The Evolution of the New Buick Encore
The smallest SUV in the Buick lineup is due for a redesign and it seems the Buick Encore is ready to be recreated to continue to be exactly what we want to see on the road.
In the current form, the Buick Encore shares much of its design and makeup with its twin, the Opel Mokka X, which is sold in foreign markets. Opel is a German brand which has influenced many of the designs we see in the Buick lineup already. The Mokka X has already been shown and is ready to go on sale in 2020, and the new and redesigned Buick Encore will also head to showrooms for the 2020 model year.
Popularity Doesn’t Mean Keeping it the Same
The Buick Encore is currently the most popular of the Buick SUV models with 88,000 sales of this SUV in 2017 and even more for the 2018 calendar year. Even so, the Buick design team was always planning to go with an evolution in design and give us a new model that has the look and the build that we’re sure to admire. This new model has been spied testing with a heavy cover of camouflage on it.
Which Platform will be used for the new Encore?
There’s a possibility of two different platforms being used for the new 2020 Buick Encore. The Mokka X is being built on the PSA Group CMP small car platform and it’s possible that Buick will use it as well under a license. Of course, it’s also possible that this SUV will stick with one of the GM platforms in the portfolio for the build. The Chevrolet Trax is also expected for the 2020 model year and it could share a platform with the Encore.
Powering the Drive
Right now, we don’t expect to see any changes offered for the power offered for the Encore. The 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine is likely to be carried over for the new generation. This powertrain will be able to be offered in either FWD or AWD models, but the current six-speed automatic transmission could be swapped out for a nine-speed unit for the new model that we’ll see offered. This would give us more of the performance we want and the shift points that make sense for us when we take it for a drive on the road.
Expected Upgrades in Other Areas of the Encore
We can certainly expect to see new connectivity options and electronic driver aids offered in the next generation of the Buick Encore. There will also be an Avenir trim which makes this Buick a true luxury performer when you take it for a drive. We’ll receive more information once the new Encore begins to make its way to the auto shows throughout the year. Once it shows up on the stage, we can see what we’ll have for the future. Expect the new Encore to be just as popular as the one we’ve enjoyed for the current generation.