In the increasingly crowded subcompact crossover space, the 2021 Chevy Trailblazer and the Buick Encore GX seem to be obvious rivals. They are both new models, introduced in the 2021 and 2020 model years, respectively. They are both based on the same GM VSS-F platform, though the Chevy Trailblazer has a slightly longer wheelbase, and there is significant overlap in their price ranges. So do the two vehicles cannibalize each others’ sales?
The answer, so far, is that they don’t.
Buick Encore GX
Chevy Trailblazer
“In some of our early reads, we don’t see Encore GX coming in at Trailblazer source of sales,” senior marketing director, Chevrolet SUVs, Brad Franz, told GM Authority executive editor, Alex Luft, in a recent interview.
Franz also noted that it’s a little early to be sure of this. General Motors is still gathering sources of sales data, with some of the data still coming in.
Buick Encore GX
Chevy Trailblazer
Given the similarities between the two models, however, some kind of conflict might have been expected to become apparent by now. As noted above and in a GM Authority article published in July, the Chevy Trailblazer and Buick Encore GX share the same platform, more appropriately described as a vehicle set because it has been designed to be used for models in a wide range of sizes.
This is the GM VSS-F (Vehicle Strategy Set – Front) architecture, which is used both for pure front-wheel-drive cars and for all-wheel-drive versions of front-wheel-drive models. The new architecture, which the Encore GX and Trailblazer are the first to use, is very flexible. It allows Chevy to provide the Trailblazer with a 103.9-inch wheelbase, and the Buick Encore GX to feature a slightly shorter at 102.2 inches.
Buick Encore GX interior
Chevy Trailblazer interior
The drivetrain choices for the vehicles are identical. Both are offered with a choice of two turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engines, the 1.2L I3 LIH rated at 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, and the 1.3L I3 L3T which produces 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque. The transmission options are a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or GM’s nine-speed automatic gearbox. Customers have a further choice of front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive, though AWD is available only with the 1.3L engine.
Buick Encore GX
Chevy Trailblazer
It is possible to buy a Chevy Trailblazer for less than a Buick Encore GX – the price gap for the entry models is $5,200. However, the Trailblazer range is differentiated with the off-road-specific Active along with the similarly priced and much sportier RS, whose sales are running at double Chevrolet’s initial forecast. There are no equivalents of these models in the Buick Encore GX range, so the price differential for the most expensive models is closer at $3,600.
| Chevy Trailblazer | Buick Encore GX | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| L 1.2 FWD | $19,995 | Preferred 1.2 FWD | $25,195 |
| Active / RS 1.3 AWD | $27,995 | Essence 1.3 AWD | $31,595 |
- Base MSRP including a $995 destination freight charge
So, despite the similarity of the Encore GX and Chevy Trailblazer, the two subcompact crossovers are positioned quite differently and do not appear to be competing with each other. We’ll be here to report on the latest on both vehicles as soon as we have it, so be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Trailblazer news and Chevrolet news, Buick Encore news and Buick news, plus around-the-clock GM news coverage.
Comments
Whoever is designing these Nissan looking Chevrolets needs to be fired and sent back to their respective country.
GM has lost it in the deign department.
Just thinking the opposite regarding Chevrolet which has sold some pretty homey vehicles over the preceding decade like Trax and Sonic. Finally Chevrolet has a design language someone under 35 might find appealing.
And Encore GX certainly looks better than Encore, but that wasn’t a difficult task. Gotta say China only GEM Encore beats the rest, however, and I’ve heard GX doesn’t handle especially well.
These are ‘world cars’ meaning lean muscle, floating roof lines, nifty lighting. These GM models best Toyota, Hyundai, Nissan and Honda (CUVs only).
La encore GX fue probada en México y anda muy bien y con un corte a los 210 km/h así que si fuera como dicen comentarios tendencioso no podría alcanzar esa velocidad , y el consumo es increíble con un litro llega a 29 km y yo lo ví y no es joda
Hey first gen sonic did pretty well in it’s Segment, especially with the ad campaign of firsts. GM in general feel off with many of thier models because their commercials and ad campaigns pretty much were fake focus groups and the “that’s a buick?” Commercials…. Honestly the only other memorable commercial I remember seeing was that Lassie Silverado HD with Tommy commercial from the super bowl yearrrraaa ago. It’s always truck month at GM! Most didn’t even realize half the stuff they sold existed and the abandoned the Volt which is a pretty damn good car but after initial release…. Nothing.
That said, this new stuff that most of us car guys think is mundane, and even the Blazer as a wrong vehicle… is selling.
@Dan: Interesting. Why do you say that? The sales of both seem to be doing well, but the Chevrolet is really doing well. So the sales (thus far) are not following what you say. I personally feel they are both nice looking CUV’s, but I’m just going by the sales.
Wouldn’t buy one with less than 4 cylinders!
Yes, and with $5000.00 price difference, it should have a bigger standard engine.
engine is as noisy as a diesel and you feel energy bump in the road.
infotainment system has a mind of it’s own. radio stops playing intermittently, needs software reprogramming…
gets good gas mileage
Test drove one. Nothing what you said is true. It is a nice cut. Engine is fine and rode well. Infotainment by Chevy is and has been good for years.
Do not feed this troll…
That’s nice to know. Chevy and Buick then are going after different brands and their crossovers and not each other..
We cross-shopped both for our daughter who is getting ready to drive. She ended up picking the RS Trailblazer because she liked the interior with the red stitching and flat-bottom steering wheel.
We do wish that the Trailblazer had more things like the 360 camera and the vented seats like the Encore GX has.