The Buick Encore GX recently made its North American debut at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, following up on a global debut at the 2019 Shanghai Motor Show over the summer. The current trim level cadence includes the base Preferred, the midrange Select, and the top-shelf Essence. However, is there room to slot in something with a little more performance?
We asked Buick and GMC Communications Manager Stuart Fowle about the prospect of adding a sportier option to the Buick Encore GX trim level cadence, possibly something with a little more engine than is offered in the current model lineup. Here’s his response:
“Not really something we hear from modern Buick customers. With the Encore, for example, we’ve offered the $800 option to upgrade to more power and more torque and that’s been a really low seller,” Fowle said.
For reference, Buick killed off the more-powerful 1.4L engine option for the 2020 Buick Encore back in May.
“As we’ve grown to put more emphasis on crossovers and different priorities, high performance isn’t something that modern Buick customers are coming to us asking for,” he added.
The current Buick Encore GX engine lineup starts with the turbocharged 1.2-liter LIH three-cylinder, which produces 137 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque and mates to a continuously variable automatic transmission. Above the LIH is the turbocharged 1.3L L3T three-cylinder, which is tuned to produce 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, and mates to a CVT in FWD models, and the GM nine-speed automatic transmission for AWD models.
“[Buick customers are] after fuel economy, refinement, all those things, and that’s what we think we’re delivering,” Fowle said.
So what do you think, dear reader? Should GM add more performance to the new Buick Encore GX, possibly with more engine beyond the current crop of turbo three-cylinders? Take our poll below and let us know, and don’t forget to subscribe to GM Authority for more Buick Encore news, Buick news and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
GM should offer every SUV less than the full sized ones, with more performance !
If you put the max payload in any GM SUV, less than the full sized, they are duds !!
I voted yes, but with a disclaimer: In the article above, Mr. Fowler stated that the take rate on the current Encore with the higher HP 1.4L was very low. What they didn’t mention is that you automatically got that stupid start/stop with it. I know the take rate would have been higher if not for that. When I purchased my 2018 Encore, I wanted that higher HP engine until I found out I had to take the start/stop with it.
As for the higher HP engine in the new Encore GX? Yes, and it needs to be with an Avenir trim. Buick really needs this new Encore to be a huge success, and having an Avenir trim with the 2.0L turbo would be a huge win!
(sorry if this ends up being a duplicate of another comment I made here. That one didn’t post for some reason)
Finally had the time to attend the LA auto show and took quite a bit of time in the Buick section. This new Encore GX is very impressive (the Chevy trailblazer not as much IMO). I was there later in the evening and it wasn’t very crowded, so I had zero problems sitting the the three GX’s there. I was also able to sit in the regular Encore next to it. I have to admit that I still like the current model a lot. So it really depends on two things for the new GX: Price and how does it drive with the 3 cyl and stupid CVT.
But what impressed me even more? The Envision! The interior on that one is best of them all and looking more closely at the outside of the 2020, it’s actually a very nice vehicle. Now I’m sure the new Encore GX will be priced higher than the current one and zero rebates at first. On the flip side, the Envision will most likely keep larger discounts/rebates, making it a better buy. If the sales people at Buick are smart, they will walk customers coming in for the new GX up to the Envision and sell them on price!
2.0t is overkill in something that small, a 1.6t 4 will 180hp or so is perfect.
Why not just detune the 2.0 instead of trying to squeeze more out of the 1.6? The former would give much needed low-end torque, and, probably, more reliability and durability.
Guestt,
Like C8.R, you have to be one of those GM focus group people that are telling GM its ” Good Enough ”
Why, do you drive one of these GM SUVs ?
Why do you and GM think you need 600 to 800 HP in a 2 seater, yet when you buy something like a Cadillac to haul 5 persons, you only need 200 HP ?
Have you driven a XT4 with 5 250lb persons ?
Man that thing drives like a Cadillac, NOT !!!!!!
It drives just like all the rest of the GM average blah ” Good Enough ” mid and smaller SUVs, its a dud !!!
And just like someone said when talking CT6.
The CT6, XT4, XT6, all are considered failures in the eyes of the masses, and GM, I mean the customers who drive vehicles like those. Why because all of those customers have bought something else, and every year more do.
These GM vehicles are NOT failures, the average power to weight ratio, IS A FAILURE !!
So GM develops some great looking vehicles, finally gets some of the interiors right, but now are out of money, and they get $hit for power, or whatever the excuse is today !!
If GM put some ” get up and go ” in these vehicles, they would be able to sell more and recoup the extra costs.
Guestt, when you were growing up, were you taught to purchase the cheapest made lowest cost WHETEVER just to get buy ?
Did your family go into the store and Guestt says ” mom I only want this one ” its ” Good Enough “.
If so, that’s still OK, but that’s not how EVERYONE else thinks !!
Some people were taught to buy the best, do you research, spend you money wisely, if you buy the best, it will last longer and therefore cost less in the long run.
These small engines, taxed to the max, just to move along ” Good Enough ” will not last !!
But you be you, that’s OK, Just quit telling GM that ” Good Enough ” is OK !!
But with 1.4t Sidi you also get better fuel economy than the 1.4t mpi engine.
The brand Audi Q3 is barely under 16’s for the 1/4 mile in the recent Motorweek test. Traps speed was only 90 mph for that 2 0T too.
Buick has always had a history of a performance option why stop? Even, if they offered a 2.0L option it will probably be a slow seller but would bring a little excitement and possible new buyers!
As for the start/stop system that is a matter of opinion. I happen to like mine and have been following its introduction and history for several years before it being acquired.
One of the reasons GM doesn’t hear about customers wanting more power is those customers know to go elsewhere if they want performance. GM should try to grow their market instead of limiting choices and keeping customers away. The size and design of the Encore GX is nice, but if the 1.3 doesn’t offer good performance, I won’t consider it.
The brand new Audi Q3 2.0T with 258 lbzft of torque is a 16 second 1/4 mile with 90 mph trap speed.
GM currently has the 1.5t in the Equinox/Terrain/Malibu. They have the 1.4t in the Encore/Trax. They have the 1.6t in the Cascada and they have the 2.0t which is used as the standard engine in a lot of Caddy’s and an option on other GM vehicles. Now they’re going to have a 1.2t and a 1.3t. Hey GM, just use the 1.6t in all of the vehicles that don’t have the 2.0t as the standard engine. The 2.0t requires premium fuel
I have always been of the Opinion that Buick should take on the Likes of Volvo, Lincoln, Acura, and Infinity.
To me that means more Luxurious Interiors, more Tech, and more Performance as an option.
Allmost 78% agree the it need ,ore power. Too bad Gm will not agree. A whole bunch of GM products could use a little more HP to stay competitive.
Says someone who continues to buy $80k vehicles from the “good enough” company…
I’ll take this one Guestt,
You are correct.
It took me 40 years to move from the ” good Enough ” Chevrolet to the best things GM offered in the size we want to drive.
Unlike others here who have moved to the Germans because GM always stops short and goes cheap, I will continue to drive GM.
You see:
I am American, I like to support American jobs and the American economy.
I am also loyal, as a GM customer, I will continue to buy GM.
I also buy the best GM offers, The best ” Good enough ”
But the best ” Good Enough ” is behind the competition and not ” Good Enough “.
So if you and C8.R are going to tell GM that their products are ” Good Enough ”
I will be telling GM their products are NOT ” Good Enough ”
So, is ” Good Enough “, ” Good Enough ” for me ?
Well its the highest priced GM 2500 HD truck GM makes, so it will have to be ” Good Enough “.
Do I have a choice in a GM offering ?
NO, NO I do NOT. So ” Good Enough is what it will be.
Will I recommend a GM product to anyone ? NO, NO I will NOT, NOT at this time in history.
So Guestt, you go buy your Lincoln, or German vehicle, I’m sure they are both better than the ” Good Enough ” ones GM has to offer.
I know for sure the German ones are.
But I will continue to drive GM until they no longer make vehicles.
But will point out all the short falls they have, as I will now drive the competition and compare.
So one more time here, are you proving a point by putting out I have spent $80,000.00 on a new GM product that is NOT ” Good Enough ” in my opinion, yet ” Good Enough ” in GM’s opinion ?
Is this your way of saying, to me, you see GM does know what they are doing, building cheap, ” Good Enough ” products, you are still spending your money on them !!
Will I be ? or will I be just one more of the millions of customers GM does not care about and have bought a better than ” Good Enough ” vehicle.
The saga continues.
I don’t see the point of you keep whining about this and that when you can just move on to Ford, GM still make $billions with out you or me.
