Buick’s Small 2020 Encore GX Is A Big Improvement (Just Don’t Get Confused In The Showroom).
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- Опубликовано: 12 июл 2024
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Buick’s next big thing is a small SUV. The Encore GX is an encore to its best selling Encore. Confused? The Encore will continue to be sold alongside the Encore GX, they’re different vehicles on different architectures. You might save a little money by getting the older smaller one, but the extra $900 snags a much better vehicle. Tom Voelk takes it on an 800 mile road trip to see how comfortable it is.
This is a corrected version that fixes bad information about the transmission. Thanks to Jeff Morse for pointing out my edit gaffe. Sorry to loose all your witty comments!
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About Tom: Tom Voelk is an award-winning automotive contributor to The New York Times. His podcast was the first to win an Emmy Award (and he's won for photography, editing, producing and reporting). But really, all you need to know is in the videos. Watch a few and you'll subscribe. 
Авто/Мото
The passenger seat on my Pontiac vibe had the fold down passenger seat great option more cars should have this feature
Always look forward to these reviews after a long day
Tom, you do a wonderful job of being balanced and fair. Every comment section of any GM vehicle is littered with pandering and hatred towards the company. Your video seems to have harbored a much kinder and open minded crowd, and that’s a reflection of you.
I think GM has a hit with this one. I’ve seen them all over the road, and I’m sure it will sell by the hundred-thousands in no time at all.
I love my 1.3 Essence. I do more street driving than highway driving and I’m averaging around 35-36 mpg. I’ve never had a vehicle that had actual mpg differ so much from what it is rated.
Great looking little crossover and another great review from Tom (with TP this time).
3
Folding down passenger seat should be much more common, I really like that idea. Excellent review!! This is an excellent Buick! and honestly I'm surprised you were able to do the TP trunk test without getting attacked by mob lol. Thank you for another great video Tom! 🙂😎
Used to have the fold down passenger seat in the Ford Freestyle from the mid 2000s. It was fantastic. All cars should have it.
My ‘01 PT Cruiser had a fold flat front passenger seat also - very handy!
One of the better reviews I’ve seen on RUclips of the Encore GX. It offers a unique combination of things you can’t find all together in this class-namely the fold flat front seat, 360 degree camera, and a 9 speed automatic. It also offers adaptive cruise available on the mid level trim which the competition generally doesn’t offer. Your gripes about the interior are somewhat valid but a lot of the competition has even more hard plastics. It’s not an Audi, but a similarly equipped Q3 is easily $10,000 more than the Encore Essence with the advanced tech and convenience packages.
Well at least you didn’t name your Evil Twin “GX”.
The juxtaposition of the bumpaper and the Buick was breathtaking.
Spoiler alert- GX means nothing
Thanks for the honest, unbiased review, Tom. My 2007 Saturn Vue had a fold-down front passenger seat. It was the best feature on that vehicle.
Right on!
+Long Island Mopars that aint sayin much
Had the fold down passenger seat on my 2009 Pontiac Torrent. Great feature! Miss that car!
I should have saved my "witty comments" from the first download but I'll summarize them here. I'm not a big fan of subcompact crossovers. Most strike me as "hatchbacks on stilts" and I prefer hatchbacks with better performance, handling, and little or no sacrifice in terms of cargo capacity. That's why I love my GTI. Obviously, though, I'm in a minority.
I've owned several three cylinder motorcycles. My Triumph "Triples" were an interesting compromise between the more common twins and four cylinder bikes. More low end torque than an equivalent Japanese four banger and better top end HP than a twin. But motorcycles aren't cars and I'm somewhat skeptical about the durability of tiny, stressed three banger turbos in the Encore GX. Time will tell.
To give the Encore GX its due, though, I strongly agree with Tom's comment about the value of a fold down front passenger seat. I, too, owned a Volvo wagon with the feature. I didn't need it often but now and then I had to transport something like a floor lamp, a couple of pairs of skis, or a couple of pieces of lumber in the wagon. It was a GREAT convenience. I'm mystified why automakers other than GM don't incorporate the feature in their small crossovers.
As for why GM opted to add "GX" to the Encore label rather than adopting a different designation, altogether, I think Buick finds itself in the same dilemma as Mazda with their CX-3 and CX-30 crossovers. The cannibalization of CX-3 sales by the CX-30 suggests the former model won't be around much longer, at least in the US market. The same I suspect will be the fate of the original Encore. And when it disappears Buick will still have an "Encore" in their lineup.
