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Buick Encore GX Sales Segment Share Only Two Percent During Q1 2022

Buick Encore GX sales decreased in the United States and Canada during the first quarter of 2022.

Buick Encore GX Sales - Q1 2022 - United States

In the United States, Buick Encore GX deliveries totaled 5,382 units in Q1 2022, a decrease of about 71 percent compared to 18,435 units sold in Q1 2021.
MODEL Q1 2022 / Q1 2021 Q1 2022 Q1 2021
ENCORE GX -70.81% 5,382 18,435

Buick Encore GX Sales - Q1 2022 - Canada

In Canada, Buick Encore GX deliveries totaled 716 units in Q1 2022, a decrease of about 59 percent compared to 1,726 units sold in Q1 2021.
MODEL Q1 2022 / Q1 2021 Q1 2022 Q1 2021
ENCORE GX -58.52% 716 1,726

Competitive Sales Comparison (USA)

Buick Encore GX sales during the first quarter of 2022 placed the premium marque’s small crossover in 16th place among 20 entries in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment. The Honda HR-V continued at the top spot with a 61 percent increase in sales to 42,168 units while Jeep Compass took second with a 22 percent growth to 24,408 units. The Nissan Kicks took third with a 16 percent drop to 20,577 units while the Encore GX’s corporate cousin and VSS-F platform mate, the Chevy Trailblazer, took 12th place with a 66 percent decrease in sales to 8,606 units (see running Chevrolet Trailblazer sales). The Trailblazer’s corporate cousin, the Chevy Trax (see running Chevy Trax sales), took 15th place, also with a 66 drop to 5,801 units. The Encore GX followed in 16th place with a 71 percent fall to 5,382 units. Meanwhile the Trax’s platform mate, the Buick Encore (see running Buick Encore sales), placed one spot above last with a 58 percent decline in sales to 2,620 units.

Note that Buick fields two entries in this segment, the Encore GX and Encore. The two crossovers are mechanically not related despite carrying the same base name. In fact, the Buick Encore GX slots between the “regular” Buick Encore and Buick Envision in the brand’s vehicle lineup.

Sales Numbers - Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2022 - United States

MODEL Q1 22 / Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 21 Q1 22 SHARE Q1 21 SHARE
HONDA HR-V +61.10% 42,168 26,175 19% 10%
JEEP COMPASS +22.29% 24,408 19,959 11% 7%
NISSAN KICKS -15.74% 20,577 24,421 9% 9%
HYUNDAI KONA -31.29% 15,536 22,610 7% 8%
KIA SOUL -17.84% 14,124 17,191 6% 6%
VOLKSWAGEN TAOS * 13,674 * 6% 0%
KIA SELTOS -33.76% 11,119 16,786 5% 6%
TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS * 10,157 * 4% 0%
JEEP RENEGADE -37.55% 9,990 15,997 4% 6%
MAZDA CX-30 -34.92% 9,494 14,589 4% 5%
KIA NIRO +114.01% 9,226 4,311 4% 2%
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER -65.61% 8,606 25,024 4% 9%
FORD ECOSPORT -34.57% 8,426 12,878 4% 5%
HYUNDAI VENUE +13.23% 6,549 5,784 3% 2%
CHEVROLET TRAX -65.79% 5,801 16,955 3% 6%
BUICK ENCORE GX -70.81% 5,382 18,435 2% 7%
TOYOTA C-HR -59.09% 4,255 10,401 2% 4%
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT -75.86% 3,707 15,356 2% 6%
BUICK ENCORE -57.94% 2,620 6,229 1% 2%
FIAT 500X +28.30% 340 265 0% 0%
TOTAL -17.27% 226,159 273,366

From a segment share standpoint, the Encore GX held just a two percent share, down five percentage points. The HR-V held a 19 percent segment share, up nine percentage points while the Compass held an 11 percent share, up four percentage points. The Kicks maintained a nine percent share while the Trailblazer earned four percent, down five percentage points. The Trax held a three percent share, down three percentage points while the regular Encore held a mere one percent share, down one percentage point.

The four GM vehicles in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment – the Buick Encore GX and Chevy Trailblazer, as well as their corporate cousins, the Buick Encore and Chevy Trax – accounted for a cumulative 22,409 deliveries, good for a 10 percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - GM Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2022 - USA

MODEL Q1 22 / Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 21
CHEVROLET TRAX -65.79% 5,801 16,955
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER -65.61% 8,606 25,024
BUICK ENCORE -57.94% 2,620 6,229
BUICK ENCORE GX -70.81% 5,382 18,435
TOTAL -66.37% 22,409 66,643

By comparison, the three Stellantis entries – the Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade, and Fiat 500X – accounted for a cumulative 34,738 deliveries for a combined 15 percent segment share, for second place.

Sales Numbers - Stellantis Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2022 - USA

MODEL Q1 22 / Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 21
JEEP COMPASS +22.29% 24,408 19,959
JEEP RENEGADE -37.55% 9,990 15,997
FIAT 500X +28.30% 340 265
TOTAL -4.09% 34,738 36,221

Toyota recently launched a new model, the Corolla Cross, to compete in the mainstream B-crossovers segment. The Corolla Cross will likely end up replacing the C-HR, which has performed poorly from a sales volume standpoint. During the first quarter, Toyota saw a combined 14,412 sales of its two crossovers that it currently fields.

