This redesigned dashboard isn’t without compromise, however the second, upper glove box is gone, diminishing storage up front. Also added for 2017: Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which are standard and a welcome addition. Not only is the screen larger, it’s also better ergonomically because it’s moved down and closer to occupants, making it easier to reach. Inside, the dashboard has been face-lifted to make way for a newly standard 8-inch touchscreen and the latest version of Buick’s Intellilink multimedia system. Move inside, however, and the changes are less cosmetic and more substantive. The changes modernize the Encore’s exterior, but it’s still more noticeable for its shape than anything else. But the biggest change is one of omission: There are no more portholes atop the hood - Buick’s signature design feature for many years (after decades without). The exterior keeps the same high-walled proportions and adds a new grille, LED headlights on higher trim levels and new designs for the 18-inch alloy wheels (except on the Sport Touring). Compare the 2017 Encore with last year’s model here. Mounting competition motivated Buick to update the Encore, and for 2017 it’s received refreshed styling inside and out, as well as new in-cabin technology. Our test vehicle was a front-wheel-drive Premium model, which started at $31,390 (including destination charges) but piled on a few options to bump the final price up to $34,075 - a lofty figure that gave me pause. The Buick Encore is sold in six trim levels (base, Preferred, Sport Touring, Preferred II, Essence and Premium). Compare the Encore with those vehicles and the Trax here. Subcompact SUVs have proliferated, and now the Encore competes against other tiny utes such as the Honda HR-V and Fiat 500X. Fast-forward a few years, though, and the Encore is far from being the only small SUV on the market. That makes the diminutive Encore suitable for cities and other environments where big vehicles simply don’t fit in.īeing first had its benefits: The Encore is Buick’s best-selling model, and its success compelled GM to offer a more budget-friendly version in 2015, the Chevrolet Trax. The Encore is only 168.4 inches long, shorter than a Honda Civic sedan by more than a foot. It was the only vehicle to offer the higher ride height of an SUV, but with a much smaller footprint. When it debuted as a 2013 model, the Buick Encore was unique in both shape and stature. The Encore is neither nice enough to be considered a luxury SUV nor affordable enough to hang with cheaper competitors that offer many of the same features.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |