New Model News

2020 Buick Encore GX model details reveal focus on standard safety features, daily driving capability

Eileen Falkenberg-Hull
Nov 21, 2019, 9:59 am

The Buick Encore GX is a larger SUV than the traditional Buick Encore and it will be coming to the U.S. next year.

Photo courtesy of Buick

The new 2020 Buick Encore GX is the latest step in Buick's brand revival in the U.S. The Detroit-based automaker has just released additional details about the forthcoming SUV, which they consider a premium model.

"Premium SUV buyers are looking for features that fit their lifestyle priorities, and Buick is giving customers more segment choices with our new Encore GX," said Duncan Aldred, Vice President, Global Buick and GMC. "Filling the spot between the smaller Encore and the larger Envision and Enclave models, the Encore GX is another proof point that Buick is The Premium SUV Brand. Just as we did with the Enclave in 2008 and the Encore in 2013, we identified a growing market niche and moved quickly to introduce a new vehicle to fill it."

2020 Buick Encore GX front grille lights headlights mirrors wheels The face of the Encore GX fits right in with the rest of the Buick family's looks. Photo courtesy of Buick

The Encore GX is bigger than the Buick Encore but smaller than the Envision and Enclave. The new SUV has a strong stance with a wide grille and athletic proportions. It rides on standard 18-inch aluminum wheels.

Buyers who opt for the Encore GX ST will have a vehicle with unique wheels, body-color surrounds, and a distinctive black mesh grille with red accents connected through both the front and rear bumpers.

The Encore GX is powered by a standard turbocharged 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine or the available turbocharged 1.3-liter four-cylinder engine. Buick has revealed that the upgraded engine gets 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, which is respectable for daily driving situations given the Encore GX's body size. The automaker is predicting that same engine will achieve 31 mpg combined.

2020 Buick Encore GX ST The 2020 Buick Encore GX ST gets blacked out accents to give it a sporty look.Photo courtesy of Buick

Buick is offering the Encore GX is front- or all-wheel drive. Models will front-wheel drive will have their engine paired with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) while all-wheel drive models get a nine-speed automatic. Encore GX AWD owners will be able to utilize all-wheel drive on demand via a switch.

The cabin of the Encore GX works to keep road noise out via the brand's signature QuietTuning technology and materials. Available comfort and convenience features include leather-appointed seats, a heated steering wheel, and an ionizing air filter.

2020 Buick Encore GX tailgate trunk cargo space The cargo area of the Buick Encore GX is slightly bigger than that in the Nissan Rogue Sport.Photo courtesy of Buick

Encore GX offers 94.3 cubic feet of passenger space, about 10 cubic feet less than what's in the Ford Escape. Behind the second row there's 25.3 cubic feet of cargo space, which is three cubic feet more than what is available in the Nissan Rogue Sport. Each Encore GX comes standard with an adjustable two-stage load floor that includes under-floor storage.

The front passenger seat folds flat and its second-row features a 40-60 split and able to fold flat.

Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. Wireless charging, multi-device Bluetooth pairing, and SiriusXM with 360L are available.

2020 Buick Encore GX A standard 7- or 8- inch infotainment screen is likely.Photo courtesy of Buick

The Encore GX will offer a suite of standard and available safety and driver assistance technologies that includes forward collision alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane key assist with lane departure warning, following distance indicator, and automatic high beams.

Buick's long list of available safety and convenience technologies includes: rear park assist, rear cross traffic alert, blind spot monitoring, rear camera mirror, hands-free power lift gate, adaptive cruise control, a head-up display, automatic parking assist with braking, surround view camera system.

The Encore GX arrives at Buick dealers across North America in early 2020.

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Features & Specs

Ford dishes on most popular 2021 Bronco build options

The 2021 Ford Bronco is very nearly ready to arrive on dealership lots.

Photo courtesy of Ford Motor COmpany

You know how you would spec your Bronco, but how is the rest of the country configuring theirs? In a recent interview with Autoblog, Ford's US consumer marketing manager Mark Grueber dished the details on which model options have become the most popular choices since the vehicle's online configurator launched last week. More than 190,000 people have reserved a 2021 Ford Bronco so far.

Two-thirds of reservation holders have called dibs on a four-door Bronco with the other third getting the two-door version. The number of four-door box checkers has exceeded Ford's expectations.

