CARS OF THE WORLD

Buick Encore GX 2023.

Buick updated the Encore GX with a shark nose, a different cabin, and a top-of-the-line Avenir.

Production of the American brand model will start next month, and the crossover will go on sale in the home market later this spring. The prices are known.

The Buick brand is owned by the American concern General Motors. The company has been producing the Encore GX crossover since 2019.

According to Carsalesbase statistics, in 2021 the model was sold in the US with a solid circulation of 71,247 copies, while last year SUV sales sank significantly: for example, in the first three quarters (more recent data is not yet available), Americans bought 24,296 units, which is 60% less than in January-September of the previous year.

Now the model has gone through a planned restyling: today the American company declassified the refreshed Encore GX, although the appearance of the novelty was declassified earlier (pictured from the database of the Ministry of Industry of China).

Part of the change was in the exterior: design features borrowed from last year’s Wildcat EV concept. The crossover received the so-called “shark nose”, head optics of a narrower shape, an updated brand logo is located between the headlights.

Under the protrusion on the bumper is a large hexagonal grille with a mesh pattern, and on the sides of it are “foglights”. A small narrow air intake is integrated into the lower part.

The sidewalls remained roughly the same, except for the new rims of a different design, 18 and 19 inches in size. The stern of the updated Encore GX also received a “refreshed” Buick emblem, as well as the brand name under it.

The taillights left the same shape, but the pattern was changed. The design of the lower part of the bumper did not touch.

The crossover will be offered in the Sport Touring version, which involves the presence of bumpers decorated with black gloss, as well as a similar color of the roof.

In addition, the restyled Encore GX for the first time has a top version of the Avenir.

It suggests a different grille pattern (in the form of “checkmarks”), a different decor, chrome inserts and other 19-inch alloy wheels.

During the update, the crossover received a different interior, which he shared with his «twin» — Chevrolet Trailblazer.

The refreshed Encore GX was equipped with an eight-inch digital “tidy” and an 11-inch touchscreen infotainment system (8 inches in its predecessor).

The media has a different interface, and it also has Apple CarPlay and Android Auto wireless connectivity.

The updated model has a different front panel, different ventilation deflectors, and the ST version has a truncated steering wheel at the bottom.

The interior of the richest version of Avenir has a number of differences.

These cars have an exclusive two-tone finish: beige leather seats with contrasting black details.

There are also headrests with embroidered logos, a heated steering wheel, power front seats, and an auto-dimming rear-view mirror.

The technique did not change. The base for the updated Buick Encore GX is a 139-horsepower three-cylinder 1.2-liter turbo engine, its maximum torque is 219 Nm.

Also in the lineup there is a 157-horsepower turbocharged engine with a volume of 1.3 liters (236 Nm).

The starting version has front-wheel drive and a CVT, for more expensive versions, all-wheel drive with a nine-speed automatic is also provided.

Production of the refreshed Buick Encore GX will start at a factory in South Korea next month, and the crossover will go on sale in the home market later this spring.

The base version will cost $26,895 in the US, the Sport Touring variant will ask for at least $28,095, and the top-of-the-line Avenir costs at least $33,195.