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2017 Buick Encore

After four years on the market, the Encore subcompact crossover has become Buick’s best selling vehicle. For the 2017 model year, Buick gives the vehicle a mid-cycle enhancement, otherwise known as an MCE, facelift, or freshening. The updates consist of enhancements to the exterior and interior, as well as new connectivity technology such as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

“The Buick Encore created the premium small SUV segment and remains the top choice for customers seeking premium features and dependability coupled with timeless design,” said Duncan Aldred, vice president of Buick Sales, Service and Marketing. “In a rapidly evolving segment, the Encore continues to lead with smart, purposeful updates and a new level of technology-infused elegance and refinement.

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The 2017 Buick Encore delivers updated exterior styling and new connectivity technology. Updates include:

  • Exterior:
    • New front fascia including:
      • New winged grille
      • Tri-Color Buick insignia
      • New front headlamps with LED wing accents
      • Full-LED headlamps on uplevel models
      • Less plastic inserts
    • Read-end updates:
      • Rear LED signature taillamps
      • Chrome exhaust outlet
    • Body-color heated outside mirrors
    • New 18-inch wheel design
    • Three new exterior colors:
      • Black Cherry Metallic
      • Ebony Twilight Metallic
      • White Frost Metallic
  • Interior:
    • Push-button start
    • Keyless unlock via exterior door handles
    • Next-generation IntelliLink infotainment system featuring an 8-inch diagonal color touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility

We will update this page with official RPO-level changes when they are released.

The 2017 Buick Encore features an updated exterior design with sculptural surfacing and elegant line work that continues to distinguish the Buick brand.

A new front fascia is defined by the addition of the winged grille with Buick’s new tri-color insignia, new front headlamps and rear LED signature tail lamps, all of which contemporize the Encore and set up the visual flow around the entire vehicle. Uplevel models receive Buick’s full LED headlamps, which provide efficient, clear lighting of the road ahead.

“Sporting cues first shown on the award-winning Avenir and Avista concepts, the 2017 Encore embraces Buick’s modern design aesthetic,” said Holt Ware, design director, Buick Exteriors. “The Encore is a crossover known for its presence – the appearance is sleek, muscular and modern.”

Also new are a chrome exhaust outlet, body-color heated outside mirrors, a new 18-inch wheel design and three exterior colors: Black Cherry Metallic, Ebony Twilight Metallic and White Frost Metallic.

Building on Buick’s reputation for premium and quiet passenger environments, the 2017 Encore delivers an updated interior design with a greater emphasis on material selection, placement and subtle details like bright accents and contrast stitching.

Updated Instrument Panel

An updated instrument panel flows across the interior and incorporates a new gauge cluster with a 4.2-inch-diagonal color driver information center.

New Center Stack

A new center stack blends with the instrument panel to offer more intuitive access for the user interface and its new, frameless 8-inch color touch screen with the IntelliLink infotainment system, which is designed to support the latest interface technologies, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility.

“As a representation of modern Buick styling, the Encore’s cabin is sophisticated in look and feel, and precise in its execution,” said Liz Wetzel, design director, Buick Interiors. “The instrument panel and center stack forms are artfully sculpted, while offering an effortless interface with the infotainment technologies.”

QuietTuning

Buick’s exclusive QuietTuning is standard on all models and includes Bose Active Noise Cancellation technology.

Seating And Cargo Capacity

All 2017 Encore models offer room for five and up to 48.4 cubic feet (1,371 liters) of storage space with the 60/40 split rear seat folded.

The 2017 Encore adds three new exterior colors, including:

  • Black Cherry Metallic
  • Ebony Twilight Metallic
  • White Frost Metallic

We will update this section when we see the 2017 Encore’s full exterior and interior color lineup.

The 2017 Buick Encore delivers several new technologies. More notably, it features an updated IntelliLink infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto support.

The vehicle also includes OnStar 4G LTE with a Wi-Fi hotspot. Now now standard across the brand’s U.S. model line, 4G LTE with Wi-Fi allows passengers to connect up to seven devices to high-speed wireless Internet.

