Despite that the company announced that the Encore would be discontinued after the 2022 model year, it looks like we will be seeing this subcompact crossover in production for another year. The latest reports suggest that the 2023 Buick Encore will represent the final production year of a model that has been around for more than a decade. Although it may seem outdated in some aspects, this crossover still has a couple of good things to offer and that’s the reason why it still makes decent sales numbers.
This crossover offers a comfortable ride, while its modest dimensions ensure great maneuverability. The car is pretty easy to drive, while we also like its intuitive infotainment system. On the other hand, there are a few drawbacks as well, which makes perfect sense if we consider the model’s age. The things we don’t like are high starting price and just one engine option. Also, you can notice that some modern features are missing.
We expect that the 2023 Buick Encore will hit the market sometime in the last quarter of the year.
2023 Buick Encore Design
Design-wise, the 2023 Buick Encore won’t bring any change. We are about to see a familiar layout, which was introduced way back in 2012. Since then, we’ve seen a facelift that made the car look more modern and more appealing but the overall layout remains the same. This crossover rides on a good-old Gamma II platform and that may be the reason why it is less engaging to drive compared to some younger rivals. On the other hand, the ride is smooth and comfortable.
The Encore is quite maneuverable and easy to drive, thanks to its modest dimensions. The styling looks nice, especially at the front, where you can notice a lot of similarities with the brand’s contemporary design language. On the other hand, the rear end looks a little bit outdated.
Interior
On the inside, you can notice a nicely designed cabin, which offers mostly quality, soft-to-the-touch materials. The dashboard looks nice and modern, despite the age, while the choice of materials is pretty good. The build quality is decent, while there is also a decent amount of tech features. The cabin looks decent enough to compete with much younger competitors.
With a little bit over 100 inches in wheelbase, this is a typical subcompact crossover. However, the cabin is surprisingly spacious, with adult-friendly second-row seats. The front seats are massive and supportive, while the high driving position ensures good visibility in all directions.
The cargo area is good for about 18.8 cubic feet of cargo room behind the back row and 48.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded down, which is about average for the segment.
Features
We don’t believe that the 2023 Buick Encore could bring bigger changes in this aspect. This will be the final production year of the generation, so we expect that the list of standard equipment will remain the same. Therefore, base models should come standard with goodies like a 7-inch touch screen, a six-speaker stereo, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, two USB ports, Bluetooth, voice recognition, satellite radio, a Wi-Fi hot spot, Siri Eyes Free, proximity keyless entry and push-button start. Interestingly, there aren’t many options available, so one of the rare things you can opt for is remote start.
The same is with safety features, where a rearview camera is the only standard safety feature. On the other hand, you can opt for upgrades like blind spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, rain-sensing windshield wipers, front and rear parking sensors, forward collision warning, lane departure warning etc.
2023 Buick Encore Engines
Under the hood, the 2023 Buick Encore will continue with the same 1.4-liter turbo-four engine, which features a max output of around 155 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. That’s plenty enough for decent performance, though we have to see that most rivals offer more capable powertrains. On the other hand, this unit offers pretty decent fuel economy, which goes around 24 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the highway.
The engine comes in pair with a 6-speed automatic transmission, which does a really good job. Front-wheel-drive is standard, while you can also opt for an AWD system.
2023 Buick Encore Release Date and Price
We expect to see the 2023 Buick Encore sometime in the last quarter of the year, with the starting price of around 25.000 dollars. Key competitors are models like Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, Jeep Renegade, Chevy Trax etc.