Buick Encore GX Sales Place 12th In Segment During Q2 2022

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

Buick Encore GX Sales - Q2 2022 - United States

In the United States, Buick Encore GX deliveries totaled 9,089 units in Q2 2022, a decrease of about 65 percent compared to 26,244 units sold in Q2 2021.

In the first six months of the year, Encore GX sales decreased about 68 percent to 14,471 units.
MODEL Q2 2022 / Q2 2021 Q2 2022 Q2 2021YTD 2022 / YTD 2021 YTD 2022 YTD 2021
ENCORE GX -65.37% 9,089 26,244 -67.61% 14,471 44,679

Buick Encore GX Sales - Q2 2022 - Canada

In Canada, Buick Encore GX deliveries totaled 1,758 units in Q2 2022, a decrease of about 24 percent compared to 2,310 units sold in Q2 2021.

In the first six months of the year, Encore GX sales decreased about 39 percent to 2,474 units.
MODEL Q2 2022 / Q2 2021 Q2 2022 Q2 2021YTD 2022 / YTD 2021 YTD 2022 YTD 2021
ENCORE GX -23.90% 1,758 2,310 -38.70% 2,474 4,036

Competitive Sales Comparison (USA)

Buick Encore GX sales during the second quarter of 2022 placed the premium marque’s entry in 12th place among 20 entries in the mainstream subcompact crossover segment when ranked by sales volume. The Honda HR-V remained at the top as it has for the past year, despite a 27 percent drop in sales to 30,848 units, while the Jeep Compass stayed in second with a 54 percent increase to 21,927 units. The Hyundai Kona took third place with a 39 percent drop to 17,251 units, while the Encore GX’s corporate cousin and VSS-F platform mate, the Chevy Trailblazer (see running Chevy Trailblazer sales), placed fourth with a 32 percent slide to 15,938 units.

The Trailblazer’s corporate cousin, the Chevy Trax (see running Chevy Trax sales), took 10th place with a 46 percent drop to 9,752 units, while the Encore GX placed 12th with a 65 percent drop to 9,089 units, nearly the worst decline among competitors, with only the Toyota C-HR faring worse at 66 percent. Meanwhile the Trax’s platform mate, the Buick Encore (see running Buick Encore sales), placed 16th with a 43 percent slide to 5,124 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 - Q2 2022 - USA

MODEL Q2 22 / Q2 21 Q2 22 Q2 21 Q2 22 SHARE Q2 21 SHARE YTD 22 / YTD 21 YTD 22 YTD 21
HONDA HR-V -27.01% 30,848 42,266 14% 14% +6.68% 73,016 68,441
JEEP COMPASS +54.47% 21,927 14,195 10% 5% +35.66% 46,335 34,154
HYUNDAI KONA -39.23% 17,251 28,386 8% 9% -35.71% 32,787 50,996
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER -31.72% 15,938 23,343 7% 8% -49.25% 24,544 48,367
VOLKSWAGEN TAOS +189.15% 14,281 4,939 6% 2% +466.01% 27,955 4,939
NISSAN KICKS -28.24% 14,023 19,541 6% 6% -21.30% 34,600 43,962
KIA SOUL -37.54% 13,484 21,589 6% 7% -28.81% 27,608 38,780
MAZDA CX-30 -36.67% 12,233 19,315 5% 6% -35.92% 21,727 33,904
TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS * 12,158 * 5% 0% * 22,315 0
CHEVROLET TRAX -46.10% 9,752 18,092 4% 6% -55.62% 15,553 35,047
FORD ECOSPORT -29.26% 9,498 13,426 4% 4% -31.86% 17,924 26,304
BUICK ENCORE GX -65.37% 9,089 26,244 4% 9% -67.61% 14,471 44,679
KIA SELTOS -43.85% 8,647 15,399 4% 5% -38.59% 19,766 32,185
KIA NIRO +12.44% 8,440 7,506 4% 2% +49.50% 17,666 11,817
JEEP RENEGADE -52.52% 7,263 15,297 3% 5% -44.87% 17,253 31,294
BUICK ENCORE -43.23% 5,124 9,026 2% 3% -49.24% 7,744 15,255
MITSUBISHI OUTLANDER SPORT -43.33% 4,889 8,627 2% 3% -64.16% 8,596 23,983
TOYOTA C-HR -65.64% 4,825 14,042 2% 5% -62.85% 9,080 24,443
HYUNDAI VENUE -34.00% 4,114 6,233 2% 2% * 0 0
FIAT 500X -39.20% 245 403 0% 0% -13.47% 578 668
TOTAL -27.23% 224,029 307,869 -22.79% 439,518 569,218