Sorry to make you work harder. Of course you love your GTI. Great car.
@@DrivenCarReviews love my Buick gx these review don't do it justice
Here’s a 2nd fun fact. Encore GX is made in GM Bupyeong plant in South Korea for North America.
Not true, this car is a german Opel Mokka X.
@@sakapole Your information might be out-of-date: Internet Question: Where is Mokka X built?
Internet Answer: The Mokka is now built in Bupyeong, South Korea and Zaragoza, Spain."
@@sakapole The GX is built in SK.
@@kenc2257Anyway german standard
@@sakapole The first generation Opel Mokka built on the Gamma II platform with the Buick Encore and Chevy Trax, while the Encore GX is built on GM's new VSS-F platform. The second generation Mokka is no longer related to Buicks as GM sold Opel to PSA (now Stellantis) in 2017.
Just stumbled onto your channel and really enjoyed your approach. It took me a double-take and some cognitive processing to realize you were talking to another you in the back seat. First I thought it was your twin brother. Wonderful approach!! I am looking at the same vehicle you reviewed against the CX-30. I will stay tuned and subscribed.
Welcome aboard!
Omg thank you for showing the front folding seat my salesman at Buick did not highlight that .
I'm honestly surprised at how good this looks inside and out. Despite the some of the Chevy-level plastics inside, I think the overall interior design is very nice. I like that GM, in general, is sticking to keeping their screens nicely integrated into the dash, rather than doing what Toyota is doing, for example. Even the big, wide screen on the new Escalade is integrated into the dash better than the giant slabs that Mercedes sticks on top of their dashes these days.
This seems like a nice, no-nonsense car. No fiddly controls, no digital gauge cluster, small (i.e. usable) screen with extremely quick response. Pleasant to be in, pleasant to drive for non-enthusiasts, big enough for small cargo but small enough to make it easy to parallel park or get into/out of parking spots. I think the only real competition is the CX-30, which really looks terrific.
Another fine review. Thx. Can't believe it doesn't have rear seat vents............
Awesome video once again. Can't believe I'm saying this, but that ain't half-bad, GM! About damn time. That flat-floor in the back is the way all cars should be (I know I'm no engineer, I get why some humps are bigger, but being a back-seat rider during a six-hour car ride, I've been scarred and won't settle for big humps, even for my passengers' sake).
I think I'll trade in my Altima soon for this baby.the buick is gorgeous
I just watched your Chevy TrailBlazer video back-to-back with the Encore GX. Personally, I prefer the Buick over the Chevy. It has the better styling, both inside and out. The faux stitching doesn't bother me. However, I am a big guy, so the front seats, as you pointed out, are probably too small for me, and the smallish rear door opening would make it difficult for me to enter/exit. That said, the new Envision is an exciting looking vehicle, so it is probably worth the wait. By the way, the scenery at 5:34 was breathtaking. As always, great review, with beautiful videography. Thanks Tom!
Back in the day Buick had a performance model named Gran Sport or GS (which the latest Regal used as well). They even had a higher performance model named GSX or Gran Sport Extra. With Buick once again using somewhat similar nomenclature on their vehicles, I'm surprised that the Buick representatives you spoke with Tom didn't allude to this history. I had figured the Encore GX stood for Gran Crossover or something denoting sporty intentions. Perhaps some people have forgotten their brand history?
I subscribed to you a year or two ago, love your informative videos. Finally we get to see your wife, I see why you are a man obviously in love with his wife as much as you mention her in your videos. Ditto! :)
Another great review, thankyou.
Was trying to decide between this and the 2021 envision and went with the envision (im 21) in love with my car. And buick
With the first Encore in the U.S. being a hit since 2013, the new, bigger Encore GX looks to be another sales success!
An all SUV lineup actually makes sense not just from the everyone loves SUV's perspective but their demographic actually prefers this type of vehicle due to seat height. The older folks I know used to really like mini-vans because the seat height was even with their bottoms and the ride was cushy. Older folks don't like falling down into cars or crawling up out of them for that matter.
subaru4me i am 6’6” and I got tired of falling into a car or crawling out of one. 🤪👍 I have the regular Encore.
Nice Review, Tom
GM needs a new marketing department. For years there has been issues with the naming of their cars. It’s gotten ridiculous.