Sales Numbers - Toyota Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q1 2022 - USA

MODEL Q1 22 / Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 21
TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS * 10,157 *
TOYOTA C-HR -59.09% 4,255 10,401
TOTAL +38.56% 14,412 10,401

Meanwhile, Hyundai – with the Kona and Venue – and Kia – with the Seltos, Niro, and Soul – saw cumulative 56,554 deliveries, which account for a combined 21 percent segment share, to take first place.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai - Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (With Soul) - Q1 2022 - USA

MODEL Q1 22 / Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 21
KIA SOUL -17.84% 14,124 17,191
KIA SELTOS -33.76% 11,119 16,786
KIA NIRO +114.01% 9,226 4,311
HYUNDAI KONA -31.29% 15,536 22,610
HYUNDAI VENUE +13.23% 6,549 5,784
TOTAL -15.19% 56,554 66,682

However, a strong argument can be made that the Kia Soul is not part of the segment in question, but rather competes one segment below based on its size and price point. Removing the Soul from the Hyundai-Kia total nets 42,430 deliveries, outselling the Honda HR-V by the skin of their teeth.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai - Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (Without Soul) - Q1 2022 - USA

MODEL Q1 22 / Q1 21 Q1 22 Q1 21
KIA SELTOS -33.76% 11,119 16,786
KIA NIRO +114.01% 9,226 4,311
HYUNDAI KONA -31.29% 15,536 22,610
HYUNDAI VENUE +13.23% 6,549 5,784
TOTAL -14.27% 42,430 49,491

The mainstream subcompact crossover segment contracted 17 percent to 226,159 units during Q1 2022, meaning Encore GX sales significantly underperformed the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

Much like during the fourth quarter of 2021, Buick Encore GX sales continued to drop in a very contested and crowded field that includes four entries from GM. The decline is the result of sub-optimal inventory caused by ongoing supply chain issues, headlined by the ongoing global semiconductor microchip shortage, that has resulted in GM prioritize the limited supply of chips and other materials to more profitable models like full-size trucks and SUVs.

Incidentally, GM recently announced that Encore GX and Chevy Trailblazer exports from South Korea surpassed the 300,000-unit mark. The GM Bupyeong plant in South Korea produces the two models for North America, while a plant in China makes them for the Chinese market.

Production of the 2023 Buick Encore GX started in April, representing the fourth model year of the first-generation small crossover. As was first reported by GM Authority, GM will discontinue the regular Buick Encore, which is made at the same facility, later this year. This should enable the automaker to allocate more production resources to the Encore GX, enabling a rebound in sales volume. However, the uptick in production will still hinge upon necessary availability of microchips.

And as GM Authority covered previously, The General is changing the way in which dealers order the Encore GX (and the Trailblazer). Traditionally, dealers would order both vehicles using a “consensus” model wherein the dealer would request specific vehicles and trims from the factory. By comparison, dealers must now use a “port consensus” model wherein GM builds the vehicles it thinks are needed or the ones it can build, and then ships them to port, where dealers then select from whatever is available.

About The Numbers

Vince grew up in a GM family, likes manuals, and thinks this is the golden age of the automobile.

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Comments

  1. It’s 100% a supply issue but also dealer markups I fear.
    I’ve been in the market for a new vehicle and took at look at the GX and they’re leasing for $400+ a month with several thousand down in my city. Even the regular Encore is going for at least $300 a month.
    Hard pass.

    Reply
    1. Ehdit0r: I know that may sound like a lot, but even the more base Mazda CX30 is going for that (monthly) with only a couple grand total out of pocket and the Encore GX is much nicer. Right now, it’s near impossible to get a lease payment for under $400 on anything without doing a second mortgage on your house. Not saying I agree with this. It’s just how it is a the moment.

      Reply
      1. Oh, I understand. I’m more just venting considering where prices were just a year ago. It’s a weird time in the automotive market.

        Reply
  2. First, we all know these numbers are skewed (for all brands!!) due to the chip issues and inventory problems. This is not going to change any time soon, and therefore reporting these sales numbers is kind of useless.

    On the other hand, this Encore GX seems to be a quite nice CUV. I have not driven one, but I did have a 2018 Encore (old style) and loved it. Even though this GX is such a nice CUV, why is it not selling better? Is it because it’s not assembled in the USA? Is it due to the 3 cyl, although it has as much or more power than most 4 cyl? As sad as it is for me to say this, is Buick finally at the end of it’s usefulness? I’m beginning to feel that GM should just be Chevrolet and Cadillac any more. The entire GMC brand does make GM a lot of money, but it would being under the Chevrolet umbrella too. Make the Denali the top Chevrolet trim, give Hummer to Chevy as well and drop GMC. Then give Cadillac the best of what Buick has now and drop the rest. Then put all those recourses into making Chevrolet better yet and making Cadillac the king of all.

    With sales numbers like the Encore/GX has, why keep it around? If this was a sedan, GM would be digging the grave for it already.

    Reply

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