Yes, I’m even critical of GM (the lack of current decent light performance sedans like it was in the ’00s is one of them) but GM is to make money and I’m sure even Marry see some comments here and I do mostly constructive criticism and some funny trolling but repeating about certain things on a general internet form won’t solve much .
I’ve did move on to another make not because GM was uncompetitive but simply GM didn’t offer the vehicle I wanted at the time but will happily go back to GM when I need a larger sedan or SUV if needed, sometimes the competition is too not “good enough” also but be please to keep padding GMs pockets and say thier product isn’t “good enough”.
Guestt,
So your a GM stock owner then ?
The way you are speaking here one would deduce that you own GM stock that allows you to drive the Mercedes you drive ?
How long can GM continue to downsize to show profit I wonder ?
How long can GM push the inventory down to the dealers they have left in order to show sales ?
How long can GM loan borrowed money to customers who don’t make enough to pay it back ?
Does GM make billions without you and me buying $80,000.00 vehicles from them ?
I’m not sure they do !!
Most profitable GM vehicle is the HD Denali, is it not ?
If everyone quit buying GM trucks would GM make it a year ?
The money people involved from the CFO’s to the bankers to the lawyers, try to make you believe so.
But how long ?
And where does China fit your playbook ?
GM stock up do to up China sales ?
Any way I don’t see myself as a whiner any more than I see you as one !
Just stating my opinion, just like you do, only I do not own GM stock, or sell GM performance parts !!
I am not a GM dealer or a GM customer service rep, or a GM PR person like most here.
I am just a GM owner who got screwed over by the horrible GM customer support system !!
So I will spend my money where I see fit, I’m sure you will do the same .
As I will continue to voice my opinion, I’m sure you will do the same.
I see you must have the last word, happy holidays!.
He apparently has a grievance with GM and this is his way of getting back. I guess he is hoping they will see his negative comments and contact him to work it out. You will find this story copied and pasted in many other posts. It kind of spoils it for a lot of people who come on here to find out details of a vehicle they may be interested in.
David,
I have never hidden that fact.
Its the HORRIBLE GM customer support !!!
Really its that GM has no customer support !!!
So when a potentially new customer comes to the site and thinks, that’s a nice ” Good Enough ” GM vehicle.
I would like to point out to them that GM has no customer support, and if they ever have anything go wrong with their GM vehicle that it is up to the dealer to help them.
GM will do nothing !!
And like in my case, if the dealer service manager is a liar, you get nothing, you pay, but get nothing !!
So if you are a new GM customer:
1, get to know your dealer owner, and your dealer service manager as they are the only people who will do anything for you as a GM customer.
2, Buy a warranty long enough to cover the years and mileage you want to drive your new GM product because GM no longer designs a vehicle to outlast the warranty period and in most cases that is 3 years or 36,000 miles !!
3 Be familiar with your states lemon laws and hopefully you have an attorney as a friend, because like the GM junk 8 speed, Cadillac CUE and so many others, when GM does not want to honor their warranty all you can do is sue, or join the many class action lawsuits against GM .
These three things are THE MOST IMPORTANT things you should know when you are planning on purchasing a GM vehicle.
David, when your selling them, do you point these three things out ?
But its just my opinion, carry on, but I never hid the fact that is why I am here !
You obviously are special because the reality of it is that it’s not that way. They are not supporting you is no surprise!
Please enlighten me on the way it is then ?
What is the reality of how it works ?
This was explained to me by a senior GM customer support person !!
All GM dealerships are privately owner, NOT GM owned !!
Do to the franchise laws GM can NOT tell any privately held dealership how to run their business !!
And who said they are not supporting me ? And who do you mean by they, the dealer or GM ?
I was told by GM that if one GM dealership did not want to preform warranty work for me GM would send me to the next nearest dealership, and if I wanted to I could put in a dealer complaint for the dealer that did not want to do it.
The dealer complaint would do nothing but be a down tick for the dealership for buying power of that dealer going forward, and little old me wasn’t anything to change that, so again GM can do nothing to the dealership.
Unless your like that one who wasn’t paying off customers debt when they traded them in, or something HUGE.
Please explain how it works at your dealership ?
I come in with a bad fuel gauge.
Your tech replaces the fuel sender unit.
The fuel gauge does not work any better.
Your tech checks the wiring.
Fuel gauge still does not work.
