Urban dwellers, or just about anyone searching for a vehicle that is bigger than a subcompact hatchback, yet navigates well within the city, may find that Buick’s compact crossover SUV fits the bill perfectly.
Review Overview
Styling - 85%
Driving pleasure - 78%
Performance - 76%
Driving comfort - 83%
Interior space - 76%
Fuel economy - 75%
Winter - 90%
80%
The small yet charming 2014 Buick Encore feels well adapted to the urban environment, and offers a level of luxury and sophistication, as well as numerous standard features, that deem it worthy of consideration.
Buick targets city dwellers
Available from $27,835 MSRP, the 2014 Buick Encore is the second most affordable vehicle in the automaker’s lineup. The small crossover SUV is mostly aimed towards city dwellers – car buyers in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, which are Canada’s three largest urban markets for SUV/CUVs sales. The Encore is meant to provide these consumers with an alternative to subcompact cars and big SUVs.
Somewhere in-between sits Buick’s compact SUV that is fuel-efficient and small enough to make its way around town and into parking spaces deemed too tight for larger vehicles. The Encore also benefits from an available all-wheel drive system that gives it a more even footing with certain competitors.
Power, performance
All 2014 Buick Encore models are equipped with a 1.4-litre Inline-four turbocharged engine that requires regular unleaded fuel, and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with driver shift control. From the engine, you can expect a total 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque.
The 2014 Encore provides you with one of two things, but not both. That one thing, of course, is the ability to drive this small luxury crossover comfortable in the city. Good handling and manoeuvrability make U-turns and slipping into tight parking spaces easy, and the ride is mostly composed and quiet as one might expect from a Buick, due in part to a QuietTuning feature that helps to reduce, block, and absorb noise and vibrations. That being said, the car may feel springy over bumps.
The second thing, the one that you cannot have, is a bit of sizzle under the hood. Although powerful enough for city driving, the 2014 Encore is not sporty in any way. Acceleration is slow, which means your attempts to merge onto the highway may feel a bit strained, and passing another vehicle may require some planning.
Style and features
The signature Buick grille, sleek-looking headlights with blue translucent rings, fog lights, and side roof rails add to the overall sophisticated style, and are all included on the Convenience trim. A spoiler with an integrated LED brake light is standard, and the sunroof is optional on all but the base model. Other features include a rearview camera that comes equipped on all versions of the 2014 Encore, and park assist is offered on the Premium trim.
The 2014 Buick Encore’s charming vibe continues inside the vehicle, with a small but cozy interior. Cloth/leatherette seats are standard, and leather-appointed seating surfaces, a power adjustable driver’s seat, and heated front seats are available as of the Leather trim. A heated steering wheel, memory package for driver’s seat and exterior rear-view mirrors, and dual-zone automatic climate control are available as well.
In terms of entertainment, Buick’s IntelliLink infotainment system is equipped on all models, and includes features like a 7-inch colour touchscreen display, Bluetooth audio connectivity, and voice-activation for audio. A seven-speaker Bose audio system and satellite radio, and a navigation system are optional.
Safety features like lane departure warning, forward collision and rear cross traffic alert, and a blind-spot system are also among the many elements to opt for.
To buy or not to buy?
Although many people will appreciate the 2014 Encore’s quiet and luxurious interior, its small dimensions may feel a bit tight and uncomfortable for others due to rear shoulder- and hiproom. It is not ideal for all, but front occupants will at least benefit from high seats and a roomier cabin. As far as cargo volume is concerned, the front passenger seat folds flat, and second-row seats split-fold as well, which means that owners can also carry long items up to 8-feet in length with them.
Overall, Buick’s small crossover SUV offers a quiet and comfortable ride, and its small size allows it to move around with ease. During winter, optional AWD should serve you well, and in addition the vehicle comes equipped with stability and traction control, four-wheel anti-locking braking system (ABS), and panic brake and hill start assist.
Fuel economy is not too shabby either, as the FWD version has a rating of 8.2/6.0 litres per 100 kilometres (city/highway), and the AWD gets 8.9 and 6.7 L/100km via the automaker. Our observed and combined fuel consumption rating for the Encore AWD was 9.7 L/100km, over 116 km, with slightly more city than highway driving.
If a subcompact car is too small and an SUV like the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV4 or Ford Escape is too big, the 2014 Buick Encore fits snuggly in the middle of the group. It seriously lacks in acceleration power, but it is easy to park, has a quiet cabin, and its user-friendly features should appeal to urban dwellers.
2014 Buick Encore gallery