The 2021 Buick Encore is switching to a new engine. The power source in question is the turbocharged 1.4L I4 LE2 gasoline engine, rated at 153 horsepower and 177 pound-feet. It replaces the previous turbo 1.4L I4 LUV which, despite also displacing the same amount and featuring a turbo, could reasonably be considered to be inferior in most respects.
The LE2 is a very much more recent design, having made its debut in 2016, whereas the LUV is part of the first-generation Ecotec Family 0 engine developed by GM’s former European subsidiary, Opel. Though it’s been updated since its initial introduction, the engine dates back to the Opel/Vauxhall Corsa circa 1996. Fuel is injected directly into the cylinders of the LE2 rather than into the intake port of the LUV, resulting in greater efficiency, while the LE2’s performance figures dwarf those of the LUV, which is rated at 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque.
Furthermore, the LE2 is fitted with a start/stop system, though we’re not certain if that system will make its way into the 2021 Buick Encore. And, despite its greater power output, it has slightly superior fuel economy, according to the combined EPA estimates.
So if the LE2 is so much better than the LUV, why wasn’t it fitted to the Buick Encore before now? The answer is that it was.
The first car sold with the LE2 was the 2016 Buick Encore Sport Touring (ST), and the engine remained in that specific model until it was discontinued for 2020 model year. Its sudden and unexpected reappearance in the 2021 Buick Encore occurred a few months after production of the 2021 Encore started, so some 2021 model year Encore models have been built with the older LUV engine. Customers may wish to confirm with dealers which engine is under the hood of their car before placing an order.
The Encore’s platform mate, the Chevy Trax, is also experiencing the same change in suddenly replacing the LUV for the LE2 a few months into the 2021 model year. Both models ride on the same GM Gamma platform.
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Comments
Ah, now confirmed. Thank you GMA. This was part of the topic from the Trax story the other day. Glad they are also doing this with the Encore as well and I will be very interested to know if the LE2 has the start/stop this time. That’s what kept me from ordering the LE2 when I purchased my 2018 Encore. IMO, this will make the Encore a near perfect vehicle (if without the start/stop). Add to that the high ratings and awards the Encore keeps getting, and these should be flying off the dealer lots with the great deals they have on them. Now if the Buick dealers/sales people would just push them more.
All the SIDI 1.4t Encore’s had stop-start and direct injection. I assume that just like late model GM vehicles have a manual override. Just have to switch it off every time you start up.
For me I love the stopping and wish it lasted longer. Now we have a PHEV CT6 and all the battery time or engine time i need.
The motor will come with auto stop start tech. They had it last time. The LE2 motor was optional on the 2017 sport touring and essence trims. Due to transmission gearing towards efficiency, most people cant tell the difference in performance.
I have bought 11 cars in the 2000’s. 5 GM 2 Lexus Toyota. 1 Ram 1 Nissan 1 Kia. 1 Honda. Here is scorecard of power train issues:. GM 4 with engine issue (5.3L. 4.6 L 3.6L 1.4L) and 1 without (Duramax). Non GM:. 1 with tranny ( Honda 5 sp auto) and 5 with no issues. I don’t think any GM engine family designed in past 25 years has been top notch
Jacket: Although personal experience is good, it’s not a true sample of the overall market. So just like what you said above, I too have many cars from the 2000’s that I have personal experience with as an owner, but also from a sales and service point of view. I’ve had many GM’s (not one with issues), several Ford products (one Lincoln that had many issues including needing a brand new engine at 2,000 miles), numerous Chrysler/Jeep products that were all great, 2 Kia’s (both that gave no problems, but had major annoyances), exactly one VW that was a total POS and several used cars. However, where my experience differs is that I’ve also been around thousands of Honda’s, Mazda’s and Volvo’s from a sales and service perspective. Over the years, I can’t tell you how many issues I’ve encountered with Honda’s: Transmissions, exhaust, trim, doors, head gaskets, vibrations, electrical, and so on. It was so bad and (worse yet) Honda’s attitude about the issues was so nasty, that I have vowed that I will never own one. Although Mazda’s attitude is better, they still have many issues and the cars just don’t seem to hold up as well over time. I’ve seen my share of traded in Toyota’s and will tell you again, never will one be in my driveway. But all the GM’s I’ve had over the years and never one major issue or complaint.
The base 1.4L was a POS. (I had a 2016 Encore that incurred $3500 in engine repairs before I gave up and backfired it down to local Toyota for a car with a real engine. Thank God they did not test drive it). Is this engine any more reliable or just a higher HP POS?
Exactly… 1.4L has serious turbo breakdown issues. I regret not knowing that and paying for the extended warranty. As far as either of the engines or models go, the car isnt known for anything but getting to and from the grocery store. It is not a performance drivetrain in any variation.
Not performance for the demographic but that 1.4t could increase horsepower with just a ecu and was a hoot in AWD. Our 2013 Encore AWD would see almost 40 mpg at thr speed limit.
The 1.4t is a peach and takes boost like an addict on the stock setup. Good for 180-190 hp and 230 trq all while getting almost 40 mpg in our 2013 Encore…with AWD.
Well, once again the “powers that be” within the GM organization are making changes that hopefully will be for the better.
My concerns, being a retired GM employee (working mostly in the test and engineering factory positions) is that when changes are made that they’re an improvement over the previous model…and for the most part they are.
However, when changes like this happen, that we are seeing here with the different engines, it makes you wonder what sort of a problem or concern did the previous model (drivetrain, chassis, body ect.) have that required this change.
