New Buick Encore GX
 

Bought a new 2021 Buick Encore for my wife today. It's FWD with the base 1.2 liter 137 hp engine and CVT.

I first drove it around town for 8.5 miles. Two stops, too many red lights, temperature 35 degrees, and the salesman had switched off the automatic engine stop. The display showed 34 MPG. I estimate about 36 MPG if the auto stop had been enabled.

Then drove it home at 57-58 MPH (55 speed limit) against a light headwind. Total distance today 72.0 miles, total MPG 39.1.

It will be a while before I get to drive it again, but I did notice that this vehicle really responds to DWL. An acceleration burst to 5000 RPM dropped the trip MPG in only a couple of seconds. The RPM was generally 2000 to 2400 at 57-58 MPH depending on grade and local wind.

EDIT: The temperature was 35 deg F.

Buick always puts together a nice looking interior IMO. We had a 2009 Enclave for awhile with that 2 tone dark and light saddle colored interior. For 2009 there wasn't much better looking at the time. We never had any problems with it but sold it with around 130,000 miles on it as I was worried the timing chain was living on borrowed time and it was a very expensive repair as the motor has to come out. Also had 19" wheels which is the most worthless wheel size ever. My wife also decided again she just really prefers a minivan. Someday after the kids are grown and I'm dead she's still going to be driving around alone with an empty minivan. Or she'll really fool me and get the Corvette she never let me buy LOL.

When my parents last child turned 18 and moved away they traded in their 1964 Rambler 770 wagon* for a Chevelle SS396 convertible.

I liked the way Buick cleaned up the Pontiac Aztek with a face-lift. Apparently that was the Rendevous.

*From this (hvintagepaint.biz/images/source/nash_rambler_amc/1964_Rambler), I pick Contessa Rose Iridescent, one of my favorite colors.https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/cam...mbler-american
https://cdn.dealeraccelerate.com/cam...mbler-american

The same 1.2L engine fitted to the current Brazilian Chevrolet Tracker and the Mexican Chevrolet Onix, even though the Brazilian and Mexican ones lack the direct injection featured to their Korean and Chinese counterparts. On a sidenote, it does surprise me that GM resorts to the CVT instead of a more traditional 6-speed automatic.

Wikipedia shows a 1.0 (123hp) and 1.3L (162hp)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_Encore

EDIT: Nevermind, I didn't realize GX was not just a trim.

Wow, the small-SUV market is getting crowded. I always thought these looked funky, but if the lie-o-meter is even close to correct, those numbers aren't half bad for a shoe with a lot of frontal area.

They should put the 1.3 in the Trax clone so it too can get a 28/32mpg rating

Unless it's either scheduled to be phased out, or GM prefers to keep the more modern engine for what is supposed to be more upscale.

I finally got another chance to drive my wife's Encore GX today. I put on 160 mostly highway miles, after she had put on 46 short trip miles. I drove at 56 to 58 MPH in 55 speed limits, and used DWL and DWB. The temperature averaged 86 deg F and humid, with the AC running hard because she likes it cold. There was a light cross wind halfway, then a tailwind.

Total miles 206.1, total fuel 5.047 gallons, for 40.8 actual MPG. The dash display claimed 40.9 MPG. The Lie-O-Meter did not lie.

Estimating my actual MPG by subtracting my wife's miles at her average 31 MPG, it looks like my real mileage for today was about 45 MPG.