Used 2020 Buick Encore Consumer Reviews
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We have a limited number of reviews for the 2020 Encore, so we've included reviews for other years of the Encore since its last redesign.
Just not well thought out
RB123, 12/29/2019
2020 Buick Encore Essence 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
37 of 60 people found this review helpful
Finished a multi week rental and think I can sum this up as that song from Bob's Burgers: "Quarter A**ing". Buick seems to have just given up half way through designing this thing. In fact I'm having trouble trying to determine who this thing is designed for. Cargo hold is non existent, I basically had to fold down back seats when hauling luggage, large items, almost anything. Why does only the driver get an arm rest? Why is the center cargo hold so small and far away? Why is there no real storage for small things in the car? Why do the auto headlights wait until after dark to turn on? Why are the intelligent wipers unintelligent and never adjust or turn on? Why does auto climate control constantly fog up the windows? Why is there permanent two zone climate control with no sync? Why do the power seats power the bottom but not the tilt? Why do the vehicle settings not seem to set things like the heated seat when remote starting (but say they do)? Why is there rear vehicle detection but no other features like lane keep assist, pre coalition, etc? Why is that rear wiper so teeny tiny? Why is there navigation but only if I call and talk to an Onstar person? Who wants to talk to Onstar constantly!?! Why is center display features only accessible from the turn signal stick so that you have to take your hand off the wheel and fiddle with something complex that almost prevents your from using the steering wheel while driving? Why is the radio reception so very bad? It wouldn't pick up stations our ten year old car had no problem locking on to. Why is the gas tank so teeny tiny? It's just an odd non functional mix of features. I will say, it is very quiet on well paved roads. It does have nice bright headlights. It is oddly high riding (which can make it teetery at times) but gives you nice visibility. Acceleration isn't to bad if you really push it. I suspect premium might help this. Luckily CarPlay is available for the infotainment and navigation. It does have a nice cutsy rumble tumble look to it.
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GM got this one right
KKramer, 05/13/2022
updated 01/03/2024
2019 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
After 3 years and 33,000 miles i still like the encore. on my 50mph backroad commute i can get 33-39 mpg consistent and have even got up to 43 a few times. Now on the interstate doing over 65 you're only going to get the rated 30-33 mpg due to wind drag.. The turbo 4 gets peak torque at 1800 so it pulls hills nicely. Gm has been making this powertrain since 2011 so its one of their most reliable, i was running 93 octane as this motor runs so much better on it.. estimate is you get 10% more power on premium fuel.. now with 93 Being so expensive i run 87 with Lucas octane booster and its almost as good. as a 6 ft 300# man the comfort is adequate but not spectacular.. i have the seats aligned to fit 3 people my sized comfortably, a child could still ride behind the driver. The front folding seat and roof rails are great for packing large items.. i love the base stereo, it sounds great with its subwoofer and has just enough power to sound decent with the windows open too, and the suspension handles our pothole ridden roads very nicely.. encore is very quiet and even under heavy throttle there is little noise or vibration.. its very smooth and really kicks in power nicely over 3,000 rpm.. i love the 6 speed and manual mode when crusing, encore has just enough power to climb mountains in 5th at 60 mph at about 2600 rpm. Absolutely no problems with the so far. it is a narrow car which is great for maneuvering through traffic in tight areas but also causes it to be a high roll over risk car, so its not going to handle like a sedan but it can handle turns 10 mph over the posted speed fine. I really don't think you will find another suv that can beat the mpg’s of this unless its a hybrid and i think hybrids are possibly over rated on mgp’s.
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Love it
Buick owner from now on, 04/18/2020
2019 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great sub compact car, decent gas mileage, luxury feeling interior, reliable quality. I used to own VW Tiguan, it is junk. Will never buy another VW, from now on Buick is the one I am going to drive!
Love my Encore
Suzie, 06/14/2023
2019 Buick Encore 1SV 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Easy to drive, corner and great gas mileage!!!!
