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2020 Buick Encore Kills More Powerful Turbo Engine

While Buick prepares to debut and launch the second-generation Buick Encore GX in North America, the regular 2020 Encore will ditch its optional more powerful engine.

A report from CarsDirect last Friday noted the model’s order guide shows the 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with stop-start technology will be no longer. The engine served as a punchier mill for the sub-compact crossover and made 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. The standard 1.4-liter turbo-four engine makes 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque.

2017 Buick Encore exterior 001

Buyers are able to take home an Encore Sport Touring or Essence model with the more powerful engine at a $250 extra cost. The engine is also more efficient, too, with a 1 mpg edge over the standard engine in combined EPA fuel economy estimates.

More power and efficiency apparently didn’t sway the masses who purchased an Encore. For the 2019 model year, Buick told the website fewer than 12 percent of the sub-compact crossovers were ordered with the optional turbo-four engine.

2020 Buick Encore GX exterior China 005

It’s the latest in a consolidation scheme GM has undertaken to do away with obscure options and trims. Chevrolet also nixed all-wheel drive on the Equinox diesel and the Chevrolet Traverse High Country no longer offers front-wheel drive at all.

The move to make the 2020 Encore available with just one engine likely makes way for the new Encore GX. Buick already debuted the slightly larger Encore model in China earlier this year. There, it will go on sale alongside a new standard Encore based on GM’s GEM platform. In North America, GM will replicate that strategy with the new Encore GX while the first-generation Encore sticks around, too. The Encore GX is slightly larger than the current Encore we’re familiar with and will bridge a gap between the latter and the mid-size Buick Envision.

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Source: CarsDirect

Former GM Authority staff writer.

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Comments

  1. Although I sort of wanted the extra HP when I purchased my 2018 Encore, I opted for the standard lower HP engine instead. Reason? I 100% hate the start/stop feature. For cars that have it but also offer a simple on/off switch, that’s one thing. But for a car to have it and not have a simple way to turn it off? No thank you.

    I went with the lower HP engine and it’s totally fine while not having to deal with the start/stop.

    Reply
    1. Good point.

      Let me counter that.

      The 1.4 less powerful engine is by far the most problematic 4 cylinder GM has built in the last 10 years. More so than the oil burning 2.4 Ecotec.

      The 1.4 less powerful engine is the same engine in the 2011-2016 Cruze. Get ready for a new turbocharger, engine valve cover, water pump, water outlet, turbocharger feed and return pipes, coil pack, and water outlet hoses if you own it for any period over 3 years. We work on these engines NON STOP at the dealership I work at. We stock MULTIPLES of the parts I’ve listed for that engine.

      They killed the wrong 1.4 engine in my opinion. And, stop/start is defeatable if you shift to manual mode and then the highest gear possible.

      Reply
      1. @newdude:

        Ya, I don’t keep cars more than normally 2 years, so some of these things wouldn’t come up for me I guess. As for the start/stop override, yes I’ve read that. But it’s a silly step to have to take rather than just hitting an on/off switch.

        I am interested in something however. From what you stated there must be a real difference between the two 1.4L engines? Is that correct? Can I ask what makes the more powerful 1.4 better (what’s different)? I was under the impression it was basically the same engine. Thanks.

        Reply
        1. The lower power engine is the RPO code LUV Ecotec 1.4. This engine has been out globally since 2010, and in the US for the 2011 model year Cruze. This engine is part of the second generation “Family 0” inline 4 cylinder engine. Gen was was released in 1996.

          The engine that they are dropping is the RPO code LE2. This engine was standard gear in the 2016-2019 gen 2 Cruze. It is a replacement for the LUV 1.4 all together. The LE2 is from the Small Gas Engine or “SGE” engine family consisting of 3 and 4 cylinder variants, which debuted in 2013. The 1.5 liter version is the base Equinox and Malibu engine right now.

          LE2 shares nothing with the LUV. They share no parts. The SGE engines will replace the Family 0 completely by 2020. SGE is a different animal, and I think a much better one at that. The LUV has earned a rather crappy reputation in the repair community.

          I’d expect the LUV 1.4 to die in the US upon the release of the new Trax and Encore, and the final run of the Chevy Sonic, whenever that may be.

          Reply
          1. Wow. Thanks for all that very detailed info! I now wish I would have gone with the higher HP LE2 engine. Had I known (then) about the ability to put the car in manual mode and put it into 6 to disable the start/stop, I would have taken that one.

            But my trade-time will be in about 9 months now. So with only 5,900 miles on the clock now, it will only have about 10,000 at that time. I’m sure I won’t have any real issues to deal with at that point. But I was actually considering keeping this one till the 3 year mark instead of trading at the 2 years. Hmmm. From what you are saying I may just stay on the 2 year plan for this time and just go back to Jeep if I’m not interested in the all new Encore GX (that would be if they stick that damn CVT crap in the new one).

            Reply
            1. There’s a difference between lower reliability and undesirable features. Has GM resolved issues with the LUV?

              Dan, how much extra would you pay for more power or to save a bit of fuel (does the city or highway mpg matter more).?

              Start/stop is tied to EPA credits (blame them first). With selectable drive modes, a BAS engine could conceivably have a seamless battery assist idle.

