2024 Buick Encore GX Reviews, Pricing & Specs

The Encore GX is certainly one of the best-looking Buick models to come along in a while. Based on the stunning Wildcat concept from 2022, this heavily refreshed 2024 model gets a whole new face. Sleek daytime running lights are perched above the grille with the angular LED headlamps flanking it a bit lower on either side. There is a new Buick logo here as well. Our top-of-the-line Avenir trim test vehicle gets its own unique grill and some chrome trim. The rear doesn’t change much from 2023, save for new LED tail lights on the top two trims. Overall, it’s a handsome package, especially with the available 19-inch wheels.

We love the colours Buick offers on the Encore GX. It’s not just shades of grey and beige here. Instead, you can snag an Encore GX in brilliant red, deep blue, or maroon. Heck, there is even an almost-orange paint colour called Copper Ice Metallic. A few of these colours even offer the option of a black roof, black mirrors, and black roof rails on the Sport Touring trim.

The biggest change you’ll find in the Encore GX’s interior is the relocation of the HVAC vents to make room for a new 19-inch glass panel housing the digital gauge cluster and touchscreen. While we have some quibbles with the thing when the car is actually running, the large glass panel definitely gives the Buick a premium, techy look—at least at first glance. In true GM fashion, there are a few cheap-feeling plastics in the interior and your only colour options are black or cream, but at this price point, it’s tough to complain.

Nothing under the hood has changed for 2024. The Encore GX is still available in front-wheel drive (FWD) or all-wheel drive (AWD). In Canada, the 1.3-litre turbocharged three-cylinder engine is standard, offering power specs of 155 ponies and 174 lb-ft of twist. (A 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque with a CVT is the standard engine in the U.S., but this powertrain is not offered here.) The 1.3-litre turbo engine also gets you a nine-speed automatic transmission. In our testing, the turbo does a lot of work and the car feels responsive enough, accelerating to 100 kilometres per hour in about nine seconds. The car is not quick by any stretch of the imagination, but it holds its own among the competition. However, there is a bit of roughness on take-off.

Highway passing can take a bit of time in this small SUV. Floor it, and the transmission is loathe to downshift to give the driver the requested power. It’s at least a two-second delay, an eternity if you’re trying to maneuver quickly for safety or jockeying for a place in traffic. A manual control could solve this problem and likely give this little guy a more fun driving experience. Alas, don’t expect more than a staid performance.

Still, it’s a great city car with a smooth-riding suspension soaking up the rough pavement. A cool feature is the selectable AWD system. After all, putting power to all four wheels isn’t necessary at all times, and it’s nice to have some control and the option to save some fuel. However, rivals can default to FWD and throw the power to the rear when needed automatically with no driver intervention needed. If you’re not sure when AWD is needed—inclement weather is usually a good time to engage it—you might be better off keeping AWD engaged at all times or looking at competitors like the Honda HR-V with an automatic system.

Being a subcompact SUV, our Buick Encore GX Avenir test car doesn’t offer a ton of utility, but it falls in line with much of the competition. You won’t be able to tow much, just 453 kilograms (1,000 pounds), but there is an available hands-free liftgate for loading up the rear cargo area.

Behind the rear seats, you’ll find 665 litres of cargo space. Fold those seats down and capacity expands to 1,422 litres. When the front seat is folded down, the little Encore GX can accommodate items that are eight feet long, from skis to surfboards!

Inside, heated driver and front passenger seats and a heated steering wheel are standard equipment in Canada, but seat ventilation is not on the menu. An eight-way power adjustable driver’s seat is also included. A seven-speaker Bose audio system is available as an option on the Sport Touring and Avenir models, and adding a moonroof is an extra cost on all trims.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX gets an 11-inch touchscreen married to an 8-inch digital gauge cluster, all housed under one pane of glass. It looks great at first, but once the screens are illuminated, you’ll notice a ton of unused real estate. It almost looks like the screen is malfunctioning, shrinking down the visible area for some reason. Why have such a large surface when so much of it isn’t used?

The good news is that there is wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. There are also USB-A and USB-C ports, plus a wireless charging pad and a 120-volt outlet are available. We also love the available rear camera mirror that sends a video feed to the rear-view camera for a wider-angle view of what’s going on behind the vehicle.

If you like simple infotainment systems, the GX is for you. While other cars have Amazon Alexa or Google built-in (heck, we’ve even seen a birdwatching app in some Subarus), the home screen here just easy-to-read features tiles for smartphone mirroring, climate control, settings, camera views, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Buick’s Driver Confidence package of driver assistance features is standard and includes lane-keeping assist and lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, a following distance indicator, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert are also included on every trim.

However, rear park assist, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera are all extra.

If you want to dial in those safety settings, too bad. Features like automatic braking are either on or off. There is no way to program the system to kick in early, medium, or late as in other vehicles.

However, the Buick has two safety features not seen on other cars. One is Teen Driver, which parents can set up to record their kids’ driving habits, issuing a report card that is secure behind a password-protected screen. It’s a bit Big Brother, but if you’re concerned about your new driver’s style behind the wheel, it’s a good teaching tool.

Also included standard is the Buckle to Drive feature. Yes, the Encore GX will not shift out of park if the driver’s seat belt isn’t fastened. However, it’s only temporary, so if it’s an edge case you can still drive the car without buckling up. Further, the feature can be turned off completely if desired.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has given the 2024 Buick Encore GX a full five stars as an overall safety rating, including five out of five stars for both frontal crash and side crash ratings and four out of five stars in a rollover.

The 2024 Encore has not yet been rated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). However, the 2023 model got a score of Good for crashworthiness and Superior in front crash prevention involving cars and pedestrians. However, the headlights are rated at Acceptable or Marginal depending on trim and the LATCH system is rated at Acceptable.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX starts at a $34,480 MSRP in Canada for a Preferred trim with FWD and the smaller engine, including destination charges and fees. Prices eventually rise to $39,410 for an Avenir.

Natural Resources Canada gives the Encore GX a combined fuel rating of 7.8 litres per 100 kilometres in FWD. If you choose AWD, expect combined fuel economy to go up to 8.8 L/100 km. We spent most of our time behind the wheel without AWD engaged and managed 7.5 L/100 km over 585 kilometres.

You’ll get a 3-year/60,000-kilometre basic limited warranty on the Encore GX, as well as a 5-year/100,000-kilometre powertrain warranty.

There is plenty of competition in this segment, however. The Kia Seltos offers lots of style and tons of features. The new front-wheel-drive only Chevrolet Trax and Buick Envista pose an excellent value, while the Mazda CX-30 is the most fun to drive of the bunch.

Still, it’s tough to find too much fault with the 2024 Buick Encore GX. It looks great and some buyers will appreciate its simple infotainment interface. The powerplant is peppy enough and the ride quality is smooth and easy. It’s not the fastest gal in the garage, but at this price point, it doesn’t have to be.

Note: Images show a US model.