GM Suggests Dealers Order 2021 Buick Encore With Few Options
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General Motors is recommending that dealers order the Preferred trim level of the 2021 Buick Encore fitted with no – or at least minimal – options.
Based on documents seen by GM Authority, the three build configurations being suggested to dealers by GM are as follows:
- No options
- Remote Start
- Remote Start and Safety Package
The Safety Package for the Buick Encore includes Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and a 120-volt power outlet.
Buick Encore
Though both the Buick Encore and the larger Encore GX fit into the subcompact crossover space, two two are substantially different vehicles. The Encore was introduced for the 2013 model year, is based on the GM Gamma 2 platform and is sold only with the turbocharged 1.4L I4 LUV Ecotec gasoline engine rated at 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque.
By comparison, the Encore GX made its debut much more recently, for the 2020 model year. It is built on the more modern GM VSS-F vehicle set platform and is offered with a choice of the turbocharged 1.2L I3 LIH engine, which produces 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, or the turbocharged 1.3L I3 L3T motor, which makes 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque.
The Encore GX is slightly larger and more practical, with a cargo capacity of 50.2 cubic feet compared with the Encore’s 48.4 cubic feet.
Buick Encore GX
Despite the greater apparent appeal of the Encore GX, GM’s strategy calls for selling both models at the same time, at least for now. The ordering suggestion seems to be a way of protecting the Buick Encore from the GX model by ensuring that it is available at a lower price. This ties in with a recent price reduction for the Buick Encore Preferred AWD, which earlier this year cost the same as the equivalent Encore GX at $27,095. Following the price drop, the Encore is now $880 cheaper at $26,215.
Aside from the threat posed by the Encore GX, the Buick Encore is no longer the sales leader it once was. As reported by GM Authority earlier this month, Encore sales in Q3 of 2020 were down by 52 percent in the U.S., 28 percent in Canada and 40 percent in Mexico compared with the same period in 2019. In the U.S., the Encore dropped from 4th to 11th place in the mainstream subcompact crossover sector during Q3, and from 3rd to 8th place for the first nine months of the year.
Preferred is the higher of two trim levels in the 2021 Buick Encore range (the other is the base model that’s simply called Encore). It’s the only trim available with AWD, though it’s also available in FWD.
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The dealers are going to order whatever they want regardless of what they’re advised or what their customers want. -They decide what the customer is going to buy. The customer comes last as far as what’s on a dealer’s lot. It’s always been the problem. And that’s why I’ve ordered my last 9 cars.
Interesting that you say the Encore wasn’t introduced until the 2015 model year yet somehow they sold 2013 and 2014 models .
You are of course correct, and the article has been updated to reflect that. Many thanks.
Hey Buick! There’s another way to increase sales numbers of any given model . . . drop the price!
Simple, huh!
Montana Bob
So GM should always be selling at the cheapest price, no matter what their costs are or what consumers will pay.
I don’t know what they do in Montana, but I don’t think that’s how business or economics work.
No, Sam, Montana operates economically the same as the rest of the country, and the world, for that matter.
I am merely stating the obvious, that being that, pushing people into new cars devoid of popular options indicates to me that perhaps the price of a popular-equipped car should be less expensive, that is if Buick’s intent is to sell more of a given model. Simple economics, in my opinion.
Montana Bob
The Encore is made in Korea.
Build cheep and sell more expensive. Cooperate America at its best. They don’t worry about quality just profit. More money for Mary’s electrics. Oh ya like I said before the Buick dealer near me advertises be American buy American. They must have forgot how many vehicle’s on there lot are made in other countries besides the U.S.
Tony, Korean cars actually have good reliability. I’ve had more issues with my 2016 Sierra built in FT Wayne Indiana with 50% Mexican parts. Unlike Mexico and sometimes the US Korean manufacturers take pride in what they make and it shows. Our workers are complaining about getting paid more with less skills
@ Rich, So What.
Wait. They only have 155 HP?!😳
What are you expecting on a subcompact? A Ford Ecosport is 123 HP and a Kia Soul is 147 HP. A Honda Civic is 158 HP anyway.
The Kia Soul has an optional Turbo model with about 200hp and the Civic Sport has an option for 180hp. So, doesn’t that make what you posted kind of misleading, borderline flat out wrong?
The Ford Eco Sport is even smaller and it starts at 123hp and goes up to 166hp, but it’s also underpowered but the Honda Civic isn’t even in the same segment and the Kia Soul is in the clown/you’re-embarrassed-to-drive-this segment
Exactly. The Civic is bigger, more expensive, nicer, and has the same HP.
Yeah but, the Civic doesn’t have the same horsepower, it’s available with more HP on most of the trims. Also the Civic isn’t more expensive. The Encore MSRP starts around 23K which is about the price of a mid-trim Civic, the Encore GX probably starts around 24k+ and just straight up isn’t worth that money. Maybe GM should just make a better subcompact, instead of GM fans boys dying on the Encore and Trailblazer hill.
The bumper to bumper warranty on Buicks was 4 yr / 50,000 miles till last year. Now it’s 3/36,000 like the Chevys. For this alone the prices should be lowered.
one of the worst warranties in the business, great job Mary! GM does offer 100k mile warranty on their BEVs, but that accounts for all of 20k sales per year. I honestly do not understand how GM stock is going up right now…
They really haven’t changed much in these things, no wonder sales are stagnating.
In fact, they arguably downgraded the drivetrain in the the newer GX with a underpowered China designed 3 pot. Disappointing.
I have a 2020 Encore and the AWD came in cheaper then just front wheel drive with many options
I love it
A Buick service rep told me the 3 cylinder engines in the GX have been having problems, so much so that in some cases GM is replacing engines. Doesn’t sound promising.
Daughter and son-in-law just bought the Encore GX sister, Trailblazer RS for less with same options. Probably read hundreds of reviews and watched hundreds of video reviews of the competition named above and then some. The Sol was not in its class, Seltos and some had the Sportage. The Seltos was usually even until they all tested off road and the Trailblazer wins hands down. The Seltos tranny CVT overheated each time…worked it to hard… The respectable reviews came from truck and SUV market. I know this about the Encore and GX but the GX has the same platform/options – different brand in the GM family. So why Buick… some said they liked the Trailblazer interior over the GX… I wouldn’t know, never been in either or test drove them. Taking the word of my kids.
I prefer the look of the Trailblazer over the GX and the Trailblazer has noticeably more space inside.
Lol…its about the Encores and Buick, not my stories…lol
I agree that GMs stupid philosophy of eliminating options on Encore to increase sales with the GX is idiodic. With so many competitors in this class, confuse the buyer to go elsewhere. Encore buyers have to spend more or upgrade to the GX model, might as well shop elsewhere…by Buick… Just what my kids did, went with the Trailblazer. But many going with the Korean cars now, price, options, and warranty.
They should have dropped Buick and kept Pontiac.GM would be selling a lot more cars