Earlier this month, we speculated that the new Buick Encore GX might offer a heated windshield feature and possibly event ventilated seats. However, we’ve now received confirmation that both features will definitely not be offered by the new subcompact crossover.
Our original speculation was drawn from official interior photos of the new Buick Encore GX, which appeared to show a button tagged with a symbol that resembled a windshield with an EKG machine readout on it. The symbol suggested that the new Buick Encore GX would come with a heated windshield, although Buick had not announced that the new GX would offer such a feature.
We also found what appears to be a ventilated seat button on an interior shot of the new Chevrolet Trailblazer, and given the similarities between the Chevy and the Buick Encore GX, we speculated that the new Buick may come with vented seats.
Unfortunately, it’s looking like neither feature will be included with the final production model, as confirmed by Buick representatives.
According to the reps, the images of the Buick Encore GX that include the heated windshield button are in fact computer generated, and not representative of the final production model. As it stands, other markets won’t receive the features either. We’ll cover the feature availability with regard to the new 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer in a follow-up post, so stay tuned.
The news comes as a disappointment for those buyers looking to equip their new Buick Encore GX with ventilated seats and a heated windshield, both of which would help the new subcompact crossover stand out from its rivals. Both features are relatively rare in the segment, and can provide a great deal of comfort and convenience depending on the region, with owners in hotter climates undoubtedly flocking to vented seats, and owners in colder climates employing the heated windshield.
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Comments
It is like GM is willing to let Buick settle in the former Saturn space so not to compete against Professional Grade GMC which will probably offer a Granite-like segment rival.
Buick should be the Ying to Cadillac’s Yang because sorta premium isn’t a segment.
Buick got lucky with encore because it’s the cheapest thing senior citizens can buy in the Buick wange and it’s not too tall for small elderly ladies. I don’t envy the Buick marketing team for having to sell the encore. From what I’ve heard all the sales people at dealerships are upset there are no four-door cars anymore to sell. Toyota Nissan and all the Korean factories have a big advantage over Chevrolet and Buick because they have four door cars and entry level prices
I’ve had ventilated seats since 2007 and likely won’t buy a car without them (certainly not one with leather), even though most of my trips now are short. It does make the seat much more complicated than mere heating, which explains why they force you to buy an expensive package of options when they are offered.
Does Envision offer them? Will there be another Buick CUV between these two someday? It looks like a big leap in size to me, but I haven’t been inside either.
Ventilated seats are included in the top trim level for the Buick Envision: the Premium II.
These are really cooled seats as opposed to ventilated seats
Jonathan, the way you write that you’ll cover the availability of the heated windshield and ventilated seats on the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer in a separate post (rather than just come out and say it) makes me think Chevy will offer them. Buick is the more premium brand of the two, so it should have these features before Chevrolet.
Is Barra trying to kill Buick (and Cadillac) in NA so she can introduce Avenir?
Both brands are still damaged and Ruess said this was Cadillac’s “last chance ” so GM must at least be thinking about a US Lexus rival. I say Lexus because with GM Europe gone chasing BMW must seem an overly expensive and unneeded effort. We see how easily GM retreats these days.