Five Reasons the Encore GX Is Perfect for Suburban Drivers

Suburban living places a lot of demands on the vehicle that you drive. It has to be agile enough to handle dense traffic and tight parking spaces, comfortable and efficient enough for long commutes, and filled with premium features to take the stress out of your time on the road. The good news is that the modern Buick lineup has plenty of models that fit that description to a T, and you can find many of them for an affordable price when buying used. One of the most popular pre-owned options we carry is the Buick Encore GX, a subcompact SUV that seems purpose-built for our part of Illinois. If you are looking for a used Buick dealer near Lombard to explore everything that this stylish vehicle has to offer, we encourage you to head over to our showroom in St. Charles. We promise that we’ll make it worth the trip! For now, let’s take a closer look at what makes this standout Buick model a great pre-owned option.

#1 – Compact but Spacious

Many suburban drivers have traditionally turned to smaller sedans to better handle the traffic that can fill the streets of the greater Chicago area. However, a sedan just doesn’t have the space that so many drivers are looking for. The good news is that more recent Buick Encore GX models mean you no longer have to compromise between a nimble but cramped sedan and a spacious but unwieldy full-size SUV. This subcompact SUV gives you all the interior room you are looking for with the manageable dimensions to take on traffic on West Roosevelt Road or squeeze into a parking spot at Lombard Pines Shopping Center.

With recent models measuring 171 inches in length, the Encore GX is nearly a foot shorter than a Honda Civic, giving you the easy handling you are looking for. However, that doesn’t mean it isn’t spacious inside. With almost 40 inches of headroom and 41 inches of legroom in the front seats, you won’t feel cramped even if you’re stuck in traffic or setting off on a road trip across the state. Just as importantly, the Encore GX has tons of cargo space. Models from as far back as 2020 offer 23.5 cu.ft. in the trunk and 50.2 cu.ft. of cargo volume if you fold down the rear seats. That’s over three times as much cargo space as the larger Honda Civic offers. Buick even added an available fold-flat front seat that lets you fit items up to eight feet long with the rear liftgate fully closed. How’s that for convenience?

#2 – Filled With High-Tech Features

These days, we all rely on our phones to keep us up to date and in contact with our friends and family, and no one wants to go radio silent every time they climb into their vehicle. While you could pull out your phone while you drive, that’s not a safe thing to do. Instead of risking a ticket from the Lombard Police Department, just look for an Encore GX that is filled with high-tech features designed to keep you connected wherever you go safely. Buick completely overhauled the already impressive tech features of this vehicle, giving recent pre-owned models a truly exceptional upgraded infotainment system that has everything you could wish for when you are behind the wheel.

The centerpiece in the Encore GX is a high-definition touchscreen that dominates the dashboard. Last year’s model offered a new 11-inch screen, while previous models provide you with a notable eight-inch screen. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also standard features, allowing you to seamlessly sync your phone with your vehicle to safely access navigation, entertainment, calls, text messages, and more from behind the wheel without needing any cords. There is even wireless charging, so you don’t need to plug your phone in to keep it charged. If that wasn’t enough, Buick also added a sizable digital driver information center behind the steering wheel to provide you with even more information as you drive.

#3- Efficient and Fun

While it doesn’t take much engine power to navigate the streets of Lombard, it’s a different story when you get on I-365 or the other interstates in the area. One of the downsides of so many smaller vehicles is a lack of power, but that isn’t the case with the Encore GX. Buick offers this model with two different turbocharged engines that have been available as far back as 2020, providing a good amount of power while keeping fuel consumption low. The base Preferred trim comes standard with a 1.2L engine and a smooth-shifting continuously variable transmission designed to optimize fuel economy. However, it can be upgraded with a more powerful 1.3L engine that comes standard on the higher trims.

All-wheel drive is an available option, which is perfect for those icy winter days when the wind blows off Lake Michigan. Selecting all-wheel drive also adds a somewhat more engaging nine-speed automatic transmission for a more confident ride. But the best part of these powertrains is their blend of performance and efficiency. The base option provides a hefty 162 lb-ft of torque, and the upgraded engine brings that to 174 lb-ft. Both engine options are rated for 30 MPG combined when paired with front-wheel drive and the continuously variable transmission. Opting for all-wheel drive reduces fuel economy slightly to 27 MPG combined, but that is still more efficient than many larger SUVs on the roads around Lombard.

#4 – Tons of Safety Technology

Busy streets mean a higher chance of accidents, but fortunately many pre-owned Encore GX models are equipped with a large number of standard and available driver-assistance systems designed to help you avoid danger. The Buick Driver Confidence suite is standard on even the base trim, providing six valuable features:

• Forward Collision Alert detects potential front-end collisions, providing audible warnings if there is a vehicle in your path.
• Automatic Emergency Braking will intervene if you do not respond to the alerts from Forward Collision Alert in time, activating the brakes to bring your Encore GX to a safe stop.
• Front Pedestrian Braking takes Forward Collision Alert to the next level, using cameras to watch for pedestrians in the road ahead and automatically engaging the brakes.
• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning can detect the lines on the road, warning you if you drift out of your lane and providing gentle steering inputs to nudge you back onto the straight and narrow.
• Following Distance Indicator is an unobtrusive system designed to help you maintain a safe following distance from the vehicle ahead by warning you if you are getting too close.
• IntelliBeam Auto High Beams will automatically turn your high beams on when driving in the dark and dim them when it senses approaching traffic to keep from accidentally blinding other drivers.

In addition to the six standard features that are part of the Buick Driver Confidence suite, there is a large number of optional driver-assistance tools that you can find on pre-owned models. Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert is particularly useful when navigating the dense traffic of the Chicago area, as it can alert you to cars riding in your blind spots. Rear Cross Traffic Alert is another valuable addition that will let you know if a car is trying to pass behind you when you are in reverse, preventing parking lot accidents. Finally, Adaptive Cruise Control can take some stress out of trips on I-88 as it automatically sets your cruising speed to follow the car ahead of you.

#5 – The Premium Buick Experience

While many subcompact SUVs on the used market today have advanced driver-assistance tools, advanced tech features, and efficient powertrains, Buick is known for providing a premium experience that elevates its models above the pack. While it may be the most affordable model in the modern Buick lineup, a pre-owned Encore GX is still a refined vehicle that speaks to drivers who desire more from their ride. When you climb onboard, you can expect a quiet, comfortable cabin that isolates you from the hustle and bustle of Lombard and lets you relax as you go about your day.

This level of comfort starts with Buick’s proprietary QuietTuning technology, another enhancement you can find on more recent used models. This isn’t something you’ll notice just by looking at the vehicle on our lot, but you’ll feel its effects as soon as you close the door and go for a drive. Buick carefully engineers every aspect of its vehicles to block unwanted noise, looking at everything from how the suspension absorbs potholes to how the panels and headliner muffle the traffic around you. Buick even includes active noise cancellation designed to erase any sounds that make it in from outside, leaving you to commute in peace. There’s no wonder so many Lombard drivers look to a pre-owned Buick to better enjoy their time on the road.