You say we have tried everything it works when we drive it. ( for 1 mile )
I say the range indicator jumps around the gauge jumps around and for over a year now I have been keeping track in a notebook for a $45,000 vehicle.
I say fine, just put another sender in and I will pay if it does not fix it !
You say no !
I call GM, GM connects me with you and you lie that any of it happened and I have all the records to prove it.
The service manager says do not come back.
I need warranty work on GM vehicle number 2 and 3 yet the service manager says NO we are done with you.
I call GM and say the nearest dealership will not do the warranty work.
GM says there is nothing GM can do for the reasons I just explained.
GM sends me to the next nearest dealership.
I replaced the fuel sender myself, the gauge and everything has worked for 3 years now, and the sender the dealership installed was an old design that had been upgraded to the one I installed.
After 37 years as a GM owner I simply could not believe that one person, a service manager at a dealership, could make things go so wrong !!!
I continue to buy vehicles there, get service there, have had no troubles after that person is gone !!
Yet nothing from GM as to here is a cookie, for your troubles with the lying a$$hole.
So David, you tell me how this would have worked at your dealership ?
Keep in mind I drive a Cadillac, GMC Canyon, and have bought 3 HD Denali trucks from you, and have driven GM for 40 years now, for 4 generations !!
And to top that off, never once in 37 years prior and 3 years post have had ONE problem with ANYONE at a GM dealership !!
Please enlighten me David!!
I guess I can go get a cookie at the dealership !!
So there is that.
You guys and your uninformed GM brain washed reality !!
Why don’t you go look eye to eye with the people who can tell you about the delaminated CUE systems and tell them personally why YOU not someone else to blame, but YOU will not do anything for them.
OR the 8 speed GM junk transmission !!
Or the broken and bent wheels on the C7s !!
Or the faulty fuel pumps !!
Or the hazed headlamp !
The leaky sunroofs !!
The leaky rear ends !
As long as YOU got your troubles taken care of, you think that’s the way it is !!
Let me tell you my REALITY, that’s NOT the way it is everywhere !!!
Look as scott3 aka C8.R,
He had his ENTIRE 8 speed junk transmission replaced !!! Sure that’s great, for him.
You don’t think if EVERYONE got the SAME service as HIM that they wouldn’t be happy also ?
Who are you people ?
Maybe you should get off your a$$es and talk to some of the people who are having the REAL problems !!
Just see first hand how they were treated.
Walk down to the dealership with them !!
They said in the early days of Menards, that John Menard himself would walk into stores just to see how stuff worked for himself.
Maybe some of you GM customer service people and dealer owners should do the same.
Meet these people !!
I am not a measly low life with nothing better to do !!!
Maybe you should do something !!
Look at the transmission complaints that come into this site alone DAILY !!
All of those customers are lying lowlife scum ?
Is that what you want the public to believe here ?
David ?
But just more opinion !! Good day !!
“A report from JP Morgan says that GMC’s Denali sub-brand generates $6.4 billion in revenue. That’s more than Land Rover and close to Audi. And we’re just talking about a trim line, not the entire GMC lineup.” Autoline
Yes, there are people here that are trolls and need to move on. I guess if you are retired coming here to complain is just a hobby.
Probably getting online income from trolling or a Consumer Reports journalist…
You guys are a hoot !!
Both wrong answers !!!
Just a smart business owner !!
Who was screwed over by GM’s horrible customer support !!
Or should I say GM’s nonexistent customer support !!!
That’s it. Nothing bigger than that.
Just a small town South Dakota boy who has driven GM products for 39 years who COULD NOT believe how I was treated by a lying service manager at a dealership !!!!
Trying to do the right thing !!!
But GM stood by a no longer in the position lying person and did not care about the truth. Over a measly little nothing part I already paid for that was faulty !!
Instead of joining the lawsuits and giving just more money to the GM law team, this is my response.
But its just all opinion, and some fun at times.
Boomers
I really wish we could meet. You guys would be so surprised, it would be great, you could bring C8.R over, we could take my 58 Vette for a spin.
I wanted the higher HP of the newer 1.4 turbo but it came with the stupid start/stop in the Encore which the driver cannot turn off. My mechanic wisely told all his customers that the start/stop will drastically cut the life of the gas engine due to the constant cold starts. I want my engine to last past 100k. Therefore, it was a easy decision to take the base 1.4 turbo since it was only 10 less HP. Even I can manually turn off the start/stop in my BMW SUV. But you cannot turn off the start/stop in modern GM vehicles is ridiculous.