Nice SUV
Dbsnk, 08/21/2023
2019 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
So far I'm loving the Buick Encore. Only had it a couple days but love the smooth quiet ride. Roomy for the size and great features.
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Great car
Mark, 05/21/2024
2019 Buick Encore Essence 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great car zero mechanical problems after 5 years of ownership
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Best Buick Encore
C.W. , 03/15/2022
2020 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Just an excellent car to own& drive! Wonderful handling& just the right size for easy handling& everyday errands. Just an outstanding vehicle to drive!❤️🚗
rental car hell
the ham, 05/23/2023
2020 Buick Encore Essence 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
could not fit a suitcase and a small cooler in the trunk. what in the name of marconi is up with the am/fm antenna? i KNOW there are plenty of radio stations on the routes i drive, this radio couldn't seem to find them. took 2 days to find the trip odometer (and another 1/2 hour to find out "how" to operate it). really, the radio was the biggest complaint! driving down I-40 between needles and barstow is mind numbing enough, now turn on the lack of radio reception!
Way above my Pay Grade!! Lol
Dallas , 06/01/2023
2020 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This little hot rod replaced My Lincoln MKX AWD. One minute I had it.. Next stupid human trick moment it was on the hook. I was used to being surrounded by lotsa bells and whistle's in my Lincoln so when I set out to replace my transportation I saw a car on a dealers website and the second I saw the Buick Encore.. It was instantly Game Over. The style.. and curb appeal you might say blew me away. Nothing about it was show offish. It was just sexy and petite and self assuming. Perfect for simple people with simple needs. I'll never load a couch in it but it offers everything even an active family will ever need. Comfortable on every level and the best thing is the economics of operation were startling. And the Bells and Whistles in buying this car.. I bought even more than I lost! only loss.. Heated seats! All the creature comforts are there. True the cargo space is slightly smaller than most but how much room does a loaf of bread, milk and eggs need?! If you've heard thee expression.. Diamond in the rough.. My friend for mini money you have just put a Diamond in the driveway! I expect my encore will last me many years faithfully and this being my second Buick.. I promise you.. I'll be back.. GM.. This Buick Encore is the best of the rest. Thank You
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Worst vehicle I have ever had
KW, 06/28/2021
2019 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
6 of 11 people found this review helpful
If you are older, the seats are very uncomfortable and it may cause you to twist your lower back getting in and out. The touch screen puts up a big distracting message telling you to not be distracted...stupidest thing ever, and it won't go away until you click on it. How is THAT not distracting. The car randomly beeps or alarms for no reason, tells you gas is low when it is nearly full, sometimes beeps to tell you the remote is inside - when you are still inside the car too and have not gotten out immediately, or it beeps when you get in with no message. It also will say no remote detected when you get in, after you just used the remote to unlock the car. Today a panel on the ceiling just above the back window fell halfway off and now I have to call them and waste more of my time. The dealer has no explanation for any of these things, and seems not to care. This is a lease and I am stuck another year with it and have regretted having it every time I get in it to drive.
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The car I didn't know I would fall for
Carol , 12/30/2019
2019 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
2 of 3 people found this review helpful
Very roomy,I am 6ft.tall and I sat in the back seat and it was comfortable.
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2019 Buick Encore Sports Utility
Francese, 02/12/2020
2019 Buick Encore Sport Touring 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
9 of 21 people found this review helpful
When I stopped to really look/drive the vehicle..the $20K+ was only paying from the front seats forward...absolutely no room in rear seat area and not much cargo room.. I am glad it did not work out for me to buy it...I would have been sorry after a few weeks.
No wonder the American car industry is in decline
JW, 09/12/2020
2019 Buick Encore Sport Touring 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 11 people found this review helpful
Drove this car for four days as a rental car. It's an odd car to drive. The proportions feel off, with the car being quite tall but very narrow which creates a tree house effect which isn't reassuring on the road. The engine is underpowered, fuel economy isn't anything to brag about and overall the car feels "cheap" as there is lots of hard plastic all over, the switch gear feels like it's going to fall apart any minute, closing the doors create as very hollow "bang". Some of the interior engineering is odd, too. For example, the adjustment for the seat recline is place right where the seat belt is, making it hard to find and difficult to get to. On the up side, ApplePlay is well integrated and easy to use. Overall, the car drives, but why would anyone buy this car when you can get a bigger and much better RAV4 for just a $2-3k more?
