Like all subcompacts, the Sonic is built down to a price, but General Motors made sure the chassis setup of the Sonic allowed frugal customers to still have plenty of fun, especially if they opt for the turbocharged 1.4L engine and its 148 lb-ft of torque. The Sonic produced its best Canadian sales month ever just last month, in April 2014, when 1202 were sold.
| THE GOOD Tiny outside Big inside Quiet cabin Real-world fuel efficiency impresses Looks like a modern Buick | THE BAD Odd driving position 3300 pounds, 138 bhp Missing key luxury features EPA fuel economy ratings don't amaze Looks a bit cutesy |
GM then took the Sonic's Gamma II platform, added an inch to the wheelbase, tacked 9.5 inches onto the Sonic hatchback's length, increased its height by half a foot, and slapped on SUV-like body cladding to create the Trax. Oh, and they offered optional all-wheel-drive, made huge alterations to the styling, made that turbocharged engine standard fit, and crafted a base price of just $20,295.
The Trax isn't yet available in the United States, but GM Canada sold 9343 copies of the Trax in the model's first 17 months on the market.
• Historical Monthly & Yearly Buick Encore Sales Figures
• 2013 Buick Verano Turbo Driven Review
While the details of its design are quite different, it's abundantly clear that the Buick Encore is the Chevrolet Trax's twin. But the all-wheel-drive Encore that GM Canada delivered to GCBC for a week-long stay at the end of May; though its roots can be traced back to a $16,000 subcompact and though its poverty-spec twin costs less than $21,000, was a lot more expensive than those cars.
Admittedly, a base $29,535 Encore comes standard with a lot of equipment that's optional on the Trax. Most obviously, that includes a $1600 6-speed automatic transmission. There's also a rear view camera, 18-inch alloy wheels, a 7-inch control screen, cruise control, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and enough sound deadening material to isolate the noise of your teenager's drum set in the basement.
Why? Even in this up-optioned Leather Group tester - even in a fully-optioned Premium Group Encore, for that matter - key features are either missing or unavailable.
2014 BUICK ENCORE AWD Base Price * (CDN): $29,535 As-Tested Price * (CDN): $36,510 Engine: 1.4L DOHC 16-valve I-4 turbo Transmission: 6-speed automatic Horsepower: 138 @ 4900 rpm Torque: 148 lb-ft @ 1850 rpm Curb Weight: 3309 pounds Drive Type: all-wheel-drive Length: 168.5 inches Width: 69.9 inches Height: 65.3 inches Wheelbase: 100.6 inches Passenger Volume: 2628 litres Cargo Volume: 533 litres Max. Cargo Volume: 1371 litres Centre Console: 3 tennis balls Glove Compartment: 29 tennis balls EPA City: 23 mpg = 10.2 L/100km EPA Highway: 30 mpg = 7.8 L/100km Observed: 32.2 mpg Observed: 7.3 L/100km * includes destination/delivery. Encore AWD base price: $31,535 |
Buick doesn't make cooled seats available. There's no optional powered tailgate, nor is the tilting and telescoping steering wheel power operated. The passenger side window has an auto-down function, but no auto-up.
Size aside, the Buick Encore does look expensive on the outside, far more costly than the Trax thanks to those big wheels, chrome grille, and eye-catching lighting. Styling is as subjective as it's ever been, and I feel as though the the pasting on of Buick cues (especially the ghastly hood-mounted ventiports) on a car that's lacking stature causes the Encore to look quite cutesy. But this tiniest of Buicks does make a strong visual statement, and overall it seems to be a successful effort given the size of the canvas.
Back inside, the Encore's dimensions belie its constrained exterior measurements. The Encore is nearly a foot shorter than the Mazda CX-5 from bumper-to-bumper, but there's no shortage of space for four. Granted, cargo space is not in keeping with the small crossovers you know: the CX-5 has 81% more luggage capacity behind the second row. With all seats down, including the front passenger seat, the Encore is surprisingly vast. The interior of our test car was dark, and material quality was a mixed bag. The leather seats and soft dash impressed; the switchgear not so much.
The Encore's subcompact size certainly pays dividends in terms of manoeuvrability and visibility, but it's not a fun car to hustle. Especially in this heavy all-wheel-drive guise, it's severely underpowered. (Reports say 0-60 mph takes ten seconds.) The steering isn't quick enough, and the amount of body roll encountered on twisty off-ramps will make you think the centre of gravity is more akin to what you'd find in a traditional SUV.
 |
| All Photo Credits: Timothy Cain ©www.GoodCarBadCar.net Click Any Of These iPhone Images For A Larger View |
In a vehicle of the Encore's size, we expect to make sacrifices. But Buick hasn't priced the Encore in keeping with its dimensions, and a car with dimensions like these and a price like this needs more of a luxury persona.
The Encore's Gamma II platform impresses when its offspring cost less than $20,000, but the positioning is precarious when the same platform is underneath a vehicle that can cost more than $39,000; beyond $36,000 in this case.
Truly premium small crossovers are far more powerful, also roomier, and can be a real joy when prodded down a rural road.
But it's not, it didn't, it doesn't, and I wasn't.
• 2014 Nissan Rogue SL AWD Driven Review
• 2013 Volkswagen Golf TDI Wolfsburg Driven Review
• 2014 Buick Regal Turbo AWD Driven Review
• 2014 Toyota Highlander XLE AWD Driven Review
Thousands of consumers feel differently. GM Canada has sold 4401 Encores in the last year; GM has sold 46,996 Encores since the car went on sale in the U.S. in January of last year. The Encore has been a Buick success story, at least by Buick's modern, lowered expectations.
 |
| GCBC Instituted ISTBTP, AKA Interior Storage Tennis Ball Test Protocol, In Early 2014. The Buick Encore's ISTBTP Results Are In The Spec Chart Above. |
For now, far more consumers believe roomier, more powerful, less expensive SUVs and crossovers are the way to go. Indeed, many more consumers believe roomier, more powerful, more expensive crossovers are the way to go, as the Audi Q5, Lexus RX, and Acura RDX all sell more frequently than the Encore, as well.
