2020 Buick Encore Pros vs Cons. Should You Buy?
Anyone in search for a small but efficient ride should look no further than the 2020 Buick Encore. This subcompact crossover is small, which is the inherent quality of this segment. The Encore may be Buick’s smallest SUV line up, but don’t make the mistake of underestimating this car because it does an awesome job of emulating the pseudo luxury feel of the bigger models. Moreover, its tiny size doesn’t mean it is lacking in features and technology. Choosing a Buick means drivers get an understated and attractive premium vehicle that bridges the niche between super luxurious brands and less expensive offerings. Read more below to discover the joys of owning the 2020 Buick Encore:
What’s New for 2020?
Fans wills be happy to know that 2020 Buick Encore’s pricing will remain the same from last year’s model in spite of inflation. The biggest change is found under the hood as Buick has let go of the 153 horsepower turbocharged 1.4 liter inline engine. Now, this newer model only offers the same engine size but with less potency, producing only 138 horsepower. Moreover, the Sport Touring version takes another big hit and loses some of its features like the rear view mirror with its auto-dimming qualities, the dual zone automatic climate control, and the all important navigation function.
Top 10 Reasons to Buy a 2020 Buick Encore – The Pros
In spite some of its losses, people who choose to invest their money in buying the Buick Encore 2020 model will find it still a great idea because it comes with a long list of amenities that can make you happy. Consider the following spec of the Encore listed below.
1. Great Infotainment System
All the trims of the 2020 Buick Encore get an 8.0 inch infotainment system with a Wi-Fi hotspot to satisfy the people of the modern world that always like to be connected. It also offers Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capability, along with Bluetooth technology, so that anyone can easily hook up their mobile gadget with the vehicle. Now, anyone choosing to take calls or play the music playlist in their phones can easily do these functions inside the Encore. In addition to all of these, a six speaker audio system coming with a Sirius XM satellite radio is a base feature in all the trims. Those who want to level up can chose a premium Bose seven speaker. All models come USB slots and an auxiliary input jack.
2. Awesome Noise Cancellation
The current 2020 Encore model offers one of the most quiet atmospheres when compared with its many competitors. The reason is it comes with an active noise cancellation system. It ensures that passengers ears remain protected from environmental noise may it be from the outside road traffic or from the vibrations of the wind. It even manages to cancel out the hum of its own engine. This car is perfect for drivers and passengers with sensitive hearing. With this vehicle, people can get to enjoy true peace and quiet within the cabin interiors of the Encore.
3. Terrific Suspension for Less Bumpy Ride
In terms of comfort, the 2020 Buick Encore is able to offer a great ride. The car’s suspension is able to wonderfully absorb and soak up all the bumps and uneven surfaces of the road with ease. If the car happens to pass by a pothole or a speed bump, the harsh impact is successfully dampened to ensure the passengers inside don’t get jostled.
4. The Convenience of a Remote Start
One of this car’s convenient functions is a keyless entry with the possibility of a remote start, save for the base trim. This comes in particularly helpful on extremely hot or cold days because it means that the driver can choose to start the car from faraway so that the environment of the vehicle will be pleasantly inviting and comfortably climate-controlled by the time all the vehicle riders come into the car. This means never having to freeze too long waiting for the car’s heaters to kick-in, and in the same token, it means never having to suffer burning in a car that is extremely hot during the summer.
5. Great for Driving in Tight Corners
The small size of 2020 Buick Encore means that it is great to ride in the city. Even if the volume of cars is a lot, the Encore will be able to handle things well because it can maneuver easily between tight spaces. On top of that, it is an easy ride even in tight corners so handling narrow city streets and cramped city parking conditions will not be a problem in this vehicle. Its steering is well-weighted and accurate so drivers find it engaging very well to commands, which comes in super handy in very tight roads.
6. High Seating Offering Great Driver Visibility
This particular Buick model has very high seating so that the driver can easily see the road. On top of that, it provides a comfortable driving position so that the driver, and even the passengers, can be comfy even in long rides. The front seat layout is really good, with straightforward controls on the dash for easy access. The armrests come with a soft-touch section for added comfort for all the vehicle occupants. Noteworthy, the driver’s seats are power adjustable.