From a segment share standpoint, the Encore GX held just four percent share, down five percentage points. The HR-V maintained a 14 percent segment share, while the Compass held a 10 percent share, up five percentage points. The Kona held an eight percent share, down one point percentage point, while the Trailblazer posted a seven percent share, down one percentage point. The Trax held a four percent share like the Encore GX, down two percentage points, and the regular Encore held a two 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 39,903 deliveries for a 17 percent segment share, enough to place The General second in the segment overall by sales volume.

Sales Numbers - GM Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q2 2022 - USA

MODEL Q2 22 / Q2 21 Q2 22 Q2 21 YTD 22 / YTD 21 YTD 22 YTD 21
CHEVROLET TRAX -46.10% 9,752 18,092 -55.62% 15,553 35,047
CHEVROLET TRAILBLAZER -31.72% 15,938 23,343 -49.25% 24,544 48,367
BUICK ENCORE -43.23% 5,124 9,026 -49.24% 7,744 15,255
BUICK ENCORE GX -65.37% 9,089 26,244 -67.61% 14,471 44,679
TOTAL -47.98% 39,903 76,705 -56.53% 62,312 143,348

By comparison, the three Stellantis entries – the Jeep Compass, Jeep Renegade, and Fiat 500X – accounted for a cumulative 29,435 deliveries for a combined 13 percent segment share, placing the automaker in fourth.

Sales Numbers - Stellantis Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q2 2022 - USA

MODEL Q2 22 / Q2 21 Q2 22 Q2 21 YTD 22 / YTD 21 YTD 22 YTD 21
JEEP COMPASS +54.47% 21,927 14,195 +35.66% 46,335 34,154
JEEP RENEGADE -52.52% 7,263 15,297 -44.87% 17,253 31,294
FIAT 500X -39.20% 245 403 -13.47% 578 668
TOTAL -1.54% 29,435 29,895 -2.95% 64,166 66,116

Toyota’s recently launched new model, the Corolla Cross, will likely end up replacing the C-HR, which has performed poorly from a sales volume standpoint. During the second quarter, Toyota saw a combined 16,983 sales of its two crossovers that it currently fields for a seven percent segment share.

Sales Numbers - Toyota Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers - Q2 2022 - USA

MODEL Q2 22 / Q2 21 Q2 22 Q2 21 YTD 22 / YTD 21 YTD 22 YTD 21
TOYOTA COROLLA CROSS * 12,158 * * 22,315 0
TOYOTA C-HR -65.64% 4,825 14,042 -62.85% 9,080 24,443
TOTAL +20.94% 16,983 14,042 +28.44% 31,395 24,443

Meanwhile, Hyundai – with the Kona and Venue – and Kia – with the Seltos, Niro, and Soul – saw cumulative 51,936 deliveries from the sister companies’ five entries, accounting for a combined 24 percent segment share, to squarely take first place.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai - Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (With Soul) - Q2 2022 - USA

MODEL Q2 22 / Q2 21 Q2 22 Q2 21 YTD 22 / YTD 21 YTD 22 YTD 21
KIA SOUL -37.54% 13,484 21,589 -28.81% 27,608 38,780
KIA SELTOS -43.85% 8,647 15,399 -38.59% 19,766 32,185
KIA NIRO +12.44% 8,440 7,506 +49.50% 17,666 11,817
HYUNDAI KONA -39.23% 17,251 28,386 -35.71% 32,787 50,996
HYUNDAI VENUE -34.00% 4,114 6,233 * 0 0
TOTAL -34.35% 51,936 79,113 -26.87% 97,827 133,778

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 38,452 deliveries, pushing GM to the top.

