When Buick discontinued the Regal sedan and Regal TourX wagon in 2020, it left the brand with only utility vehicles, of which there are now only three: the small Encore GX, the midsize Envision, and the Enclave. consisting of three rows.
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| The 2024 Buick Encore GX |
Buick Ladies, but not pink
While Buick's product picture may not look rosy, the product and design team thinks otherwise: The brand is growing in popularity with women, and its cars fill a niche among mainstream and luxury brands.
Buick today revealed mid-cycle updates to its smallest crossover, the Encore GX, which was introduced in 2019 as a 2020 model and will arrive around the same time as its platform-mate, the popular Chevrolet Trailblazer. The Trailblazer outsold the Encore GX by selling two-to-one. Almost, but the current Trailblazer will be updated later. Buick previously sold the smaller Encore model, but that model was discontinued in November.
The new EncoreGX has a new hood, grille, and fascia, as well as redesigned front and rear LED lights and a new font for the Buick name. The company's long-standing logo was three "strike marks" in red, silver, and blue, overlapping in height and surrounded by a chrome ring. The new Buick, which debuted on the Encore GX, has a chrome ring, is evenly aligned, and looks sleek and modern.
The updated 2024 Encore GX from Buick
The updated Encore GX is the first of five new or updated Buick models to arrive in the next 18 months, with the majority of them hinting at the futuristic Wildcat EV concept revealed last year. The Encore GX's new front end borrows the Wildcat's trapezoidal grille and the front edge that tops it. It is known internally as the "shark's nose".
The new Encore GX Avenir includes more standard features than the previous Essence model.
The Virtual Cockpit system (standard on all models) hides an 8-inch digital instrument panel and central 11-inch touchscreen behind a single pane of trapezoidal glass and appears to float above the completely redesigned instrument panel. Along the top edge of the display is a physical volume knob.
Swiping left on the center display displays information in the cluster in front of the driver. The steering wheel center cap has been replaced and now displays a redesigned three-shield Buick badge. Standard wireless features include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus wireless phone charging.
While the interior of the ST is black, the Avenir is available in lighter, more subdued colors. The upholstery starts with a mixture of cloth and faux leather for the preferred finish, then progresses to leather on the ST, and finally full leather for the Avenir. In addition to the flat steering wheel, the model turns The updated ST has red-to-black accents inside and out.
Powertrain options for the 2024 Buick Encore GX
The three-cylinder turbocharged powertrain options remain a 1.2-liter with 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque and a 1.3-liter with 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque.
All models are available with all-wheel drive, which is paired with a nine-speed automatic transmission for an estimated 27 mpg combined. Front-wheel drive models are paired with a CVT and rated at 30 mpg combined.
According to Teen, Buick has reached out to female shoppers, and 54% of its customers in 2022 will be female. "The Encore GX leads the industry at 59%," she says, citing the industry average of 39%.
The 2024 Encore GX will go on sale this spring. After production begins in South Korea next month, customers will be able to build and order a new Encore GX on Buick.com starting in May.