Against the Los Angeles palm trees, with its chrome accents, the 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir looks fresh. And though the Encore is Buick’s smallest SUV, it seats five passengers and has recently been redesigned and is more spacious than your usual smaller-sized SUVs. A subcompact SUV like the Buick Encore GX is an economical choice.
How The Encore Has Changed
Enhancements for 2024 include a bigger, 11 inch (vs the older 8 inch) touchscreen infotainment, a revised grille, a new Buick tri-shield logo, a quieter ride than other SUVs in its segment, and now available with AWD option.
The exterior’s bolder changes include a slightly new nose, slim headlights, and a distinct curve in the rear. The grille is a chrome mesh with the updated Buick logo just above it. LED headlights are standard on every model, as well as LED turn signals. The chrome door handles pair nicely with the satin roof rails, which match the satin silver finish on the Avenir’s 19- inch alloy wheels. The rear has faux exhaust outlets. The Encore is a mature SUV with contemporary improvements.
The interior has a premium feel; the Avenir trim has leather seating with a stitched design, as well as the word ‘Avenir’ stitched into the headrest. It has ten-way-power seating adjustments on the Avenir with lumbar support for the driver. Soft touch plastics run across the top of the doors as well as the dash, complete with the same stitching detail. The console area has harder plastics but is well constructed. The console is deep but somewhat narrow. The steering wheel is leather wrapped and on the Avenir, and is also heated, as are the front seats. Heated seats are standard on the Avenir, but only in the front; rear passengers will not arrive with toasty buns. The Avenir comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and wireless phone charging on all trims, as well as USB ports (I counted two in the rear). And while I am counting, I know you want to know, ‘How many cupholders there are?’ Eight….. the answer is eight.
Not Up On The Latest Technology?
The Avenir has dual climate control while other trim levels only have single. You no longer have to push a series of buttons just to turn the heat on, nor do you have to search the infotainment area for these controls at all, in fact. The climate buttons are not built into the infotainment screen, but rather stand-alone, just below the infotainment. The panel below the infotainment has ‘piano’ keys that toggle, they are centrally located and user-friendly. This is much preferred for those who are not so tech-savvy.
All The Things…..
One of the finer upgrades is that 11-inch display which is now standard on all the trims. The instrument cluster is 8-inches, and it flows as one sleek piece, right to that 11-inch display, with a 360-degree camera. Bose premium audio is optional on the Avenir, and if you hear it, you will likely opt in. The rearview mirror also has all the things; it is not just an auto-dimming mirror, but has a smart rear camera for unobstructed views. The other thing I liked, just above that rearview mirror, you will find the buttons for the pano-sunroof, which is sometimes not an option in a subcompact SUV, being in LA for the week it was nice to have.
Set Your Expectations To The Segment
The Encore GX is a comfortable ride….. comfortable enough. It has a 1.3-liter turbocharged engine, that at first thought, the words robust and vigorous do not come to mind, but with 155 hp and 174 lb ft of torque, it isn’t lacking at all. The motor isn’t tense, but there is a little vibration. Set your expectations to the segment and you won’t be terribly disappointed.
As we drove the curves of Mulholland Drive in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Encore handled quite nicely, with minimal body roll. Acceleration was surprisingly brisk, slightly more spirited than others in its segment. The Encore provides a well-behaved ride that is responsive and satisfying.
Unlike The Rolling Stones……
‘If you start me up, If you start me up, I’ll never stop.’ No, no, this is not the theme song for the Buick Encore at all. The start/stop system automatically starts and stops the vehicle, and while this helps with fuel economy, I find it somewhat annoying. It is because of the fuel economy, however, that I did not choose to turn this feature off. After all, gas prices in LA are a wee bit more than gas prices in Texas.
Since we seem to be on the subject of fuel economy, how does the Encore perform? Around town, I got a consistent 26 mpg and sometimes even 27 mpg. On the highway, I was getting 28 mpg but again, I am in Los Angeles, and highway driving on the 405 can be much like city driving with the sometimes slow traffic flow. All in all, I got a combined 27 mpg, which seems pretty average for the segment.
Convenience And Benefits Of Cabin/Cargo Space
Cabin space for two road trippers was lavish. Entry and exits were flawless, plenty of legroom in the front as well as the backseat, knee space was a non-issue in the back as well. There is more headroom in the Encore than the Envista because it has a taller roof with less slope, even though the Envista is ten inches longer. It always feels freeing to be able to move about on any kind of journey, and the Encore let us do just that.
The cargo space measures 23.5 cubic feet if the rear seats are in an upright position. This held two carry-ons with room to spare. WIth the seats folded down flat, you can double that cargo space to 50 cubic feet, also more space than the Envista. A standout for me, was that the front passenger seat can fold flat as well. When folded flat, there are 96 inches, which translates to 8 feet of space lengthwise in a small SUV. Pretty amazing if you ask me!
In case your hands are full, the Buick Encore GX also has a ‘hands-free tailgate.’ When a swift kick is detected under the bumper, the tailgate will open. At night, a Buick emblem will even illuminate when it detects a kick to help you see better. Of course, you can always use your key fob to open the tailgate as well. I might also mention that the key fob will also start your car remotely, a nice amenity to have if living in winter climates.
How Safe Is My Buick Encore GX?
All three Encore GX models for 2024, Preferred, Sport Touring (ST), and Avenir all come standard with forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist with lane departure warning and automatic high beams. This is a suite of six safety and driver-assisted technologies from Buick’s Driver Confidence Package.
Go Easy On Yourself
Is the Buick Encore GX Avenir a good value, or should I consider other competitors in the small SUV segment? It is a good value for the plush interior and the swanky technology. Go easy on yourself, the Encore is easy to operate, easy to maneuver, and easy on the eyes. The Avenir is Buick’s top of the line trim and comes in at around $33,195.
