2019 Buick Encore Reviews, Pricing & Specs

After it was released in 2013 to capture growing demand for crossover SUVs, the Buick Encore received a substantial refresh in 2017....

After it was released in 2013 to capture growing demand for crossover SUVs, the Buick Encore received a substantial refresh in 2017. Therefore, for 2019, the model receives only minor updates.

Buick touts the Encore as a stylish urban runabout with its sleek exterior design. Twin-L LED accents on the headlights and taillights and tasteful accents of chrome signify the crossover’s premium nature. Meanwhile, plastic lower cladding, silver skid-plates, and roof rails give a sense of adventure. For 2019, the color palette has been refreshed: Black Cherry Metallic, Graphite Gray Metallic, and Coastal Blue Metallic are no longer on the menu, but Buick has added new Deep Azure Metallic and Satin Steel Grey Metallic hues.

The only powertrain available for the Encore is a turbocharged 1.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine that produces 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque, coupled to a 6-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive (FWD) is standard, but all trims above Base offer all-wheel-drive (AWD) as an option. Beyond that, the Encore is tuned to deliver a drive that is both quiet and efficient, with a fuel-economy rating of 27 miles per gallon city, 33 highway, and 31 combined with FWD or 25, 33, and 30 with AWD.

The Encore’s interior benefited greatly from the 2017 refresh, which smoothed out all of the hard points and brought its interfaces up to date. The aesthetically-pleasing cabin also has plenty of room for five people and cargo. The 60/40 split-folding rear seat and front passenger seat can fold down to create a near-perfect flat surface for truly long items, up to 8 feet long.

All six trims for the Encore return for 2019: Base, Preferred, Sport Touring, Preferred II, Essence, and Premium. Base kicks things off with 18-inch alloy wheels, laminated glass, LED daytime running lights, keyless access and start, an 8-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity, a power driver’s seat, USB ports, a 6-speaker audio system, 4G LTE connectivity, and Sirius XM radio. Preferred adds a rear cargo cover and color-keyed floor mats, but it unlocks a few utility packages. Next, Sport Touring gets unique 18-inch wheels, remote start, fog lights, and a unique spoiler.

On the higher end of the lineup, the Preferred II trim tacks on premium 18-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a 120-volt power outlet. Essence throws in leather upholstery, a power passenger seat, a heated steering wheel, memory settings for the driver’s seat, and LED headlights. Finally, Premium includes Bose premium audio.

Safety-wise, the Enclave benefits from a standard reversing camera with moving guidance lines. Stepping up the trim ladder nets you more options. The Safety Package, available on Sport Touring, includes blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. The Preferred II trim and above include the Safety Package. Premium gets rain-sensing wipers, front and rear parking sensors, forward-collision warning, lane-departure warning, and a cabin air ionizer. New for 2019, the Safety Package II makes those features available on Premium II.