Had 3 regular Encores ( two for the kids, one for my own business use) before my current GX 1.3 FWD. Traded a 2016 BMW 535 xdrive for my GX - even cash trade. Prior to the 5 I had an RX350, Lincoln MXS ecoboost, 335xi coupe and an Accord. MB’s and Acura Legends prior to that. Loved them all, but this little guy is the best overall - spunky small and cheap$. Check your ego at the door and get one of these - and trade out before the warranty expires - great car to live with.
If i get that much plastics then I'm fine getting the trailblazer looks cooler too.
Two maps pockets....yea...non-symmetrical map pockets....hmmmhhh?
Love your reviews, man. Keep it up.
A base RDX, XT4, Corsair, GLA/ GLB starts where this maxes out so it’s kind of an oddball since it doesn’t really have many premium feature advantages over the cars in its mainstream competitor list
Tom do you think (or know?) this overall design is a hint to the next version of the Bolt EV? Sure would be an improvement, especially the interior.
There are two coming, the Bolt EV refresh (new fascias and interior updates) and a new SUV (make that EUV) that will be a little larger and has some of the Blazer design cues in the D pillar. Google it and you'll find the teaser shot I'm sure.
@@DrivenCarReviews very cool, thanks!
Fold-flat front passenger seats should be standard in all cars...it's a tremendously useful feature if you're a homeowner or a DIY-kind of person. My current ride has such a seat and I've hauled an awful lot of lumber, PVC pipe, copper tubing, etc. home from the home center with the hatch closed. Seems like very few new vehicles offer it these days...this rig and the Fit are the only two I can think of, but the Fit can't haul 8' long items though (I think it tops out at 7' 9"). Any chance you measured the cargo length on this Buick?
Didn't measure it, meant to with one of those kayaks but we were getting booted off the launch.
Now I've seen it all....Tom.....or is that evil twin in red....in a hammock @ 5:55...LOL
It was me... in orange. Just came back from a run.
This video has me puzzled. PSA bought Vauxhall from GM which meant that they had to quickly redesign the Corsa. *BUT* the design language of this Buick and the new Corsa is strikingly similar, with the head lights and tail lights especially.
A quick "research" brings up that PSA will continue working on shared Buick models.
it looks like the opel grandland x and the peugeot 3008 in Europe.
Opel has version called GX too but it means Grand Overland.
No! Not a Milli Vanilli joke while I'm eating spicy wings!! Have mercy on my nose!! 😂🔥
It’s a cute little thing. Kinda poor mpg for the AWD compared to bigger vehicles like the C-RV, Outback, etc. Glad you had it to cruise to Smith Rock Tom. Which way did you go? I prefer I-90 and then down 97.
We went down I5, I'll have to check out the alt route.
Buick has upped its game! I like the 'GX' and the upcoming Envision looks promising. Does this have anything to do with Buick wanting to remain very competitive in the Chinese market? As for two vehicles with the same, or similar, names, you know everyone has done it at some point. Ford with the Mustang/Mustang Mach-e (Why Ford? Why?) 😢 or FCA with the Cherokee/Grand Cherokee, etc. Nice to see your camera-shy wife as well. Borrowing from an old Buick marketing campaign... "Wouldn't you rather have a Buick?" Hey guys? Hand Tom Voelk another award! 😀
Is there any comparison with the Encore GX and the Mazda CX5 or are they in two different worlds?
The Buick is smaller and geared to be more comfortable. Test drive them both so you understand where they both fall.
No worries Tom about me getting condused...as you won't find me in a Buick showroom to begin with.
In the Pokemon World, GX means a more special and powerful expansion released.
Apparently they are Pokemon fans then.
3cyl engine and CVT are a non starter for me. CTV are the worst as most Transmission shops won't even work on them, and fail they do, a lot.
You realize this engine makes just about the same power as V8’s from the 80’s and 90’s? The CVT has come a long way from early Nissan days too. Time to release your spoon-fed misconceptions. It’s 2020.
Is GM pulling a "Ram Classic" or is the GX a completely different segment?
Marco B it’s a bigger platform than the regular Encore and in other markets they have the new Encore being released.
Tom was ahead of his time, hoarding toilet paper before everyone else XD
He needs to review its sibling the new Envision
AWD is manual. Plenty of torque steer unless you press the button.
This Encore GX or the new Chevy Trailblazer, Tom?
Haven't seen the Trailbaler other than an auto show. Check it out and you tell me...
I'd rather wait and get the slightly larger 2021 envision.
Deja Vu!
Do you think Buick will make a Hybrid from this??? looks like a great candidate
Don't think so. GMs going full in on EVs.
Driven Car Reviews like even the SUVs?
