Just last month at the 2019 Los Angeles Auto Show, General Motors brought the Chevrolet Trailblazer nameplate back the U.S. market with a new subcompact crossover offering. However, not far from the Chevy booth, Buick also had a new subcompact crossover on the show floor with the North American debut of the Buick Encore GX. Which begs the question – which would you rather have?
While there are a number of differences between these two vehicles, it’s worth giving a quick rundown on the similarities first. For starters, both the new Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX ride on the GM VSS-F vehicle platform (alternatively known as a “vehicle set”), while also offering the same engine lineup, which includes the base-level turbocharged 1.2L LIH three-cylinder, rated at 137 horsepower and 166 pound-feet of torque, and the optional turbocharged 1.3L L3T three-cylinder, rated at 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque.
So the bones of these two machines are the same. However, once we start looking at things like styling and features, the new Chevrolet Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX start to diverge from one another.
For example, the Chevrolet Trailblazer was revealed in two trim levels in LA, including the sporty RS model, which comes with a number of red trim bits and other performance-flavored cues, and the outdoorsy Activ, which features unique off-road-tuned suspension, beefier tires, and extra ground clearance. We exclusively revealed the rest of the new Trailblazer trim level structure earlier this month.
Meanwhile, the Buick Encore GX takes a decidedly more premium approach to the segment. Offered in three trim levels, including Preferred, Select, and Essence, the Encore GX offers additional digital safety features over the Trailblazer (such as the Rear Camera Mirror and Surround Vision Camera) as well as more upscale materials. The Encore GX was also released ahead of the Trailblazer, slotting in for the 2020 model year, versus the 2021 model year for the Chevy.
The styling between these two vehicles is also wildly different, with the new Chevrolet Trailblazer sporting sharp lines, hard creases, and an attitude reminiscent of the new Chevrolet Blazer. By comparison, the Buick Encore GX is more rounded and softer in its styling approach.
So, which would you rather have? Let us know in the poll below, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Trailblazer news, Buick Encore news, Chevrolet news, Buick news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
The Traiblazer Activ looks much cooler than the Buick. The RS model is okay.
Anyone know where the powertrains came from? Are these 3 cylinder motors proven in other markets? I am predicting a tiny, buzzy motor with lots of NVH issues.
That may be enough to embarrass the Fiat-based Jeep and lame 3 cylinder Ford “mini-Bronco”, but it won’t be enough to compete with Toyota or Honda when they improve their offerings in this market.
I think the more powerful atmospheric 2.4L 4 cylinder would be a good option.
I agree with you. The 2.4L 4 cylinder would have been a great option.
They were first used in Malibu for China and South Korea market in MY19. Performance is OK given a fairly good torque number and low peak torque rpm. Reliability is yet to be seen.
I don’t even think the “Trailblazer” should be released. Not under that name.
Bring the global BOF Trailblazer stateside, rename this small SUV the Tracker and be done with it.
As for the Buick Encore? I welcome it. Encore! Encore!
Trailblazer with a 2.0T would be a winner for me !!
OK I am not in this market – but my sons might be, but not with the 3 cylinder underpowered SUV to go along with all of the other GM mid-sized and below underpowered SUVs.
But that’s just one persons vote.
Why can’t the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer have the 1.4 Turbo(153 horsepower and 177 pound feet torque) with 6 speed automatic from the 2019 Chevy Cruze? A 1.2 lire 3 cylinder engine mated to a CVT is a horrible combination for a vehicle this size.
Both the Trailblazer and the Encore GX have the 1.35T / 9AT combination as an uplevel offering. 155 hp / 174 lb-ft. Very comparable to the 1.4T output and it is a more “modern” engine, despite having one less cylinder.
I would get the Hyundai Santa Fe over either of these. The Santa Fe is assembled in Alabama. The Trailblazer and Encore (unless I am mistaken) will be imported from South Korea. Yet another circumstance where buying American means avoiding GM.
This isn’t comparable to the Santa Fe. The Blazer is the direct Sante Fe competitor two sizes above these.
These will compete with the Kona and upcoming Kia Seltos.
i’d buy the new mazda cx-30. it comes with a 186HP engine in all trims. looks pretty good. costs a little more than the trailblazer but costs a lot less than the encore.
@steve:
You may wish to take a few drives in the Mazda’s before saying that. I sell them. I won’t buy one. The 2.5L is not very efficient and I have a good number of people complaining about the bad MPG’s. Mazda’s electronics suck. Slow, not very reliable and just way below what Buick has. As for the CX30, I looked at it in the LA auto show. Although it looks better than some, they really need to re-think the black plastic that covers 1/3 of the side of the car and half the bumper. Now, I can’t say on how the CX30 will ride, but it better be a huge improvement over the CX3 which is a total turd.
Buick way before the CX30.
Interesting, as I sold Mazda’s briefly back in the late 1980s and their mpg car was the 323 which was rated in the low 20 mpg. They were bad in miles per gallon 30-years ago, and still are not known as a fuel efficient cars!
It is kind of pitiful that GM wouldn’t at least give a 2.0T variant. It fit in the HHR SS, and this doesn’t look much smaller in terms of engine bay. That was a pretty good car performance wise. I would love to have that in power in an AWD car
The Chinese Encore wins hands down over both though not available in the US.
Trailblazer looks like the offspring of a cheap Renegade and Soul. Encore GX looks Toyota-bland but has a nice facia.
GM is always one step behind on design. Buick needs a further upmarket design push. A more creative approach as Mazda has tried.
I think the Encore GX is much more stylish than the Trailblazer. But then I am partial. Is it only me that sees a Lexus style grille on the Trailblazer RS? Can’t the designers come up up with their own ideas? I am with everyone else on the 3 cylinder. I would rather have a half of a V8, than a half of a V6. I hope they sell. We have a bunch coming.
The Buick is always more stylish as that is what the buyers desire. The Chevrolet is designed to have the more rugged look as that is what its buyers want.
none they are both foreign assembled
I wish GM Authority wouldn’t pit one GM vehicle against the other, even in a poll. Shouldn’t it be a GM vehicle vs the competition?
These two cars are very much related, as were the first generation Encore and the Chevrolet Trax, it seems to me. Am I right to assume that this Trailblazer replaces the Trax?
I wonder if GM would try to reenter the European market with this Chevrolet. The 3 year non-competition period ends 31 July 2020.
Looks like cool vs lux…Tblazer for the young and Buick for the mature. That’s how I bet it goes.