THE ENCORE GX, A LITTLE SOMETHING EXTRA FROM BUICK.

Buick is trying to slice the small crossover segment a little thinner with the Encore GX.

Bumper2Bumpertv has a look at this premium offering that doesn’t take up too much space.

AT FIRST GLANCE THE BUICK ENCORE GX LOOKS LIKE A VEHICLE AIMED AT CUSTOMERS IN ASIA OR EUROPE WHERE SMALLER CROSSOVERS AND SUV ARE POPULAR.

THAT WOULD MAKE SENSE SINCE THE BUICK BRAND DOES VERY WELL IN CHINA, BUT THE ENCORE X PROVED WORTHY OF A SECOND LOOK AND CONSIDERATION FOR DRIVERS IN NORTH AMERICA.

IT IS SLIGHTLY LONGER, WIDER AND TALLER THAN THE SUBCOMPACT ENCORE WHICH CAN BE A TIGHT FIT FOR FOUR ADULTS AND THE EXTRA ROOM PAYS DIVIDENDS IN A FEW SPACES.

AT AN OVERALL LENGTH OF 171 INCHES IT IS TECHNICALLY STILL A SMALL SUV ACCORDING TO THE EPA.

WE FOUND THE ENCORE X WAS COMFORTABLE IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE SECOND ROW WAS WORKABLE ONCE INSIDE, AND YOUR FEET SLIDE UNDER THE FRONT SEAT.

WE ALSO TOOK NOTE OF THE DETAIL IN THE VEHICLE.

THE TEST CAR WAS THE ESSENCE TRIM LEVEL WITH ATTENTION TO STITCHING AND PADDING IN WHAT ARE ARGUABLY THE SMALLEST LUXURY STYLE SEATS I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED.

BUICK ALSO BRINGS SOME WELL CONCIVED HIGH AND LOW TECH TO THIS CROSSOVER.

FOR EXAMPLE, A AND C USB PORTS FRONT AND REAR MAKE SENSE AS THE STANDARD CHANGES.

A DEPLOYABLE HEADS UP DISPLAY SCREEN THAT RESIDES ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT IS BOTH FUNCTIONAL AND CAN BE ENGAGED AT A DRIVER’S OPTION.

IN THIS PLATFORM BUICK IS GOING WITH TWO SMALL BLOCK FOUR CYLINDER ENGINES.

THERE IS A 1.2 LITER TURBO OR THE ONE WE DROVE THE 1.3 LITER TURBO.

IT ACTUALLY DID BETTER THAN EXPECTED WITH 155 HORSEPOWER AND 174 POUND FEET OF TORQUE.

DON’T EXPECT IT TO SNAP YOUR NECK BACK BUT IT CAN GET OUT OF ITS OWN WAY IF NECESSARY.

THE TEST CAR CAME WITH A CVT GEARBOX IN A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CONFIGURATION AND IT WAS SMOOTH AS EXPECTED.

A NINE SPEED AUTOMATIC IS ALSO AVAILABLE.

IN CITY AND HIGHWAY DRIVING THE AMBIENT NOISE LEVELS WERE LOW ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN THE EXPERIENCE NORMALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE PREMIUM BRAND.

AS WE MENTIONED EARLIER THE ENCORE X HAS A LARGER FOOTPRINT THAN THE ENCORE AND THAT ALSO TRANSLATES INTO MORE CARGO SPACE BEHND THE SECOND ROW.

AS YOU CAN SEE, WE PUT IT TO THE TEST MOVING A COLLECTION OF HEIRLOOM DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOS TO A NEW LOCATION.

THE BOTTOM LINE FOLLOWING A WEEK OF SEAT TIME IS THE ENCORE GX IS A WELL-APPOINTED SUV OF THE RIGHT SIZE FOR CITY DWELLERS.

I’M GREG MORRISON.