Earlier this month, GM officially revealed the 2020 Buick Encore and Encore GX in China. The all-new models that will jointly replace the current, first-generation Buick Encore, depending on market. Unfortunately, The General provided very little information about both vehicles in its announcement, but we dug deeper and managed to find the very first external dimensions for each of the new crossovers, revealing some interesting information about the vehicles.

Based on the GEM platform, the 2020 Buick Encore is destined exclusively for China
Before we go forward, we should provide some baseline information about the new Encore models. The model that is simply known as the Buick Encore is based on GM’s new Global Emerging Markets vehicle architecture known as the GEM platform. As of this writing, GM’s strategy involves selling the 2020 Buick Encore exclusively in China.

Based on the VSS-F platform, the 2020 Buick Encore GX is destined for both China and North America
Meanwhile, the model known as the Encore GX is based on the GM’s VSS-F platform. This model will also be sold in China, but we also expect it to come to North America to replace the current Encore. With all that out of the way, let’s have a look at how the models measure up to each other, to the current Buick Encore, as well as to the current Buick Envision.
The all-new Buick Encore (the non-GX model destined only for China) has a wheelbase that’s 0.6 inches (15 mm) longer on to an overall length that is up 0.5 inches (15 mm). Width is up 0.9 inches (23 mm) but height is down 1.3 inches (30 mm). Overall, the vehicle has roughly the same dimensional footprint as the current, first-gen Encore, but has a longer wheelbase and a shorter height.
Dimension | First-Gen Encore | 2020 Encore | 2020 Encore GX | First-Gen Envision |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wheelbase (in / mm): | 100.6 / 2555 | 101.2 / 2570 | 104 / 2640 | 108.3 / 2750 |
Length (in / mm): | 168.5 / 4280 | 169 / 4295 | 175.7 / 4463 | 183.7 / 4667 |
Width (in / mm): | 69.9 / 1775 | 70.8 / 1798 | 71.4 / 1813 | 71 / 1804 |
Height (in / mm): | 64.8 / 1646 | 63.5 / 1616 | 64.6 / 1642 | 65.3 / 1659 |
Segment: | B-segment (smaller end) | B-segment (smaller end) | B-segment (larger end) | C-segment |
Market: | China & NA | China only | China & NA | China & NA |
Platform: | Gamma | GEM | VSS-F | D2 |
- B-segment = subcompact
- C-segment = compact
- NA = North America
Meanwhile, the all-new Buick Encore GX (the model coming to China and North America) is notably larger than both the current Encore as well as the all-new 2020 Encore. Compared to the first-gen model, the Encore GX has a wheelbase that’s 3.4 inches (85 mm) longer on to an overall length that’s 7.2 inches (183 mm) longer. Width is up 1.5 inches (38 mm) but height is down 0.2 inches (4 mm). In that regard, the new Buick Encore GX is still a subcompact (B-segment) crossover, but one that’s larger than the first-gen model. Hence, it will be positioned between the new Encore and the Envision in terms of size and price in China, while also being Buick’s smallest crossover in North America.
It’s worth highlighting that both versions of the new Buick Encore are longer than the current model, but are also less tall. Both changes should help improve the somewhat “short and stubby” appearance of the current, first-gen model.
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Comments
Great article and info. Thanks. This really helps understand all the models.
So which one are you going to get? I’ll get the same one as you.
@Dr Gregory House:
Not sure I follow you. A joke? Serious?
Either way, I’m just commenting that it’s nice to see the dimensional differences rather than just a couple pics to look at. I currently have a 2018 Encore preferred package and I tend to trade every two years. So I’m taking special interest in the 2020 Encore to see if GM will keep me as a customer or if I’ll go back to Jeep.
Dr. House (hah),
From what we know, only one of these – the GX – will be available in the United States. The non-GX Encore will be only for China.
GM really views their customers with contempt don’t they? Look at those shoddy headlights we in the US are getting! Split hood design, slabish generic side view, and bloated as well! I’m more of a China Encore fan myself! I was hoping for a AWD Turbo model with 260-300 hp to step on Golf-R toes!
You’re basing all that on A SINGLE PICTURE while having no other details.
Well, I’ll be the first to tell you that the Encore GX will be a significantly more premium vehicle than the new non-GX model. We’ll have more shortly… but in all fairness, your conclusions are (extremely) premature.
“short and stubby”
Nearly 40% of Buick buyers seem to like the Encore just as it is. Of course, Buick Corporation mavens know what lies deep in the heart of those 40%, so lets change the design strictly for change itself, to hell with the customer….
“Nearly 40% of Buick buyers seem to like the Encore just as it is. ”
Please show me where you’re getting this stat, as is highly fictitious. From everything we have heard, it’s the other way around: customers do like the detailing (like the lights and other finer elements) of the current Encore’s design, but the first-gen model’s overall appearance – especially the proportions – are a common deterrent and disssatisfier.
… “so lets change the design strictly for change itself, to hell with the customer”…
Do you really think this is the case? Do you honestly think that a multi-billion-dollar enterprise makes decisions in this way, or are you being needlessly facetious?
From everything I know about how GM works and makes decisions, it has massive amounts of data that support each and every move… because risk-taking without data = career ender. So I’m sure they have supporting data that shows that North American buyers would be better served with a slightly larger model like the Encore GX… thereby serving the customer better and making Buick more competitive in the space. But to hell with rational reasoning and facts, right?!
I completely agree, the gen 1 proportions seem a bit off (partly due to the upsweep on the beltline). My mother drives an Encore, I’ve driven it a couple dozen times. There are a couple other shortcomings that I hope will be addressed like the lack of a center console and it’s slightly under powered.
More engine info Please!
WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE COLORS
how about an interior photo.
Picture 13 on this page shows an interior:
https://www.leblogauto.com/2019/04/shanghai-2019-buick-gx-gl8-velite6.html
but I think it’s of the Encore rather than the GX (the prototypes of the GX had the vents on top of the screen)
I wonder why the one model is only going to be released in China? I personally like the GEM platform far better than the US version. I do not think I would purchase the US version but would jump on the GEM.
“Based on the GEM platform, the 2020 Buick Encore is destined exclusively for China”
Buick Encore owner pleased with exterior design and lines. Interior armrest is
lacking!!!!
Looking forward to GX design!!
In Dec we purchased the Encore Essence and have been very pleased with the design overall. Now we have driven some 8500 miles init and are still amazed at the quietness and handling. If I was to change any one thing it would be to have the front seats just a little longer. Apart from that we are very pleased with the vehicle and in most cases prefer driving it compared to our Cadillac CTS. Though here we are comparing apples and oranges really ?