- Olga Kokorina
- Translated by Olga Apetenok
- Ru He
Buick Encore GX has emigrated from China to the US
The Buick Encore GX is a compact SUV produced by General Motors since 2019. The model was originally designed for China and was even unveiled at the Shanghai Motor Show, but Chinese consumers did not appreciate its compact size, especially since it had an even smaller ‘sibling’, the Buick Encore. Thus, the Buick Encore GX ‘emigrated’ from China to the United States, where it came in handy, and was even updated in 2023.
The Buick Encore GX shares the VSS-F platform with the new Chevrolet TrailBlazer. In Israel, the Chevrolet SUV comes with two engines producing 137 or 155 hp and CVTs. Moreover, there is an all-wheel drive version.
First generation
The compact Buick Encore GX is based on General Motors' new VSS-S modular platform, which is used in many compact models. The SUV has a rear semi-independent suspension, which, thanks to the bend, allows you to skip the driveshaft. There are also all-wheel drive versions with a 1.3-liter turbo engine with 156 hp and 236 Nm, which is installed in tandem with a 9-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive, connected through a clutch or a front-wheel drive variator. The base engine is a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine (139 hp, 220 Nm), paired with a CVT and front-wheel drive. The car was offered in several trim levels, the ‘sports’ version was named Sport Touring.
The vehicle looks good and modern, however, very ‘Asian’. Due to its size, the GX is between the subcompact Encore and the compact Envision. The Encore GX is 4,463 mm long, 1,813 mm wide and 1,653 mm high. The wheelbase is 2,640 mm, and the trunk volume equals to 1,415 liters. The SUV comes with an 8-inch media system display neatly integrated into the front panel. The set of options is wide: leather trim, power front seats, power fifth door. In the US, the vehicle has been delivered since the beginning of 2020.
2023 restyling
Production of the restyled 2023 Buick Encore GX will begin at GM’s South Korea plant in March. Then the Chinese vehicle, which will be called Encore Plus, will be restyled: it will be equipped with a new 1.5-liter 4-cylinder engine. The American SUV has remained the same, keeping its 1.2 and 1.3-liter engines with the same output.
The new Buick Encore GX has accomplished an important mission for Buick by debuting a new corporate identity and logo in the US. The vehicle has a predatory ‘face’ with two-story LED optics. The dimensions of the body have not grown, but the SUV now looks completely different. The Virtual Cockpit System front panel flaunts with an 8-inch digital dashboard screen, which a screen size of the media system that has grown to 11 inches. In addition, there is the top-end Avenir version, which is in high demand, accounting for about a quarter of sales.