Most auto’s that don’t have an actual start/stop button can be disabled. If you research this for General Motors, Chrysler, or other brands, you will find a few products on the market for this application. You can also use the sport manual mode to bypass the system.
Your mechanic is not to wise as he obviously doesn’t know how the start/stop system works. The system will only come on when the engine is up to temperature and other certain factors are met. There is no additional cold starts involved with the system.
I bought the 2019 Buick Encore Perferred and I love it. But do wish it had a little bit more power. Times I go from zero to speed up quick ala parking lot to road or entering a highway where people go 80 mph and you need to speed up quick or wreck. I stayed away from the stupid start/stop and dealership was shocked I was against it and told them stories why people hate it and websites against it. Wish Encore was longer so would ride better too. But was on sale for 20 percent off so I was good.
Uh, duh, heres the easy solution. Keep this new state of the art 1.35l triple and superfreak it with a bigger vent turbo, bigger intercooler , hotter cams, it good for a strong 155 hp now, additional 20 to 30 bhp would be like eating cake. The big limit would be the engine crank and bottom end
, ideally a high output 1.35 triple would have a forged crankshaft.
Considering my Encore 1.4t turned onto total flubber a few miles out of warranty I would not buy another GM turbo ever let alone an even smaller 3 cylinder new motor. If you buy this you deserve what happens to you
Ed, on turbo engines, you need to change the oil with a high quality brand name full synthetic oil every 3.5k to 5k or else the turbo engine will fail prematurely. How many miles did you go between oil changes?
I would change according to auto manufactures recommendations. Most cars are designed or recommended to use synthetic motor oil, and most cars have an oil monitoring system built in including BMW who says can go as much as 10,000 between oil changes.
GM has been full synthetic since 2017. Oil life is a comfortable 7,000 miles today. Please update your info.
Except for Camaro, Corvette and some Cadillacs GM performance is decals and blackout trim. I’ve been waiting for something other than an oil burner in a Cruze for years. Or for the V6 to make a return in the Malibu. Now that will never happen and this former GM customer (40+ years) and stock holder will be buying cars from other manufacturers.
GM performance has many parts for the Cobalt, Cruze, Sonic, Regal, etc. Heck, you can buy a whole crate engine or any of the parts to make that engine. Cars have come down from 8-cylinders to 4 with most current automobile manufactures. Even Ford and General Motors offer 4-cylinder gas engines in full-sized pickups! You may need to buy that 6-cylinder car right now and hold onto for life, because there may not be too many available on the market within the next 10-years accept high end luxury or sports cars. I too am not thrilled with it but I am adapting.
The Encore GX certainly looks good but a continously variable automatic ? Hopefully that CVT will not be as unreliable as Nissan’ s CVT. I have a feeling that the Encore GX will canabilize sales from the smaller Encore.
What I don’t like about CVT’s is the noise. Yes, it will likely take some regular Encore customers away, but at least it gives the consumer more choices.
no one wants more power?? 18HP and 8Ibs of torque?? $800 more for what?? Is that even considered more power?? Why not just make the 1.4 standard?? Typical fail for GM.
Nissan CVT has been very unreliable with typical failure at 40k to 50k. This kept me away from the Nissan Rogue and went with the Encore because of its more traditional non CVT automatic. GM non CVT automatics have enjoyed a good reliability record. As to the new CVT, I wouldn’t touch the new GX because of the unknown CVT reliability.
The classic “it’s good enough” GM mentality strikes again! If I were running things the 155 HP engine would be the std mill with a 1.5T and 170-180 horses as the power upgrade. It is very apparent the person running GM slowly into the ground could care a less about cars or even the company. As long as that 22 mil keeps filling her bank account it’s status quo!
When I first read about the trademark filings for the “GX” moniker, I was pretty excited. As a marketer, I envisioned “GX” as a natural AWD extension of the “GS” performance & styling variant, but across the entire Buick SUV/CUV lineup:
– Enclave GX with 3.0L Twin Turbo LGW
– Upcoming Baby Enclave GX with 2.7L Turbo L3B
– Next-Gen Envision GX with 3.6L LGX
– Encore GX with 2.0L Turbo LSY
The performance niche in the mid-premium SUV/CUV market is entirely underserved across all brands.