Road Test Review – 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir

of Buick the gamble on the SUV is paying off with the brand reporting record sales and demand for its utility line. That includes the Buick Encore GX which was not only updated for the 2024 model year but also upgraded to a new model level with the release of the more focused (albeit very stylish) Buick Envista. But what? 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir wear his new clothes well enough to still be recognized? or are there a few rough edges left in the final product?

Wild Cat Symbols Don’t Translate Well

Before we dive into the many things the GX does well, we can also consider the biggest elephant in the room, its exterior styling. When Buick first released the Wildcat coupe concept several years ago, the brand promised that it would usher in a new Buick design language with expressive design once again at the forefront. While the new look has worked well for Envista, GX has seemed to take a step back in this regard.

That’s because of the SUV’s proportions, and the front styling feels like an afterthought especially when you go behind the GX which gets some light changes but it’s pretty much the same as it was. in 2023. This makes the design feel unbalanced and the 2024 model would look like it was created in two separate rooms within GM’s technology center.

That’s a shame because if it weren’t for the confused styles, some of the little things the Encore GX brings to the table would shine better in the spotlight. The Avenir trim is a new addition to the 2024 lineup and we like how its chrome splashes are done in a nice way especially the big chrome wheels and some chrome exterior accents. In addition to the Avenir, the Encore GX also gets a new Sport Touring (ST) trim that replaces the outgoing Select trim that gives it a more attractive styling to contrast the Avenir’s more stylish-oriented personality.

Avenir Trim Makes Interiors Shine

Step into the Avenir’s stylish interior and you’ll find an interior that’s stylish and well-designed. Buick has been walking the line between luxury and luxury when it comes to the GX and while the fit and finish here won’t be giving Audi any sleep anytime soon, it’s a step up from the likes of the Subaru Crosstrek and Nissan Kicks.

The Avenir trim should be the most luxurious in the family and that is reflected in some of its appointments with the leather front seats on our tester offering support and comfort with Avenir branding on the headrests as well as a unique trim design on the seats. of the back. The front passenger seat can be folded down flat to help load long items and that works well with the folding rear seats. The rear seats are best folded down as rear room is tight for taller people.

All Encore GX models get an 11-inch touchscreen infotainment system with a smaller 8.0-inch screen serving as the instrument cluster. The larger screen gets Apple CarPlay and Android Auto standard while the Android side of the equation works well with our mobile device. Load times are also good but we had a case where a software error entered the home screen and the image projected by the rear 360 degree backup camera. This only happened once during its stay with us and we assume it was a one-off. .

Avenir Performance Highlights Fuel Economy

The performance of the 2024 Buick Avenir is based on a pair of turbocharged three-cylinder engines and lower trim levels get a 1.2-liter triple turbo that makes 137 horsepower. A larger 1.3-liter three-cylinder that makes 155 hp is also available for the Avenir as our model gets it alongside the ST trim (the preferred base gets it as an option.) The main difference here is the transmission and the upcoming standard CVT. on all front-wheel-drive models with an optional all-wheel-drive system replacing it with a nine-speed automatic.

Our tester arrived with AWD, a bigger engine, and a nine-speed but while specs promise high performance, our tester preferred to focus on fuel economy while the acceleration felt like a worn-out bag of pop rocks and the steering wheel had links. less than a cup. of vanilla pudding. While those features won’t appeal to those looking for a faster driving experience, find that won’t matter much to the average buyer with the GX’s size allowing it to zip through city traffic with ease.

Fuel economy is ultimately the star of the show here and surprisingly, the larger 1.3-liter is the most fuel-efficient engine with the EPA saying it can achieve 31 mpg with front-wheel drive and the CVT. Adding the 1.2-liter instead drops that figure slightly to 30 mpg while the 1.3-liter, nine-speed, and AWD system results in a dip to 29 mpg on the highway.

Value Level

Pricing for the 2024 Buick Encore GX starts at $26,895 for the base Preferred model with FWD and all-wheel drive adding $2000 to the sticker price. The mid-range ST model starts at $28,095 while the Avenir starts at $33,195. Our tester arrived with AWD and that pushed the base sticker up to $34,795. An optional technology package helped push the sticker price up to a final as-tested total of $37,485.

This price is within the norm for the segment but the Encore GX lacks some of the compelling DNA that defines some of its rivals. The Mazda CX-30 for example has excellent exterior and interior styling that compromises little on interior quality and technology. The Toyota Corolla Cross on the other hand focuses on fuel economy and its powertrain will outshine the Encore in this regard despite the interior being a step behind Buick’s.

At the end of the day, the 2024 Buick Encore GX is an improvement over the outgoing model as the brand has done a great job of improving the packaging and content of the features that the model is known for. However, while that may please a group of loyalists who like the Encore’s compact size and packaging, it’s still not enough to make the model stand out from the crowd. That’s all the more important as the entry-level Buick Envista threatens to eat away at sales from the inside despite not having AWD.

Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums and websites such as Autoshopper.com.

Carl is also a big fan of British cars with much of his passion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When not writing about cars, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his pets.