Sales Numbers - Hyundai - Kia Mainstream Subcompact Crossovers (Without Soul) - Q2 2022 - USA

MODEL Q2 22 / Q2 21 Q2 22 Q2 21 YTD 22 / YTD 21 YTD 22 YTD 21
KIA SELTOS -43.85% 8,647 15,399 -38.59% 19,766 32,185
KIA NIRO +12.44% 8,440 7,506 +49.50% 17,666 11,817
HYUNDAI KONA -39.23% 17,251 28,386 -35.71% 32,787 50,996
HYUNDAI VENUE -34.00% 4,114 6,233 * 0 0
TOTAL -33.15% 38,452 57,524 -26.08% 70,219 94,998

The mainstream subcompact crossover segment contracted 27 percent to 224,029 units during Q2 2022, meaning Encore GX sales significantly underperformed the segment average.

The GM Authority Take

While Buick Encore GX sales declined in a big way year-over-year during Q2 2022, the subcompact crossover moved nearly twice as many units this quarter than it did the preceding quarter in a contested and crowded field of 20 entries, which includes four entries from GM. Production issues, caused by ongoing supply chain issues, headlined by the ongoing global semiconductor microchip shortage, have resulted in limited inventory while negatively impacting sales of the Encore GX, along with many models across The General’s brands as well as across the auto industry. To address the microchip issue head-on, GM announced it will have its own family of microchips locked in by 2025.

Production of the 2023 Buick Encore GX begin at the GM Bupyeong plant in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, South Korea, on April 24th, 2022. Representing the fourth model year of the first-generation subcompact crossover, the online configurator is now live for the 2023 Encore GX. Later this year, GM will discontinue the regular Buick Encore, which is made at the same facility. This should enable the automaker to allocate more production room and resources to the Encore GX, enabling a rebound in sales volume as inventory begins to stability, so long as as microchip availability allows.

As GM Authority was first to exclusively report, The General has changed 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, the Encore GX is ordered using 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. From there, dealers select from whatever is available for inventory purposes.

In July, J.D. Power released results of its 2022 U.S. Initial Quality Study (IQS), ranking major car brands and models based on consumer feedback. It listed the Buick Encore GX as the best small utility, besting the Buick Encore and Ford Bronco Sport.

About The Numbers

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

Vince Brown

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

View Comments

  • I see a lot of car lots almost empty including Toyota and Kia/Hyundai. The Kona/Niro might outsell the Buick if you can stand the look at it it's downright ugly and cheap looking oh and that great Warranty doesn't transfer to the new owner if you buy a Hyundai used your forced to buy another warranty which you will need. At least Toyota and GM give their warranty or what's left to the new owner.

  • Dave that's true but for me being a GM guy I would pick the Trailblazer it's the same as the Encore/Encore GX but cheaper.... Then again I would just step up and get the Envision now that's a nice Buick. But your right why does everyone one of these small cute CUVs have to look so ugly some of them resemble high top sneakers save those for your feet lol!

  • ibmikey2021: Don't fool yourself by thinking any lots have cars just sitting. Every brand and every dealer is adding markup and after-market junk to the cars because they can. It's all about supply and demand and right now the demand far outstrips the supply.

    I'm at a Mazda and Volvo store in the fleet department and our prices are always cheaper than regular sales. Even we are selling around $1,000 over MSRP right now and that's still less than others.

    BTW, the Encore GX is cheap looking in your opinion? Why? Have you sat in one and/or driven one? They are really well made and nice vehicles.

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