2022 Buick Encore Specs, Price, MPG & Features

The 2022 Buick Encore is a compact SUV that serves as Buick’s entry-level vehicle with the Encore GX. Buick has been reducing the number of Encore grades and options over the last several years. Several items have been deleted or added to standard packages for the Encore 2022. There is just one trim level currently. It’s not only about reducing the size of the item. A significant increase in power for the Encore’s engine for 2022 will help relieve the Buick’s lukewarm acceleration.

With many manufacturers (including Buick) producing cars in this size and price range, the Encore has a lot of competition. The Mazda CX-30, Hyundai Kona, Subaru Crosstrek, and Encore GX are among our top picks as better-than-the-Encore alternatives. Despite the increase in power, the Encore still seems obsolete and many steps behind the class leaders.

2022 Buick Encore Specs

• Price: $25,795
• Engine: 1. L Turbocharged I-4
• Seating Capacity: Four Seater
• Drivetrain: Front Wheel Drive
• Transmission: 6-Speed Automatic Transmission
• Horsepower: 155@5600
• Torque: 177@2000-4000
• Fuel Efficiency: 24 MPG in the city, 32 MPG on the highway, and 27 MPG combined
• Length: 168.35 Inches
• Height: 65.25 Inches
• Width: 70.1 Inches
• Wheelbase: 100.6 Inches

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New for the year 2022?

The engine of Buick’s smallest SUV, the Encore, has been upgraded to 155 hp, an increase of 17 horsepower over the previous year’s model. The driver’s and front passenger’s seatbacks now include map pockets and an electric-powered heater as standard features. For this year, only the Recommended trim is offered, with the basic model being phased out for 2017.

A few changes are coming to the Buick Encore for 2022 to help it stand out in the crowded subcompact segment. Most noticeable is the addition of 155 horsepower to the regular 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine. That’s a 17-horsepower bump over last year. There is no longer a basic 1SV model in Encore’s portfolio. Instead, the Encore will only be available in the Preferred trim for the next 2022 model year.

Transmission, Engine, and Performance

However, customers should not anticipate much excitement regarding performance from the 155-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-liter four-cylinder in the Encore. Automatic transmission and front-wheel drive are standard, while all-wheel drive costs $620. The Encore is much more top-heavy than lower-set competitors like the Mazda CX-30. Consequently, the Encore leans more strongly in corners than other compact crossovers. The steering is precise and well-weighted, but it won’t excite drivers looking for a tiny crossover with a focus on comfort. It’s hard to overstate how comfortable and well-damped the suspension is on the Encore.

Six-speed automatic transmission is the sole option, which is also somewhat dated. As long as the gears go smoothly, rapidly, and effectively, it doesn’t feel old. However, it isn’t quite as bad as you would think it is. Due to its size and weight, the small crossover SUV has a low power-to-weight ratio, resulting in underwhelming performance. There’s no way the Encore can keep up with a more modern vehicle like the Hyundai Kona, which completes the 0-60 mph benchmark race in under seven seconds, thanks to the turbocharged engine option. The Encore does not have a towing capability.

Real-World MPGs & Fuel Efficient

Even while we haven’t tested the Encore’s real-world fuel efficiency, its EPA ratings are much lower than those for the Hyundai Kona, Mazda CX-30, and Nissan Kicks. According to EPA estimations, the front-wheel-drive Encore gets 25 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, compared to 24 mpg city and 29 highway for all-wheel-drive Encores.

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Both convenience and cargo are essential considerations

An almost-premium interior can be found inside the Encore’s small shell. The door panels and lower center console had some harsh plastics, and the glossy black trimming on the center stack of our test car didn’t match the gorgeous gray panels on the doors. Although the armrests & dash pad have soft-touch parts, the flush-mounted multimedia touchscreen with jewel-colored backdrop elements assists in elevating the interior’s appearance further.

