SRX of course? But oh no, not the SRX. The CTS wagon, the right choice, every time!
Now I realize the Encore is a midget CUV that is half the price of the CTS sex-wagon, which bring my next point, where is the Regal Wagon and Cruze wagon. The Insignia wagon is a good looking car, but if Buick made a Regal wagon more like the Panamera Sport Turismo concept they could cash in.
Then the Cruze, I now shoot brakes are typically two door bad ass hatch/wagons, but Mercedes sort of ended the whole 2-door part about it. The Cruze as a shooting-brake shape, but with 4-doors would be fantastic in it’s segment.
As for the Encore, looks good inside, getting a bit too stub nose special on the outside, will be spooky quite as all the new great Buicks are, needs center arm rest. Buick is doing it right in so many ways with the small entry luxury.
I think we all thought the next CUV from Buick would be shock and Awe, which we know is comming. I think we all were taken aback by the Encore… I am surprised that there is not a stronger power plant… It’s sad GM is segmenting all there cars to the point that a consumer might go to a different manufacturer just based on HP desires… Not to say everyone will want or need a 200hp Cruze, or could even afford the upgrade. The Encore in my mind is underpowered by 15 to 20 HP. Especially being a Buick… Any way I will be test driving one of these and considering it for my Wife’s next ride…
And will she really care about your missing 15 hp?
Agree with these sentiments. If the Encore had the new 1.6T under the hood and had an armrest befitting a luxury car, then I would buy it.
If you’re a weekday commuter interested in comfort but in need of fuel economy, and if you’re a weekend adventurer in need of some utility, then this car could fit the bill. (How many fit that description?! Why should we be surprised at the interest?)
C’mon GM, make the needed improvements. If you can’t get it done by 2013 at least tell us you will address these problems in a 2014 model. I would wait to own a GM vehicle over a foreign brand if I knew something was on the horizon.
Remove the squirrel cheeks and redo the millions of body lines on the rear, please.
The Interior is amazing though.
I could imagine a bunch of college girls going bananas for this car lol
I knew it would do well right away…as did the Verano 🙂
Just need some more power!! GM bring the euro-spec 1.6 turbo stateside !!!
Dan, have to agree, this will do incredibly well. Can’t say I thought this early on, but I think people are looking for flexibility in smaller packages. This fits that…
Yabadabadoo….Quiet, smooth, comfy…..that is saying a lot!!!!! Not sure what the power would be like but I guess most will drive about town…Verano has plenty of pep I thought so maybe it will do OK? Good job, GMC/Buick…again.
This car is a good idea. They need to down size the Enclave to the Cadillac SRX’s size it is a nice design but too huge
The lambdas are actually on the small size for us. Wish there was another 1′ behind the 3rd row. When we travel we pack it to the gills with two kids. And if they bring a friend we have to move stuff to the roof. There are already plenty of SRX sized GM trucks. They do not need another.
😮 Small Size for us ? What were you driving before a Semi?
semi???
Before the Enclave I drove a Montana minivan which was about the same size.
Lots of folks used to drive Suburbans as family vehicles but the Lamda triplets, while smaller than Subs, came out and offered most of the same attributes that a family needs at a higher mpg. I am even able to tow 6000# trailer.
My best friend in elem school’s dad had a 1974 Suburban. The Enclave is a massive CUV by modern standards, and with higher fuel economy standards on the horizon cars this size will vanish so enjoy it now.
Just bought a brand new 2013 Encore 1/21/13 and did not make it home.(20 miles) The car ‘s check engine light came on the thing started sputtering and missing and would not run. So back to the dealer on a roll back tow truck. Thanks GM!
Do you really?? Sorry I just thought either youre just trolling or saying it to piss….. or you’re saying it because it happens and all and all it will be covered by the warranty or you can just ask for another one.
Classic case of empty gas tank