Topic: Test Drive: 2013 Buick Encore Premium

[Autos_Editor]

The Buick Encore is a tiny but well-equipped premium crossover ' but is it worth the asking price?

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[mixmanmash]

At first glance, it appears to be the perfect vehicle for retirees to pull behind their motorhomes.  The price for the premium model is ridiculous.  Not far off the GLK250 territory at $40k.

[Solstice2006]

The Buick Encore is a tiny but well-equipped premium crossover ' but is it worth the asking price?

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I guess I could go to Buick.ca, but the article doesn't mention the difference between the base and premium, I don't need every feature listed, but an idea of why there is such a large differ, it's not like there is difference in powertrain..

[ChaosphereIX]

we can't keep these things on the lot to save our lives. They are selling like crazy, even the fully loaded ones

[Solstice2006]

we can't keep these things on the lot to save our lives. They are selling like crazy, even the fully loaded ones

What do you expect for a product that is less than 4 months old, it doesn't have much competition, would probably sell more if it had the 2.4L from the Verano in the premium trim.  Something to make it even more upscale than the Trax...

[Brig]

we can't keep these things on the lot to save our lives. They are selling like crazy, even the fully loaded ones

Wow!  I have yet to see one on the roads around here.  I got to drive one for a week in the spring, and while I didn't enjoy its highway performance (or lack of it), I found it to be a fun, zippy in-town grocery-getter.  Loved the interior, but hated the centre stack. 

[Solstice2006]

At first glance the trims on the GM website, Encore Convenience FWD, $27,130, Encore Leather FWD, $30,190 (just to get heated leather seats and steering wheel, no sunroof, same rims), Encore Premium FWD, $32,505, still no sunroof ($1100 option), just chrome rims, not sure what else...$2000 for AWD extra on each trim.  At least they give you the option...

[jaari]

For those prices they can keep the lil pug

[redman]

Seems to follow the latest M.O. of many car companies.
Build them shorter and taller with promised turbo hypo engine which fails in many aspects (power or fuel economy) and supposedly they will come. 

[whaddaiknow]

I've started seeing these in Waterloo - two thus far.

One I would assume was a female yuppie and the other a retired lady.

Seems about right.

Same here in Ottawa. So far seen exactly two with exact same demographic as you. My wife's reaction when she saw one was  And we were driving the Crosstour 
Would be a great grocery getter for around $30k well equipped (AWD, power hatch and a bunch of electronic goodies). But at $40k - someone has to be really out there to want one.

[evil_twin]

Exterior design looks a little off to me...like an Enclave that got melted down in the sun or something...

Interior looks nice.

Is this thing about the same size as a Mercedes B class?   I would much prefer the B.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The Encore sold 675 units last month. Better than I would have thought. That puts it in 5th place just behind the RDX and ahead of the GLK.

[Fobroader]

we can't keep these things on the lot to save our lives. They are selling like crazy, even the fully loaded ones

Really....I cant honestly say Ive seen one on the roads. 

[whaddaiknow]

Exterior design looks a little off to me...like an Enclave that got melted down in the sun or something...

Interior looks nice.

Is this thing about the same size as a Mercedes B class?   I would much prefer the B.

The "B" is HUGE compared to this. The back seat in the "B" has more leg room that the E-class. And it's in the same snack bracket as the Buick. And it packs way more performace out of it 2.0T engine and 7-speed dual clutch transmission. AND it has much better real life fuel economy to boot. The only thing going for the Buick is available AWD and subjective aesthetics.

[whaddaiknow]

The Encore sold 675 units last month. Better than I would have thought. That puts it in 5th place just behind the RDX and ahead of the GLK.

You can't really compare it to the GLK.
But the fact the anonymous looking RDX is selling better speaks for itself.
I wonder where all these 675 sold units are and what the average transaction price is.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The Encore sold 675 units last month. Better than I would have thought. That puts it in 5th place just behind the RDX and ahead of the GLK.

You can't really compare it to the GLK.
But the fact the anonymous looking RDX is selling better speaks for itself.
I wonder where all these 675 sold units are and what the average transaction price is.

True. The Encore tops out at about where the GLK gets going as far as price.

There are quite a few of them on the road here. The only one at the dealer when I was there was sold.

For the record, the MB B sold 300 units last month, down from 363 the month before.

[whaddaiknow]

The Encore sold 675 units last month. Better than I would have thought. That puts it in 5th place just behind the RDX and ahead of the GLK.

You can't really compare it to the GLK.
But the fact the anonymous looking RDX is selling better speaks for itself.
I wonder where all these 675 sold units are and what the average transaction price is.

True. The Encore tops out at about where the GLK gets going as far as price.

There are quite a few of them on the road here. The only one at the dealer when I was there was sold.

For the record, the MB B sold 300 units last month, down from 363 the month before.

It is a clear testament that people choose the looks above all else. Functionality comes second or third. And quite honestly, in a large percentage of cases, functionality isn't that important, period. So good looks are 95% success. Ladies find the Encore "cute" - that's good enough. They won't even do the little bit of research or attempt to compare it to the competition.

Case in point. My wife and her first job. Her look was set on the bloody Echo back in 2005. No matter how hard I tried to get her to explore other options (Mazda3 was my favorite at the time), she was willing to pay premium for what she deemd to be "cute". Love affair was short-lived but it was a win for Toyota.

The "B" from MB is anything but a looker. Shame, really, as it is a very nice hatch with peppy powertrain with excellent utility. But iot's not "cute" so it doesn't sell well.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

The Encore sold 675 units last month. Better than I would have thought. That puts it in 5th place just behind the RDX and ahead of the GLK.

You can't really compare it to the GLK.
But the fact the anonymous looking RDX is selling better speaks for itself.
I wonder where all these 675 sold units are and what the average transaction price is.

True. The Encore tops out at about where the GLK gets going as far as price.

There are quite a few of them on the road here. The only one at the dealer when I was there was sold.

For the record, the MB B sold 300 units last month, down from 363 the month before.

It is a clear testament that people choose the looks above all else. Functionality comes second or third. And quite honestly, in a large percentage of cases, functionality isn't that important, period. So good looks are 95% success. Ladies find the Encore "cute" - that's good enough. They won't even do the little bit of research or attempt to compare it to the competition.

Case in point. My wife and her first job. Her look was set on the bloody Echo back in 2005. No matter how hard I tried to get her to explore other options (Mazda3 was my favorite at the time), she was willing to pay premium for what she deemd to be "cute". Love affair was short-lived but it was a win for Toyota.

The "B" from MB is anything but a looker. Shame, really, as it is a very nice hatch with peppy powertrain with excellent utility. But iot's not "cute" so it doesn't sell well.

I think the very poor reliability of the previous B also has something to do with it.

[aaronk]

we can't keep these things on the lot to save our lives. They are selling like crazy, even the fully loaded ones

I believe it - Chevrolet will have similar success with the Trax. It's exactly what the North American consumer is asking for. It looks like a luxurious SUV (life statement) wrapped up in a compact package that gets good fuel economy (the reality portion). I just hope that these misshapen blobs don't eclipse the compact hatchback. I'd take a loaded Golf over one of these any day, but I might have a different opinion when I'm 75. 

[whaddaiknow]

I think the very poor reliability of the previous B also has something to do with it.

Doubt it. Very poor reliability of pretty much all GM products across the board in the last few decades (with a few recent exceptions, though the jury is still out) isn't stopping the ladies from buying the "cute" Encore. Pure emotion in motion.