The Asian manufactures can and do make changes also, but usually the product that they are making changes to are pretty reliable to start with, and the changes made, usually not that dramatic because the product is generally “as good as they can possibly have made it” to start with, ensuring good customer loyalty and repeat business.
However when good old GM makes changes, I’ve found that I’ve always been suspect of these changes mostly due to multiple complaints and failures of the product…never have I seen changes occur “just to improve the product” so that they can continue keeping their customer base intact. Why would anyone want to do things this way? Good question.
While I can applaud GM for making any changes that can and do improve the product, usually I used to find some kind of a flaw that caused these changes that would necessitate either being sued or a produce a major loss in revenue.
Change, for the sake of change doesn’t always mean that the previous product was inferior, it could mean that the manufacture was “thinking ahead” to future sales & retained customer loyalty. The proper way of doing business, right?
However, so many times I’ve seen and had to deal with “changes due to looming legal actions and loss of sales” because the product in question had followed the old GM adage of “building products that were just good enough” and were “signed off” by those who didn’t necessarily have any knowledge of the basic product history or design to start with but had to set and follow an acceptable (to them) cost structure for production, parts, labor and future warranty claims.
The end result….usually was a “future failure rate or warranty concerns” acceptance by this group of “bean counters” who had the distinct job of making sure that “all cost considerations” were being met. Perhaps acceptable at the time but usually, those “acceptable considerations” usually led to having to reengineer or redesign a flawed product to begin with.
This used to drive us all nuts on the factory production lines at times, as we knowingly and begrudgingly knew that at some point in the future…we’d be seeing a modified product replacement due to some kind of projected product failure.
And so it is today still (and I was talking over 30 years ago!), some built in ways of doing business from within the “inner workings of GM” will never change. I can’t think of another auto manufacturer that has, over the years replaced so many product line models and names, parts and product designs, model platforms and of course “suppliers” not to mention production facility locations, as General Motors! If this were a successful way to run a major business, GM would still be the largest automotive producers world wide…but it isn’t and you’ve only got to look at the “GM Hierarchy” to see that they still haven’t a clue how to regain that once amazing status. “as GM goes, so goes the world”, and I doubt they ever will.
Probably on of the last updates before going BEV.
I had a 2018 encore sport touring . It was a terrific car
Now have a 2020 buick encore gx. Very noisy engine and hard riding .
There was a guy on Encore Facebook group with a 2016 Encore 1.4t SIDI that could see almost 50 mpg on his commute. That is unmatched by any gasoline or hybrid today.
The new encore gx is very hard riding
and the engine is noisy.
The regular encore was a better vehicle.
Good! My 2014 is on it’s second turbo. Along with a couple other major engine gasket repairs. Its been in the shop way too many times.
We run the piss out of our 2013 Encore AWD with a ECU tune. It was quite a hoot and lived up to it’s nickname “Squirt”.
Hope gm recalls or takes back my 2020 encore gx.
it rides too hard for a family passenger vehicle… feel every little bump in the road..very disappointed.
loved my 2018 encore sport touring…
art: Probably just a silly question to ask, but have you actually checked the tire pressure on all the tires? I’ve read a lot about the new GX and nothing (but from you here now) about hard ride. Sounds like the tires are over inflated. I would never trust the pressure set from the factory OR the dealership. After 19 years of working at dealerships, I know way too many techs who seem to think the factory tag on the driver’s door jam is decoration only! One tech I knew would inflate all the tires to 45 lbs. So it may sound silly, but take a good tire gauge (digital is best) and make sure all 4 tires are set exactly according to the specs on the tag on the door jam. Do this when the tires are cold and have not been sitting in the sun.
GM has lost is way! You can’t get a 6.2 engine in your truck unless it’s loaded! You can’t get a moonroof in a truck unless it’s a SLT or loaded. No wonder super duty is taking over and Chevy vans a now third! No hybrids ds! No entry level now without it costing way more then just a few years ago! Warranty sucks! I used to trade for GM truck every year! I’m done! Rav hybrid 2021 and waiting for new Tundra! Margin margin margin,,, !! God by GM!
@Dennis Melvin: Hate to burst your now anti-GM bubble and put a stake in your now smitten with Toyota junk rant, but you can’t get a 6.2L in the Tundra either. So why is the 5.3 GM not ok, but the 5.7 Toyota ok? Hmmm. Also, you won’t get things like a sunroof in the more basic trucks from Toyota or Nissan either. ALL of them play the same game with the options. All of them. And just so you know, the “SLT” is NOT a loaded trim any more. In fact, the SLT is kind of the base GMC any more on average. Also, GM was the FIRST to have a hybrid truck and large SUV. Guess what? Nobody purchased them in numbers to keep selling them. Plus GM will be out with several all electric trucks very soon.
“Warranty sucks!”—–why? What makes GM’s warranty suck when Toyota’s is the same? None of what you said makes any sense. So either you are working for Toyota in some fashion or you have been sold a bill of goods that can’t be backed up. Sad. Enjoy your girly Rav4.
Why in the world did this engine ever leave the lineup in the Buick version? It should have been the base engine from at least 2018 onward. Now realizing there mistake they back pedal and swap back to this more powerful, efficient and newer design. GM at it’s finest!
You give some redundant arguments.
Gentlemen: I am in the market for 2021 Encore with the 1.4L I4 SIDI engine. What do I look for in the 2021 model’s VIN to confirm it has the newer, more powerful motor? Every dealer I’ve called asking this question came up blank, as in clueless. Half or more of them said it has a 1.0L I3 from the Encore GX. Thanks in advance for your assistance.