IntroductionThe all-new 2013 Buick Encore is a compact crossover SUV with seating for 5 passengers. It will be built in South Korea, and goes on sale during the first quarter of 2013.
Exterior Features
Buick says the new 2013 Encore features signature brand styling cues such as a waterfall grille, chrome accents and surrounds, and portholes on the hood. Blue-accented projector beam headlights are standard, as well as 18-inch aluminum wheels with P215/55 tires.
Interior Features
Thanks to extensive application of QuietTuning and the inclusion of Active Noise Cancellation technology, Buick expects the new 2013 Encore to be quiet inside. The Encore comes standard with cloth/leatherette seats, simulated wood trim, 6-way power driver's seat, Ice Blue gauge and control illumination, and a Buick IntelliLink radio with voice-activated operation and a full-color, 7-inch LCD touch-screen display.
Behind the 2013 Buick Encore's rear seat, this small crossover SUV supplies 18.8 cubic feet of luggage space. Fold the rear seat down, and the Encore provides 48.4 cubic feet of cargo volume, which Buick points out is larger than the Audi Q3 and
BMW X1. The Encore's front passenger's seat also folds flat to carry longer items.
Optional Features
Above the base model, Buick plans to offer Convenience, Leather and Premium variants of the new Encore equipped with additional features. Available extras include leather upholstery, dual-zone automatic climate control system, Bose premium sound system, and a navigation system. Encore buyers will also be able to get heated front seats, heated steering wheel, chrome 18-inch aluminum wheels, and additional safety features.
Under the Hood
The new 2013 Buick Encore is equipped with a turbocharged, 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine making 140 horsepower at 4,900 rpm and 148 lb.-ft. of torque between 1,850 and 4,900 rpm. A 6-speed automatic transmission drives the Encore's front wheels, and an all-wheel-drive system is optional, feeding power to the rear wheels as driving conditions warrant. The small turbocharged engine motivates a minimum of 3,190 pounds, and is equipped with deceleration fuel cut-off technology to improve fuel economy, Buick says.
Fuel Economy
As this preview is published, neither Buick nor the EPA is making fuel-economy estimates for the 2013 Encore.
Safety
The 2013 Buick Encore will include 10 standard air bags when it goes on sale, as well as a traction and stability control system, and 4-wheel-disc anti-lock brakes with electronic brake-force distribution, cornering brake control, and brake assist. A free limited-time subscription to OnStar telematics will also be standard, service that includes Automatic Crash Notification. Safety-related options include front and rear park-assist sensors, reversing camera, Forward Collision Alert technology, and a lane-departure warning system.
