mobile-menu-icon
GM Authority

Buick Encore Sales Decrease 3 Percent To 24,606 Units In Q1 2019

Buick Encore sales decreased in the United States and increased in Mexico during the first quarter of 2019.

Buick Encore Sales - Q1 2019 - United States

In the United States, Buick Encore deliveries totaled 24,606 units in Q1 2019, a decrease of about 3 percent compared to 25,468 units sold in Q1 2018.
MODEL Q1 2019 / Q1 2018 Q1 2019 Q1 2018
ENCORE -3.38% 24,606 25,468

Buick Encore Sales - Q1 2019 - Canada

In Canada, Buick Encore deliveries totaled 2,159 units in Q1 2019, an increase of about 11 percent compared to 1,946 units sold in Q1 2018.
MODEL Q1 2019 / Q1 2018 Q1 2019 Q1 2018
ENCORE +10.95% 2,159 1,946

Buick Encore Sales - Q1 2019 - Mexico

In Mexico, Buick Encore deliveries totaled 329 units in Q1 2019, an increase of about 13 percent compared to 292 units sold in Q1 2018.
MODEL Q1 2019 / Q1 2018 Q1 2019 Q1 2018
ENCORE +12.67% 329 292

2017 Buick Encore exterior - 2016 New York International Auto Show Live 016

Competitive Sales Comparison

Buick Encore sales took a slight dip in the first quarter of 2019. Even so, the subcompact crossover still managed to maintain second place in terms of sales volume in its competitive set. The Jeep Compass (see Jeep Compass sales) came in first yet again, however, Compass sales saw a decline of over 14 percent compared to the Encore, with segment share slipping from 24 to 17 percent.

Following the Encore in third place was its corporate cousin, the Chevrolet Trax (see Chevrolet Trax sales), the Honda HR-V, Hyundai Kona, Jeep Renegade (see Jeep Renegade sales), Toyota CH-R, Ford EcoSport (see Ford EcoSport sales), the new Nissan Kicks, Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, the new Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross, Kia Niro, Mazda CX-3 (see Mazda CX-3 sales), Fiat 500X (see Fiat 500X sales), and the discontinued Nissan Juke.

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2019 - United States

MODEL Q1 19 / Q1 18 Q1 19 Q1 18 Q1 19 SHARE Q1 18 SHARE
JEEP COMPASS -14.28% 37,306 43,520 17% 24%
BUICK ENCORE -3.38% 24,606 25,468 11% 14%
CHEVROLET TRAX +20.01% 24,580 20,482 11% 11%
HONDA HR-V +4.07% 21,649 20,803 10% 11%
HYUNDAI KONA +618.91% 18,397 2,559 9% 1%
JEEP RENEGADE -26.12% 18,218 24,659 8% 13%
TOYOTA C-HR +6.62% 14,521 13,619 7% 7%
FORD ECOSPORT +111.27% 12,879 6,096 6% 3%
NISSAN KICKS +1,251,800.00% 12,519 1 6% 0%
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT -7.24% 12,457 13,430 6% 7%
MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS +1,389.57% 8,997 604 4% 0%
KIA NIRO -15.61% 5,346 6,335 2% 3%
MAZDA CX-3 -24.99% 3,253 4,337 2% 2%
FIAT 500X -52.18% 755 1,579 0% 1%
NISSAN JUKE -98.03% 9 456 0% 0%
TOTAL +17.15% 215,492 183,948

GM’s cross-town rival, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, fields three offerings in this segment – the Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade and Fiat 500X. The trio accounted for a very impressive 56,279 deliveries during the quarter. Meanwhile, the two GM offerings – the Buick Encore and Chevy Trax – accounted for a cumulative 49,186 deliveries. As such, FCA outsold GM by 7,493 units during the period. GM held a 22.8 percent segment share while FCA held an even higher 26.1 percent. Individually, the Encore and Trax each commanded an 11 percent segment share.

It’s also worth highlighting that the Encore saw a decline in sales during the quarter, falling 3 percent while the segment grew an average 17 percent. As such, the Encore underperformed the segment average during the quarter.

To reiterate, the subcompact mainstream crossover segment expanded 17 percent during Q1 2019 to 215,492 units.

2017 Buick Encore exterior 007

The GM Authority Take

Going forward, we wonder if Buick Encore sales volume will continue to slip. Not only is it threatened by newer segment rivals such as the Nissan Kicks, Jeep Compass, Honda HR-V, Toyota CH-R, Kia Niro and Hyundai Kona – but the upcoming Buick Encore GX was just announced for the United States and will be sold alongside the first-gen Encore.

2020 Buick Encore GX Exterior 001

2020 Buick Encore GX is larger than the “regular” Encore and will be positioned “above” it in the Buick lineup

Aside from a facelift in 2017, the Encore is one of oldest vehicles in the segment (next to the Trax), and we suspect that the all-new Encore GX may cannibalize sales of the outgoing Encore further, despite being slightly larger and (we expect) more expensive.

About The Numbers

  • All percent change figures compared to Buick Encore Q1 2018 sales
  • In the United States, there were 76 selling days in Q1 2019 and 76 selling days in Q1 2018
  • South Korea sales figures reflect actual vehicle registrations rather than wholesales
  • China sales figures represent retail deliveries and not wholesales
  • Brazil sales represent sales of Chevrolet Tracker, which is a rebadged first-generation Trax

2017 Buick Encore exterior 008

About Buick Encore

The Buick Encore is a subcompact crossover utility vehicle (CUV). It slots below the Envision as Buick's smallest CUV and rides on the GM Gamma 2 platform shared most directly with the Chevrolet Trax; a variant of the architecture is also shared with the Chevrolet Sonic/Aveo. The model was Buick's first offering in the subcompact (B segment) crossover space.

Having launched for the 2013 model year in the U.S., the Trax received a refresh for the 2017 model year that consisted of all-new front and rear fascias, an updated interior, a new infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, and more.

2017 Buick Encore interior - 2016 New York International Auto Show Live 009

The 2018 Buick Encore represents the fifth model year of the first-generation Encore. The model receives several changes including one new exterior color, a cabin ionizer, capless fuel fill, and several package-level changes. The 2019 Encore got two new exterior colors, the deletion of the Preferred II (1SD) and Premium (1SN) trim levels, and a new Safety Package called Safety Package II. The 2020 model is expected to be the last model year of the current, first-generation Encore before an all-new, second-generation model arrives.

The Buick Encore is produced at the following GM plants:

2017 Buick Encore exterior 007

Related News & Info

[nggallery id=821] [nggallery id=955]

A car-loving millennial. We Are!

Subscribe to GM Authority

For around-the-clock GM news coverage

We'll send you one email per day with the latest GM news. It's totally free.

Comment

  1. Still impressive numbers for such an old car AND with all the news out there about the new Encore GX coming out very soon. The real surprise in all those numbers is the Jeep Compass. Very nice little SUV and not that old.

    The Jeep Renegade problem (I think) is that the 2018 model went on forever with dealers just now getting any real inventory for the 2019. By the time the dealers get any good ’19 inventory, the 2020 cars (all brands) will be starting to trickle in.

    Lastly, the numbers on the Mazda CX3 are just silly. Why even keep that car in the mix? I work at a Mazda store and can tell you the car is totally NOT competitive and Mazda does nothing to promote the car. Why go with the CX3 lease when you can get into the CX5 for about the same amount or less in some cases? The problem is the CX5, to me, is not even close in the feel and drive of my 2018 Encore. So if this new Encore GX is done right and promoted by GM, the car should be a huge success.

    Reply

Leave a comment

Cancel