2025 Buick Encore GX Review | Standing Out? Or Stuck In The Middle?

[@rolandcharriez7631]

I had the original Encore and I loved it. I now have a 2023 Encore GX Essence and I love this car. I has all the bells and whistle that I love. It's an all wheel drive which is great and I love the fact the user can engage the feature when needed. Recently I've clocked my fuel per hour at 37 mph plus all the way down to South Carolina from NY. The highest mph I've gotten was 44 mph and that was doing around 50 mph and less during city driveway. Extremely comfortable and enjoyable during a drive. It does have a lot of pep when passing on the highway. It's not a Mustang but it get going when needed. Love your videos.

[@maxwella2079]

That 3 Cylinder seems like a great option for mpg and packaging. The 9 speed seems the best way to go. It's a very compelling vehicle in my opinion.

[@rbrobbi]

Rented a 2024 for a month. Very good for the price. The major thing is the rear beam, really needs independent, so 4wd is a must as you emphasized - Or even Billstein shocks if a fit could be found. Impressed you found the dash display modes lol. I found the 2wd 1.3 peppier than your experience

[@rightlanehog3151]

Alex, How did these 7:48 extremely handy, fold-flat front passenger seats become so scarce? 🤔 Every CUV, SUV, hatch, minivan and wagon ought to have one.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

I don't know but it is sad, isn't it?

[@rightlanehog3151]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide 😨😰😥😢😭😭😭😭

[@G-Rated]

People are so nitpicky and hard on Buick, they’re tougher critics with Buick than they are with actual luxury brands like Acura and Lexus. Buick is a premium brand and this specific model is an entry level model (Envista w/ AWD) but it has better technology and a more upscale design than the entry level RDX and UX from Lexus. People want to knock Buick for Japanese’ perception of reliability but that’s a false sense of security especially these days when *gm* is neck and neck with Toyota in reliability and the Japanese are the ones who are struggling with quality control and failing V6 motors they can’t fix.

[@naveenthemachine]

agreed Lexus or Toyota really cannot hold a candle to what GM has. The corolla cross and ux in this segment are by far the worst in class. Same with the other categories. Compact cuv the envision is quite simply better than the nx or signia or rav4 With the 3 row segment the enclave is simply better than the GH or TX.

[@Kjhgr01]

I gave my thumb's up when he removed the spare tire!! Detailed review indeed!

[@supertrain55]

Had this as a rental twice. Awesome vehicle. Handles really well, as you said. Also, the rear suspension feels really good on the awd

[@Chineywhale]

Rented one of these and was pleasantly surprised. It was pretty quiet and the 1.3 turbo was surprisingly peppy….a good deal for under $30k…..much better than the $48k dodge hornet phev I rented…which was TERRIBLE!

[@dagoomba8782]

I have the 2025 love this vehicle

[@plneky1171]

Another great review. I agree the Mazda CX-30 is the best looking in this class.

[@doziershaw9765]

Our 2020 Honda Passport with a 6 cylinder non turbo reliable engine can eek out 27 mpg on highway, that's terrible gas mileage for that segment the Buick competes in . A 2.5 liter Toyota Rav4 can get 35 on highway. Don't understand all these teeny tiny over charged engines that get worse gas mileage than larger displacement engines.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

If you're getting 15% better than EPA with your passport, then you'll be getting 15% better than EPA in this which would mean 32 highway. Driving style and terrain impact fuel economy heavily. As far as why it's not more efficient: remember that we're not talking that much difference in key areas of efficiency on the highway. This Encore GX has similar tire sizes to most Passports, it only weighs 800-900 lbs less depending on the configuration and there's not as much difference in wind resistance as you'd think. Clearly it's still taking more energy to roll the Passport down the road, but it's not like in a perfect world it would be twice the energy, and a 22% improvement in highway economy is still significant (24 MPG highway for an AWD Passport vs 28 for an Encore).

[@doziershaw9765]

@@AAutoBuyersGuide All good points but can a 1200 or 1300 cc engine with a turbo be reliable for the long term? Second and third owners? Not sure you can get better mileage if engine is having to ring itself out at 70 to 75 mph on a long road trip. These engines are fine for farting around town and would be better utilized in Europe.

[@xzimxzim]

Thats Honda’s cylinder deactivation. I had a V6 accord that got better highway mileage than the 4 cylinder version I traded it in for. I’ve read forums on Ridgeline getting 28-30mpg on road trips.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

There is no reason to think that it wouldn't be simply on displacement and the turbo. 155 HP is hardly a stressed engine. A 2.0T making the same power per liter would be only 238 HP to put it in perspective. Generally speaking, even at higher loads a turbo will be more efficient, partly because they can generate more torque at lower RPMs than a small naturally aspirated engine.

[@naveenthemachine]

My 2020 v6 Camry can crank 35-38mpg on the highway. I’ve even seen as much as 41mpg on the highway

[@guyreviewer105]

Here's a little known "secret" about the 2024/2025 Encore GX. No matter how hard it rains, the reverse camera stays crystal clear!! And I mean crystal clear. I think it has something to do with where it is placed low on the hatch. My two other cars get their reverse cameras pretty badly blurred out by droplets even in light rain.

[@ichinichisan]

14:50 The "Water now. Wine later" carton is from a Napa Valley spa/resort called Carneros, if anyone was wondering.

[@RiotShieldMan]

I really like the look of the first generation Encore (non GX) so much better ... As a car cleaner at a dealership I can confirm most all fake exterior vents are a pain. They just hold water and drip it forever unless you air hose them out.

[@juelzm149]

No led interior lighting, no standard sunroof even on the top trim (?!), no auto AWD, and the gauge cluster is pretty lacking. Not very premium imo. Give me a reason to buy this over the better looking Trailblazer.

