2018 Buick Encore in Tucson, AZ - $14,500

Buick originally introduced the all-new Encore crossover at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The front-wheel drive Encore is a luxury small crossover that delivers Buick’s signature style, interior acoustic refinement and collection of luxury amenities in a maneuverable, versatile and efficient package.

Updates and enhancements for 2017 include: an all-new, sculpted front-end appearance with a streamlined design emphasizing redesigned front and rear fascias, a winged grille with a new Buick tri-color insignia, new headlamps and taillamps with LED signature lighting, a new hood and new front fenders; keyless unlock via exterior door handles with extended range Remote Keyless Entry and push-button Keyless Start; enhanced eight-way-adjustable power driver’s seat; redesigned 18-inch aluminum wheels; and new exterior colors: Ebony Twilight Metallic, White Frost Metallic and Black Cherry Metallic.

Available in Encore, Preferred, Preferred II, Sport Touring, Essense and Premium trim levels, standard power for the small Buick crossover is generated by an Ecotec 1.4L turbo four-cylinder engine. The Sport Touring trim level is equipped with a high-output version of the same engine that adds 15 hp and 29 lbs-ft of torque. Both engines are bolted to a Hydra-Matic 6T40 six-speed automatic powertrain.

For those that desire even better handling and control, all-wheel drive is an available option for all Encore trim levels.

The Encore is equipped with a MacPherson strut front suspension with coil springs, a large stabilizer bar and side-load-compensated front strut modules. The rear suspension incorporates a compound crank (torsion beam) design, with a double-wall, tubular V-shape beam profile with gas-charged twin-tube shocks. It combines all the advantages of a conventional torsion beam axle, including minimal space requirements, with low weight and consistent camber control. Urethane spring isolators are used to dampen noise.

Inside the passenger cabin, there is an updated interior with a cockpit-style design and an emphasis on premium materials, chrome accents and contrast stitching; a redesigned instrument panel with a new gauge cluster and 4.2-inch-diagonal color driver information center, center stack intuitive for IntelliLink use and a frameless, eight-inch color touch screen; and push-button start.

A contemporary mix of dark and light tones distinguishes the cabin, which is accented with ice blue ambient lighting, select use of bright trim and wood-grain trim. Premium seats featuring high-density foam for greater comfort on long drives are trimmed with either a contemporary cloth/leatherette motif or available leather. Heated front seats and a heated steering wheel are available. The rear seat features a fold-down armrest with cup holders.

Encore also features plenty of storage capacity and storage compartments. With the rear seat in place, there’s room for at least six full grocery bags and with the rear seat folded, there’s room for golf clubs and overnight bags for a weekend getaway. Even the front passenger seat folds flat to extend the cargo length and accommodate long items that would not normally fit in a vehicle of this size.

Dimensions & specifications
Wheelbase: 100.6; overall length: 168.4; width: 69.9; height: 65.2
All vehicle measurements are in inches

Engine: 1.4L turbocharged four-cylinder – 138 hp at 4,900 rpm and 148 lbs-ft of torque at 1,850 rpm; 153 hp at 5,600 rpm and 177 lbs-ft of torque at 2,000 rpm (Sport Touring)
Transmission: six-speed automatic
EPA Fuel Economy: 25 city/33 hwy. (FWD), 23 city/30 hwy. (AWD); Sport Touring – 28 city/34 hwy. (FWD), 26 city/32 hwy. (AWD).
Cargo capacity: 48.4 cubic feet

Safety features
Dual front airbags, front seat mounted side-impact airbags, dual rear outbound seat side-impact airbags, head curtain side-impact airbags, dual front knee airbags, four-wheel disc brakes with anti-lock, all-speed traction control, StabiliTrak vehicle stability control with rollover mitigation, Bluetooth hands-free phone system, OnStar communications system with 4G LTE, rear vision camera, keyless open and start, automatic headlamp control, PASS-Key III theft deterrent system, LED daytime running lights, and tire pressure monitor. Sport Touring adds remote vehicle start, and fog lamps. Essense adds rear-cross traffic alert, side blind zone alert, LED headlights. Premium adds forward collision alert, front/rear ultrasonic parking assist, lane departure warning, and rainsense windshield wipers.

Optional safety features include navigation system.

Warranty
Basic: 4-year/50,000 mile
Powertrain: 6-year/70,000 mile
Corrosion: 6-year/unlimited
Roadside Assistance: 6-year/70,000 mile 24-hour

The base Manufacturers Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for the 2017 Buick Encore crossover starts from $22,290 for the Encore FWD upto $31,965 for the Encore Premium AWD. Destination charges add $925.