              Adding features is expensive though. Toyota has done well without many turbos. Since there’s no displacement taxes in the U.S., GM should look at offering 4 bangers here in a high value line (lower Chevy & Buicks), and a separate high feature line (lower Cadillacs, higher Buicks).

              Reply
              1. Nope. They get the failure part(s) changed only to fail again a couple years later.

                Reply
            2. I believe most people will get 5 + years before or if a problem happens with the 1.4. I have the problem now with my 2013 Sonic, 62,000 miles. I hope its just the valve cover which is part of the PCV system. I will be replacing it this weekend. Some people have intake manifold issues. The car had been great up until this point returning an average of 41 mpg US combined with my 6-speed.

              Reply
            3. Dude, you’ll be just fine with LUV engine. It’s a cast iron block, which is stronger than the aluminum block. It has a reinforced crank, forged rods and hypereutectic pistons. The hypereutectic pistons in my Grand National have lived for 35 years and making about 600whp for the last 4. Don’t let people like newdud scare you. He’s stating his opinion not fact. I’ve had my 2014 Cruze for over 6 year now and not a single issue with the LUV engine.

              Reply
      2. The standard engine has port injection, the deluxe model had direct injection. The DI model has more issues because of the higher fuel line pressures, such as worn/leaking fuel pumps.

        Reply
      3. Are all years of this engine as bad as your saying? I have only heard of issues with earlier run Cruzes say from 2010-2013 and the odd Trax/Encore. Owners of 2015 to current seem to be going upwards of 100K without much drama. My mom just bought a 2016 last model year Cruze Limited with 48K miles and it runs out perfectly. She has put about 800 miles on it so far and it has been flawless so far.

        Reply
      4. But what about the problem of carbon and sludge buildup on the top of the intake valves with direct injection engines like the LE2 because no gas is helping clean the top of the valves?
        I prefer port injection over direct because of the diference in complexity.

        Reply
      5. Well I think you’re stating your opinion and not fact. I have 2014 Cruze and I’ve not had a single problem with it.

        Reply
  2. We also have a 2017 Encore with the standard engine–best highway score was achieved at 5.5 litres per 100 kms
    Can drive 120 km per hour with the rest of them (sorry for the metric–Canadian)

    Reply
    1. lol. Had to google what that works out to:

      5.5 Liters per 100 km =
      42.77 U.S. MPG

      That’s darn good!

      Reply
  3. On the surface, this seems to be one more save the last nickel move by GM. Too much of this and there won’t be any nickels to save – JMO

    Reply
  4. newdude (post above) made a really good and interesting point. Now I’m really curious. Hopefully newdude can answer this, but I will open it for any comments as I’m certainly interested now.

    Does anyone know the engine code for the less powerful 1.4L like I have vs. the engine code for the more powerful 1.4L with start/stop? Is it a different engine altogether? Thanks.

    Reply
    1. I believe the eighth alpha-numeric character of the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) denotes which of the two motors is fitted to the vehicle. A “B” indicates the older and lower powered LUV engine is installed, whilst an “M” indicates the higher powered LE2 engine is fitted to the vehicle. At least that is the way it works with the Buick Encore.

      Reply
  5. The new GX is ugly with too much chrome and elongated wings. Gone are the fantastic Mark Adams headlamps.
    They say Encore will live on for years to come. I remember them saying Trax would not be sold in the US. I have the same feeling about the GEM based Encore. GEM will be modified for the US market and eventually replace the Gamma-based first Gen Encore.

    Reply
  6. Of course only 12% bought the upgraded engine, it was nearly impossible to get. I had to special order my 2017 Encore Sport Touring to get it with the 153 hp engine. And it took about 4 months to take delivery! If that engine is not available, I won’t be shopping Encore for my next vehicle.

    Reply
  7. I’m awaiting the FCEV version of this model to be available, or even an all EV (like the BMWI3), as long as it goes far like the Tesla models, I’ll be content.

    Reply
  8. My wonderful wife in her infinite wisdom just traded her 2015 Lacrosse with 47,000 miles on it (loved that car) on a 2019 Encore Essence 2wd with the 1.4 turbocharged engine. 99% of her driving is highway and we have yet to get over 25 mpg which is almost exactly what she was getting with the 304 hp V6 in the Lacrosse.
    We use only top tier gasoline, shell, BP etc.
    The V6 in the Lacrosse is on a top 10 list of engines that are expected to get 250,000 miles with proper service.
    I pray that she gets good service from the Encore as I am on a fixed income of $1,500 per month and would be unable to purchase anything else. The Encore sticker price was 35,000 but with her trade and discount it was $25,000. her car payment dropped $182 month.

    Reply
  9. I have a 2016 Buick Encore (bought it with 49,XXX now has 54,XXX) with the 1.4l turbo engine… Don’t know if its the LUV or what. This is my first newer car, always had and still have older suburbans and jeeps- even have a 77 Power Wagon. I got this for my 75 mile commute daily and hoping I got a car that will last for 5 years with regular maintenance. How do I know if I got the good engine or not.

    Reply
    1. Look at your RPO sticker and see if it has le2 or luv. To be honest the luv engine is just as good and it still has port injection so you don’t have too worry about the intake valve getting dirty. If it is the luv, pay $199 to trifecta and get a tune, then you’ll be producing more power than the le2. Reliability wise you’ll be just fine.

      Reply
  10. the VIN number should tell you

    Reply
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    Reply

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