[@LukeO-1234]

In all honesty I wished they put this 1.3 l engine in the envista, And done some nicer 4-cylinder in this one

[@AxxinTheSupernova]

Exactly

[@CLL-1]

You mentioned the glare reflected on the instrument panel.. I think this is a major concern of all these screens in new cars lately. There is a reason that instruments have always been recessed into the dashboard, usually covered by angled lenses to keep reflections out of the driver’s eyes.

[@fantomtuba]

Additionally, expecially for a Japanese brand, HR-V sold 1/3 of these because it doesn't offer a hybrid in the US.

[@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow]

GMs small turbo engines have a terrible track record for reliability though.

[@G-Rated]

@@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow “terrible track record” is just a fancy way of saying reputation for reliability, because your perception allows you to believe you’ll only acquire good build quality and reliability via a Japanese brand but we all know that’s just not the case today.

[@ShowMeWhatINeedToKnow]

@@G-Rated that's not my perception but thanks. I'm well aware of the problems even with older Toyota engines such as the 2ar and the 2az, as well. Although these are still not as terrible as GM's small turbo engines.

[@MTM358]

Buick is a really strange brand in America these days. Also really dislike the design of the instrument cluster/infotainment binnacle, looks almost googie.

[@Blank00]

I'd argue that Mazda and Acura are premium, and Hyundai is becoming premium, slotting between Kia and Genesis

[@sgrant9814]

My sister just bought on of these loaded and loves it. I admit it is very nice but no guts. The 3 pot is not strong enough...gm should just put in a n/a 4 banger with 180 or so hp. My n/a cx30 blows this outta the water in performance. My cx30 , after 3 yrs of ownership greatly exceeds the epa mileage of this model. I have avg'd 32 over 3 yrs and have gotten 36 mpg on road trips easily

[@kens97sto171]

I think this 1.3L 3 cyl also has the wet timing and oil pump belt in it. Gonna be a long term disaster. Ford has had nothing but trouble from this design... Imagine... a rubber belt submerged in hot oil having problems? To bad. other than that the little 3 pot engines are decent quick, make a nice noise, have a ton of room in the engine bay to work on it.. good.. you will probably need it. I would want the 9 spd auto without AWD. Why the hell do you make a 1.2 and a 1.3 engine?

[@acsmoothing2262]

Is there really a fully independent suspension on higher trims of the Encore GX? I thought that they all had a compound crank/torsion beam with Watts link, like the Chevy Trailblazer sister vehicle.

[@niuhuskieguy]

It wouldn't be surprising especially given the awd. VW has the Jetta that has a torsion beam on lower models and independent on the GLI.

[@Drp2681f]

Genesis, Kia and Hyundai Genesis = luxury Kia = premium Hyundai

[@kenkozawa9810]

These are well priced but buick brand holds zero cache in america at least amongst anyone born in the last 50 years and I dont think they styled these well for american tastes..people want squared off styling

[@TalismanPHX]

This Buick looks like a potato 🥔

[@luv2lrm]

truly laughed out loud at that comment

[@G-Rated]

The shape maybe, the design looks good. Better than what Mazda, Toyota, Subaru and Acura are doing with the “long chin” designs due to excessive front overhangs. I think this Encore GX looks sleek.

[@cormacsage7126]

Yes sooooo right

[@RomanM803]

@@G-Ratedlost when you said Mazda 😂😂

[@johno1850]

buick is nothing but a money pit for GM. they’ve tried to keep the brand alive for too long. shift focus to GMC as the “premium” brand and let buick rest. more room for pontiac to come back😉

[@bjsimon802]

The last model was terrible unreliable

[@naveenthemachine]

Your experience is a sample set of one

[@us1fedvet]

That is one UGLY ride.

[@Just-HitAWall]

Made in China.

[@SekharBehera-v4q]

Iieieiieiiiviiivivvvvvvvei😂

[@luv2lrm]

Thirty-three minutes and 49 seconds - about an Encore GX?!?!? My comments are generally positive but this is too long! Maybe it's because my attention span is shot. But Alex, you do fantastic work; I just wish the videos were shorter.

[@evdanielsson7]

I LOVE how long his reviews are. They’re easily the most comprehensive and detailed reviews out there, without being boring. He’s calming to listen to but is also so informative throughout, that it’s just excellent. I hate the reviewers that don’t seem to want to surpass the 20-minute mark, so they skip over stuff and everything feels rushed.

[@labradachig1976]

I usually watch it at 1.5x playback speed and it becomes manageable.

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

Eeek!

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

We really appreciate the feedback. Which sections do you think we could do without? We're always struggling with where to cut. We really, really want them to be under 25 min, but.... Yea, sometimes we struggle with which parts to cut and which to keep. I think plenty of people tune out the pricing section, but when we tried cutting that out folks didn't like it. If you want to be part of our proof-viewing group that gives us feedback on where and what to cut, drop us an email.

[@United_Kangaroo1992]

I think chapters is the only solution. That's why they exist, so they can skip over what they don't want. I prefer the 30 minute length

[@SekharBehera-v4q]

Iieieiieiiiviiivivvvvvvv😂

[@pryme2013]

Wonder how long it takes for Buick to drop the envision now? Isn’t it built in china? Or maybe people will be okay with a 100k dollar envision😂

[@AAutoBuyersGuide]

They could always make it in the USA, but it would increase costs. The main logic behind it being built in China is that something like 90% of Envisions are sold in China, we only get a small number. Building a low volume product here might not make sense

[@pryme2013]

@ Yeah, that’s why I think it will be discontinued if the tariff’s hit it. Or just dropped here.