Ford Bronco build configurator 2021 Ford Bronco build-and-price configurator is now open for business. Photo by AutomotiveMap with screen image courtesy of Ford Motor Company

Grueber relayed that the most popular Bronco trim levels chosen so far are among the most expensive - Wildtrak and Badlands. The Bronco Wildtrak has garnered about 26 percent of the reservations while Badlands has 20 percent. The remaining 54 percent of reservations are split between the remaining five grades: Bronco base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, and First Edition. First Edition models sold out quickly.

Half of the Broncos reserved have included the Sasquatch Package. It includes 35-inch tires, 17-inch beadlock wheels, front and rear locking differentials, a lifted suspension, Bilstein shocks, a wider track, and fender flares. Ford recently made the package available in combination with a seven-speed manual transmission after receiving feedback from social media users, but it won't be available at the outset of production because the powertrain combo is still undergoing some fine tuning. Look for Ford to offer it in late 2021.

Bronco has a standard 2.3-liter turbo-four in the base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, and Badlands models. Wildtrak and First Edition Broncos come standard with a twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter V6 engine, which is also available in the bottom five trim levels. The V6 is proving to be the most popular engine choice though Ford declined to say by how much.

Despite the outpouring of support from online enthusiasts, just 10 percent of Bronco reservations have included a manual transmission. Though low compared to the 10-speed automatic's take rate, it far exceeds the industry average. Genesis offered a manual option in its G70 but after just 100 people chose it, the company announced that it was moving on. The Honda Accord also recently lost its manual option.

Like every other automaker, Ford is listening to customer voices and pouring over the data to see what their customers truly seem to want from the Bronco. A white roof option has been a popular ask, and it will go on sale in 2022.

As for the lingering elephant in the room, it's been forecasted that a Bronco super-off-roader should be expected down the line. Whether or not it wears the Warthog badge, or takes up the Raptor moniker is to be determined, at least for those outside the Ford payroll.

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The Price is Right

2021 Ford Bronco build-and-price configurator opens for business

Ford has launched its new Bronco configuration tool.

Photo by AutomotiveMap with screen image courtesy of Ford Motor Company
How would you build it? Now you can find out. The new 2021 Ford Bronco build-and-price configurator is live on the Ford website giving buyers the opportunity to customize their pick without having to commit to a deposit or trip to the dealership. Ford has received over 190,000 reservations for the Bronco to date.
It's also a great way to kill some time between Zooms.

"The color and material offerings of the all-new Bronco and Bronco Sport are genuine and trusted, and establish a visceral connection between nature and the authenticity of this new family of rugged SUVs," said Missy Coolsaet, Bronco color and materials designer. "They motivate our customers to return to the wilderness and challenge themselves – and Bronco takes them there in a carefree, spontaneous way."

2021 Ford Bronco configurator options

2021 Ford Bronco configurator options

Photo courtesy of Ford Motor Company

The configurator works in a traditional sense, asking users to first enter their ZIP code then taking them to a menu where they choose a trim level. Ford offers the Bronco in seven trim levels: Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak, and First Edition.

Buyers are then asked to choose a two- or four-door model. The 2021 Bronco is available in a wide variety of colors, including some with deep Ford heritage, and wheel varieties.

Powertrains components are trim level-dependent and some paint and wheel color combinations are not compatible with the seven-speed manual transmission or the Sasquatch Package.

All-terrain, mud, or all-season tires are either standard or available depending on trim level and wheel choice.

Buyers can check options boxes for a hard top, sound-deadening headliner, roof rails with crossbar, splash guards, an upgraded bash plate, paint protection film, brush guard, keyless entry keypad, wireless charging pad, heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control, a 12.0-inch infotainment touch screen, 10-speaker B&O sound system, and LED headlights, depending on trim level. Higher Bronco grades get much of these features as standard.

Cloth, vinyl, or leather-trimmed seats are available. An Ebony black or Medium Sandstone interior are the only options, but Medium Sandstone is not available in all trim levels.

A variety of equipment groups and packages are available as well, including a graphics package that will put the profile of rolling hills on the lower quarter of your Bronco's door panels.

Check out the configurator now at Ford.com/Bronco.

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