Buick notes that the 2017 Encore is the fourth all-new or significantly updated Buick coming in 2016, joining the 2016 Buick Cascada convertible, 2016 Buick Envision compact SUV and 2017 Buick LaCrosse full-size sedan.

Introduced in 2013, the Encore quickly carved out a niche of its own, offering the premium features typically associated with larger luxury SUVs but with greater maneuverability. It quickly rose to the top of the fast-growing small SUV market, topping it in 2014 and 2015.

Encore was Buick’s best-selling vehicle in North America in 2015, accounting for nearly a third of overall sales. Its sales were up 34 percent for the first two months of 2016, extending a year-over-year sales increase streak to 26 months.

Overall, SUVs now account for approximately 60 percent of all Buick sales, up from 34 percent prior to the introduction of the Enclave in 2007. Starting this summer with the arrival of the Envision – which slots directly between the Encore and Enclave – Buick will offer SUVs in the market’s three most popular segments.

Standard features of the 2017 Buick Encore include 10 air bags and StabiliTrak stability enhancement.

The 2017 Encore also offers several available active safety features, including:

  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert
  • Side Blind Zone Alert
  • Rear Park Assist
  • Forward Collision Alert
  • Lane Departure Warning

The 2017 Buick Encore offers two 1.4L turbo-charged inline four-cylinder engines paired to a new six-speed automatic transmission.

Engines

Though not yet confirmed by Buick, we have reason to believe that the 2017 Encore will feature the following engines.

Base Engine

The base motor remains the turbo-charged 1.4L I-4 LUV making:

  • 138 horsepower @ 4900 rpm
  • 148 pound-feet of torque @ 1850 rpm

Up-level Engine

The up-level motor is the new turbo-charged 1.4L I-4 LE2 making:

  • 153 horsepower @ 5600 rpm
  • 177 pound-feet of torque @ 2000-4000 rpm

Though Buick says that the LE2 “is available on most trims”, we are attempting to confirm which trims (exactly) it will be offered on. To note, the 2016 Buick Encore only offered the new 1.4T LE2 engine on the Sport Touring model.

Buick also says that EPA fuel economy estimates will be announced at a later date.

Transmission

Both engines are paired to a six-speed automatic transmission:

Base Engine

The base 1.4L Turbo LUV is mated with GM’s 6T40 Hydra-Matic MNK transmission.

Up-Level Engine

The uplevel 1.4L Turbo LE2 is mated with GM’s 6T40 Hydra-Matic MNH transmission.

Drivetrain

Front-wheel drive is standard, with all-wheel drive available.

According to Buick, the 2017 Encore will “initially” be offered in the following five trim levels:

  • Encore (1SB)
  • Encore Sport Touring (1SH)
  • Encore Convenience (1SD)
  • Encore Leather (1SL)
  • Encore Premium (1SN)

When

The 2017 Buick Encore will go on sale in the fall of 2016, according to Buick.

Where

The 2017 Buick Encore will be sold in the following markets:

  • North America:
    • United States
    • Mexico
    • Canada
  • China

In Europe, the 2017 Encore is sold as the 2017 Opel Mokka X.

Information about the 2017 Buick Encore was released online on March 22nd, 2016 ahead of its public debut at the 2016 New York International Auto Show.

2017 Buick Encore specs coming soon.

Prior to its unveiling, we expected the mid-cycle enhancement to the 2017 Buick Encore to consist of the following updates:

  • Updated front-end styling, possibly with LED headlights
  • Updated engine range, with the all-new 1.4L Turbo I4 LE2 to become the standard engine; the motor powers the 2016 Encore Sport Touring model
  • Revised interior design and materials. A common complaint about the 2013-2016 Encore has been the single armrest for the two front seats
  • Revised IntelliLink infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility
  • New exterior and interior colors
  • Revisions to trim levels and equipment groups
  • Same or similar changes to the 2017 Opel Mokka and 2017 Vauxhall Mokka

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