Controls for temperature control are simple and redundant on the dash, but the front-seat arrangement is excellent. We found the high sitting posture and comfortable going position to be a plus. However, more significant drivers may find the seat bottom too small. The Encore’s utility vehicle credentials begin and finish with its ability to accommodate 20 of our luggage when the rear seats are folded down. Besides that, the small Buick’s interior dimensions, complex back seat folding, and class-average storage room for small goods do not impress.

Media Streaming and Internet Access

The Encore’s standard equipment includes an IntelliLink touchscreen with Apple CarPlay, Android, and a 4G LTE broadband connection with onboard Wi-Fi. An optional Bose premium audio system with seven speakers and a SiriusXM satellite radio is also available, as is a Bluetooth, USB, or auxiliary input jack-compatible six-speaker sound system featuring SiriusXM satellite radio.

Exterior

Even eight years after its debut, the Buick Encore is still a big, handsome subcompact crossover. All thanks to the 2017 makeover, which gave it a far more contemporary appearance than its first introduction in 2013 when it was first introduced. In terms of design, Buick has a lot of options for the Encore. The 18-inch alloy wheels, ceiling side rails, tinted glass, torso door knobs with a chrome band, and LED daylight running lights are all standard equipment on the Encore Preferred. Roof rack cross rails may also be added to this model.

The Encore makes up for part of what it lacks on the horizontal. Its height makes it simple to enter and depart. Plastic skid plates on each end provide an SUV-like appearance; otherwise, the Encore seems to be a high-riding hatchback in everything but name.

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In the inside of a Buick Encore

Unlike the Chevrolet Trax, the Buick Encore has a similar base, engine, transmission, and much of the design. Even while all primary controls are located in the same place, it has a significantly more luxurious interior than its predecessor, the Trax. The materials used by Buick are a little more upscale than those used by the Trax, further elevating the Buick above the Trax. A leatherette seat trim is the only upholstery choice.

There is still a lot to like about the huge display of the infotainment system. Getting to and understanding the controls is a breeze. There’s a two-way manual adjustment for the front passenger seat, while the driver gets a six-way power seat.

With Buick’s strategy of straddling the line between mainstream and luxury, the Encore interior is generally premium, with a few cheaper plastics in its lower sections. A well-designed dashboard and center console enhance driving at a high posture.

Feature Sets

The 2022 Encore comes with a substantial amount of standard equipment, with the notable exclusion of driver assistance systems, despite having only one trim level available this year, Preferred. This features 18-inch aluminum wheels, roof rails, keyless, single-zone climate control, active noise cancelation, cowhide steering column, cloth/simulated leather seats, and a 6-way energy driver’s seat.

Apple CarPlay & Android Auto phone connectivity, two USB connections, Bluetooth, satellite radio, and a 6-speaker sound system are all part of the in-car entertainment system.

Safety

The NHTSA gave the 2022 Encore a perfect score of five stars in all FWD and AWD configurations. According to the IIHS, the 2021 Encore mainly achieved “Good” ratings. Aside from the child seat anchors in the back seats being too deep and the acceptable scores for the traveler small overlap front test, the Encore received a marginal grade for its headlamps’ lack of sight around bends.

Active safety technologies from Buick are only available in the Encore Preferred and are not included in the base model. The Encore comes standard with forward crash alert & lane departure warning, as well as and front rear assist and rain detecting automatic windshield wipers. The Encore may be equipped with blind-spot tracking and rear cross-traffic warning as part of a Safety Package option. A Safety Package II is also available, but it must be purchased in conjunction with the first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Buick’s Encore subcompact SUV is still going strong after its initial generation. There was a significant refresh of the South Korean-built cute-ute, which goes by the name Mokka elsewhere, brought to the US market in 2013. It was the best-selling model of the premium brand until 2020, when the Encore GX—not trim, but an altogether new vehicle—took its place. However, the Encore has been one of the cheapest ways to get into a Buick Crossover, but the base trim is the most basic.

The 2022 Buick Encore is among the minor crossovers on the market. Still, it has the exclusive design and curving sheet metal of Buick’s bigger SUVs. There is enough room in the Encore’s interior, even with the rear seats folded down to accommodate four persons.