7. Comes with Key Safety Features
The 2020 Buick Encore comes with all the usual standard safety features to keep the driver and the passengers safe such as the airbags, ABS break system, traction and stability control system, child rear lock, and tension seatbelts, On top of that there is an available forward collision warning, blind spot monitoring, and lane departure warning. This scored fairly well and got good reviews from the two US crash testing agencies.
8. Peace of Mind Because of Stellar Warranties
Everyone will be happy to note that the Buick Encore offers longer warranty coverage when compared to its competitors. This Buick offers free or complimentary maintenance visits on the first year of ownership. On top of that there is a limited warranty coverage for 48 months or 50,000 miles. The power train warranty comes with an astounding and impressive 6 years coverage, which translates to 70,000 miles.
9. Can Create More Space with Folded Seats
The makers of the Encore understand that space is limited because of its size so they have made sure that the driver can fold down the front seat flat, along with the rear seat. On the days that there are stuff to be carried, folding all of those means around 20 pieces of luggage can fit in this tiny car. That’s not bad at all considering its size!
10. Offer Quite a Bit of Options
To up the luxury and comfort factor of the Encore, Buick offers quite a bit of options that do not break the bank. One of its nicer options is called the Experience package which installs a sunroof, navigation system, unique eye catching 18 in alloy wheels, and more.
Reasons Not to Buy a 2020 Buick Encore – The Cons
The following are the reasons some people may not enjoy this Encore 2020 model by Buick:
1. Lagging in Fuel Efficiency
The Buick Encore 2020 model lags behind its competitors when it comes to being efficient. Considering its small size, it is expected to fare better in the fuel ratings. The front wheel drive encore has an estimated rating of 25 mpg for city driving and 30 mpg on the highway; the all wheel drive version scores a 24 mpg for the city and a 29 mpg rating for the highway. These figures aren’t bad at all, but when compared to other automobiles in the same class, they just fall a little bit behind. This matters a lot for those people looking to get to their destination without consuming too much gas. Gas equals money, and some folks would just like to save as much of it whenever they can.
2. Poor Acceleration
Because of the engine downgrade, the 153 hp version is no longer available and people are stuck with only one choice, the 138 hp Encore version. Unfortunately, this engine is really much less powerful and produces less torque. Those vehicles that are looking to drive this at high speeds will be disappointed as it won’t be able to accelerate with aplomb and ease.
3. Cheap Hard Plastics
The interior of the 2020 Buick Encore is very nearly premium in quality but it is dampened by quite a few missteps. There are some very hard plastics that have an inferior look and cheap feeling to them located in the door panels and lower center console. On top of that, the center stack’s glossy black trim did not match nor complement the panels on the door, which were outfitted with glossy gray material. The design isn’t seamless, and this will be very noticeable for those people who have a keen attention to details.
4. Rear Seats are Quite Difficult to Fold
The car has very little storage space and driver’s needing more will have to fold down the rear seats. Unfortunately, these seats don’t cooperate well and folding them down to accommodate large things will be a bit of a challenge.
5. A Struggle to Fit a Child’s Car Seat in the Rear
The poor space in the rear seat may not even comfortably fit child restraining seats. This is huge con for those who have families with smaller children.
How It Stacks Up Against the Competition
One of the main competitors of the 2020 Buick Encore is the Honda HR-V. Although the Honda brings elegant sharp lines and a cool sporty engine, it still is unable to hold a candle to the Encore because it is still more fun to ride with its shorter wheelbase and turbo charged engine. On top of that, nothing can beat the quiet cabin and reduced wind noise of the Encore, which passengers will be hard pressed to get in the Honda competitor.
The Jeep Renegade is another top competitor of the Buick Encore in the subcompact SUV category. Because it is built for rugged driving, the Spartan like Renegade doesn’t come with a lot of convenient features that the Buick Encore possesses like satellite radio, privacy glass, alarm, compact spare tire, Bluetooth, and more. Fuel economy on the Buick is also much better than the Renegade.
Bottom Line
The 2020 Buick Encore is definitely a strong contender for people looking for a strong and good quality subcompact SUV. It gets the job done of getting people to their destination, while providing comfort and safety. The only way to truly test out the capabilities of this vehicle is to check it out and take the different trim levels for a spin. Drivers who place their hands on this car’s leather coated and heated steering wheels may just decide to drive it all the way home.
