The Buick Encore: A Pre-owned Buyer’s Guide

Many families would agree there’s no better type of vehicle than an SUV. The best part about driving an SUV is that you don’t have to settle on something that only partially meets your wants and needs because there truly is an SUV for everyone. This leads us directly into our discussion today: if you’re looking for the right SUV, and a used Buick Encore for sale comes to mind, we not only believe this is a great idea, but we also want to take this opportunity to discuss the Buick Encore a bit further. More specifically, what our team wants to talk with you about today is the major updates the Buick Encore has gone through.

The Buick Encore has more of an advantage in the pre-owned market over the new market, but why is that? The 2023 Encore was the last model released, but should you care? No, because the discontinuation of new Encore models doesn’t detract from what is otherwise an excellent subcompact SUV on the used market, an SUV that’s becoming increasingly more cost-effective as time passes and the recent models begin to age. As for the model years we’ll be looking at today, there’s the 2013 Encore, the first model released. We’ll also look at the 2021 Encore, and we have a pitstop in the middle of our discussion, too: the 2017 Encore. There’s plenty to discuss, but we don’t want to keep you here reading this all day, so let’s get to it, shall we?

The 2013 Buick Encore Started It All

The 2013 Buick Encore model kickstarted the hype train for Buick’s compact SUV. The Buick Encore was built to perform a few different tasks, but ultimately, the Encore’s primary purpose is to be a stylish subcompact whose biggest strengths come down to its largely capacious interior and legitimately fuel-efficient powertrain. The 2013 Buick Encore’s powertrain earns it EPA-estimated ratings of 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway (28 mpg combined.) With a fuel tank that can hold 14 gallons of fuel, the 2013 Encore can travel 392 miles on a full tank of gas, which is great for a subcompact SUV.

Now, over ten years after its release, buying a 2013 Encore will save you money, in addition to those years to come, thanks to its turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine. The turbocharged I-4 engine in the 2013 Encore pushes out 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque, but this engine wouldn’t be removed from the Encore until the release of the 2021 model. With the 2013 Encore, you may be getting the same performance as someone who purchased a model released as early as seven years later. The 2013 Encore is the same size as every other Encore model regarding cargo space, and the Encore gives you 48.4 cu-ft of space in the hatchback trunk.

The 2017 Buick Encore Was a Refresh

The 2015 to 2019 Buick Encore models have another turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine, but one that outputs higher ratings and is only available on specific trims like the Sport Touring or Essence. Encore models with the higher-output turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine output 153 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque, which includes the 2017 Encore. Why is the 2017 Encore so important? It wasn’t the start of the second generation of this compact SUV, but it was slated as a mid-generation refresh between two generations. The caveat is that the second-generation Buick Encore isn’t sold in the States, meaning the Encore ultimately spanned one elongated era from beginning to end. However, the 2017 model is an interesting look at the differences between the models released during the first half of the first-generation Encore’s lifespan or the latter half.

What did this so-called “mid-gen refresh” do for the Encore? Quite a lot. It was around this time when manufacturers began implementing Apple CarPlay and Android Auto into their vehicles’ infotainment centers, which was perhaps the largest quality-of-life enhancement infotainment centers have seen in the last ten years. With Apple CarPlay being released in 2016, Buick was quick to the party to update its models, like the Buick Encore with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Even when the vehicle is off, you don’t need Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to notice a difference between the two infotainment centers, and that’s because they’re different.

Inside the 2016 Encore is a 7-inch infotainment center, but the 2017 model replaces this with an 8-inch infotainment center. Aside from this, there have been some tweaks, such as the removal of the CD player in the 2016 model. Still, the 2017 model makes up for it with the aforementioned Apple CarPlay and Android Auto upgrades to the infotainment center, along with features like Keyless Start. There’s also a Driver Information Screen now behind the wheel that’s 4.2 inches diagonally. Almost everything else between the 2016 and 2017 models is identical, including exterior dimensions, interior size, performance, etc. The 2017 Encore certainly lived up to its expectations as a refresh.

The Last Buick Encore Models

When the 2020 Encore was released, it began the second generation of Buick’s SUV in various territories besides the United States. With that said, the 2020 Encore, while different from its predecessors overseas, doesn’t differ much from the 2019 model if you’re buying it in the States. It was a year later when the Encore would receive a meaningful upgrade in the country with the 2021 Encore.

The 2020 Encore retracted the higher-output turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine we mentioned earlier, leaving the regular turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine as the only engine, much like it was in models like the 2024 Encore. How did the 2021 Encore improve upon things? On the surface, not much has changed with an identically sized turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission, but performance has seen a leap, meaning even the base models perform better than any Encore models that preceded it with its 155 hp and 177 lb-ft of torque.

Does the upgraded turbocharged engine have any other advantages over the turbocharged 1.4L I-4 engine in the previous models? It depends if you purchase the 2021 or 2022 Encore. The 2021 Encore has identical fuel efficiency ratings to the 2020 model, which means the EPA-estimated ratings for FWD are 25 mpg in the city and 30 mpg on the highway (27 combined.) The 2022 model improves highway mileage, but city mileage has been reduced by one mpg, bringing it to 24 mpg in the city, while highway mileage is enhanced by two mpg, getting the mpg on the highway to 32, although combined mileage sticks with 27 mpg. By the time the 2022 Encore was released, there was only one trim, making the 2022 Encore Preferred the best and most recent Encore model, which will continue to be the case until the Encore’s possible return to the market sometime in the future.

Which Model Should You Buy?

Now comes the question of the day: which Buick Encore model should you buy? Given the similarities, you’ll have a great time with any Buick Encore you purchase. However, if we were to give you a concrete answer, you should consider Encore models from 2017 onwards. Additions like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto go a long way in enhancing the multimedia experience of the Encore, which is a facet that modern vehicles pride themselves in. This way, you can secure more modernized features that will keep your SUV relevant for years. Remember, discontinuation isn’t always a bad thing, so take this moment to purchase yourself a fantastic SUV at a fraction of its original asking price. We believe you’ll be quite pleased with your purchase because the Encore is worth your time and money.