Denis Lara I would like a Buick SUV Hybrid. I am not ready for full electric.
Michael Macmanus same, I probably never will be ready. I don’t have a home or apartment I rent a room. And to be able to ever buy one I would have to get a 12 year car loan LOL
This car is a great daily driver hpwever, it doesn't handle the "utility" part in SUV too well
The Regal Tourx at 35k is a much nicer vehicle.
Opel Insignia Country Tourer.
Robert $35,000 for a 3 cylinder? Ummm no thanks.
@@seansean681 Ummmm 250hp 2.0 4 cylinder? Ummmm yes.
I agree, thou it looks like they`re not making it anymore
@@Sanpedranoazul
You have all the reason. I have the 2019 Opel Insignia Sports Tourer 120th anniversary and it is the latest German Opel. Now it belongs to the PSA Peugeot-Citroën group, they will not be the same German standards because the engines will be French. Greetings from Valencia Spain.
1.3L 3 cyl turbo with a CVT??? 0-60 in 10 sec? You have got to be kidding me for this amount of money.
yeah, bit of a disappointment with the engine. If it were up to me, I'd have made the engineers give it something like a 1.4L 4 cyl turbo with 170 horses as the only engine option. And ventilated front seats on the top trim. But, beggars cant be choosers.
Kia forte gt review please
Manual transmission
Omg, that's a Buick? How can that be a Buick? It's not an ugly grandma car!
this or the Kia Sonos or Hyundai Kona?
Test drive them. Pick the one you prefer.
Sadly no 1.6L diesel like the cruze and equinox :(
Buick trying to challenge the incumbents like Subaru, Honda, and Toyota in this CUV segment. Buick designs are looking good, taking a page out of japanese manufacturers. Or is it from Buick China's page design?
Lost me at 3 cylinders. To be reviewed in 5 years for reliability. GM not the best track record , but lots of cheap parts made in China. Not helpful for reliability.
Better than hyundai and kia.
Car is expensive.
Car has everything details.
Great for uber and lfyt
I came here from Savageese review, all he did was "it is not a real Buick", "Not quick enough", "Not spacious enough", "Steering is designed for old farts"... Seriously, the only good part he has and Tom does not is a shot from below when a car is on a lift. Please, Tom, get friendly with a local mechanic. Although I understand that you often shoot at a manufactuter's event.
Tom, I have to ask, what in the world do you do with all that toilet paper? I know Costco won’t let you return it. Let us know please!
Tom has special dispensation to borrow (and return) the toilet paper packs for his demonstrations [he's mentioned this previously].
Thanks for the response!
Well, they ruined it by putting a lawnmower engine in it and pairing it with a CVT. AWD will be a joke, not enough power to get out of it's own way and a transmission that keeps the engine revved up to get what little power there is. The Kia Niro Hybrid has a bigger engine and a real transmission. This should have at least a 2L or a 2.4L in it with an 8 speed Automatic.
it has a 9-speed if you choose AWD
...would make a good Korean style tow truck...
Get the AWD to lose the CVT and get an actual geared transmission.
The AWD doesn’t have the CVT. Lool at the Buick website
needs bigger engine atleast 185 hp or more
A vehicle that small and that slow should get better gas mileage. Pass.
Los coches alemanes son mejores y yaaas
Kinda looks the Acura TLX.
At least the TLX is reliable!
Try to be honest, this car it's not a Buick, is a Opel Mokka X.
Maybe to you, but here it's the Encore GX.
@@DrivenCarReviews
Testing reactions. Very good channel I am subscribed. Greetings from Valencia, Spain
Why can’t GM hire GOOD car interior designers? Seriously, the design looks a decade old and is perfectly suited for a mid-priced rental car.
The design is just fine. And I know they fight for great materials. And the accountants shoot them down.
A lot of woman buy the Encore.
Small SUV ... huge turd... general motors isn't even trying to compete with its rivals! They're only concerned with making a return on their meager investments
First
34k for a piece of garbage made by GM with a pathetic 3 cylinder engine which is underpowered and not fuel efficient. Living up to the expectations about American branded cars being sh*t.
The Encore has been junk since day 1, ask any real mechanic not being paid by GM for good reviews like Tom here.
I drove this car. The three cylinder idles like a lawn mower and the alternator pulley is made of plastic. The salesman said the plastic pulley was to save on weight.
Oh hell no! GM sucks! Regardless if it’s. Chevy, GMC or evening Cadillac
GM builds such crap