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WORST vehicle EVER, well most USELESS vehicle
Beth, 01/30/2020
updated 02/08/2021
2020 Buick Encore Sport Touring 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
30 of 88 people found this review helpful
Ok, the ford super duty 6.0 was the worst but this is a USELESS vehicle. CANT get a kayak rack to go to the river for a day of fun. CANT get a trailer hitch to pull a trailer for the kayaks. CANT get off road/snow tires to get up the driveway in winter!! Thats a dozen 2 mile walks in deep snow every week all winter carrying 50 pound feed bags up a steep hill, as the SUV gets parked at the street and we have to walk home!!!! Cant get a remote start which is an available option- but the dealer cant add it later- as we were told. This thing may be OK to go a mile to work- in town ONLY- in Texas, but its totally useless for ANYTHING else- anywhere else. No where near the space or use-ability of the RAV4 we traded in. THAT RAV-4 WOULD CARRY EVERYTHING WE WANTED ANYWHERE. (with AT2 tires it would bust through 4 ft deep snow drifts without hesitation). Computer has glitches but the heater, radio, cruise and wipers work well. We are stuck as we only get a vehicle every 18 years. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT, NEVER again Buick.
Gutless and cramped
D.sata, 07/31/2020
2019 Buick Encore 1SV 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
5 of 14 people found this review helpful
The front headrest is ridiculous and tilts the head so far forward. Do not attempt to take this car on a road trip! Very uncomfortable. Car doesn't even have punch. Gutless
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Great Crossover SUV
Beau's Mom, 03/27/2024
updated 03/28/2025
2019 Buick Encore Sport Touring 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purchased a 2019 Buick Encore Sport Touring in August 2019 brand new and have absolutely no buyers' remorse. The Encore is fun to drive, extremely quiet and plenty of power when needed. I love the way the Encore looks outside and in, and the interior cabin features (power driver's seat, underpassenger storage, interior door storage and center console) are great. I chose the Sport Touring trim level because I wanted the fog lights.
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Love this little SVU
SLICK, 04/09/2023
2020 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Drives nice comfort on the highway, easy to park, met all my hauling needs with seats down, highway mpg great, city mpg needs to improve.
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Rental, Not bad! 50mpg coming 2025
Bill in SF, 08/03/2019
2019 Buick Encore Essence 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
15 of 54 people found this review helpful
I am not obese or elderly. I'm a financial auditor; based in San Francisco. My personal car is a Japanese Luxury SUV. I was issued a 2019 AWD model. I was fortunate enough to get a white fully loaded model. I was assigned a fraud case in Kitsap County. The FBI agent assigned to my case had a base Ford sedan. That's the difference in being gov't employed and working for the top financial auditing firm in the USA. Needless to say we used the Buick lol. The entire 7 days I had this car I was impressed. Given the amount The 1.4 lacked guts off the line. However, once the engine reached 3000rpm it pulled well. Given the amount of mismanagement, it was clear that charges would be filed. More agents arrived, the Credit Union and certain members of the staff disappeared. The Special Agent's car suddenly had 4 flat tires and smashed windows. The entire town morphed. We confiscated everything. We were able to pack all evidence into the Buick. That night after delivering the evidence to Seattle a Camry with blacked-out windows tried to pass. the little Buick pulled hard. The car warning lights worked to perfection. This car was amazingly equiped. It has a warning that lets you know that there is a car in you blind spot. The special agent drove and was able to prevent a possible overtake. Every time the Camry tried to pass, we were on a single lane road, the passing indication in the power side-view mirrors flashed and we were able to prevent it from passing. Unlike my Japanese car which is Japanese in every detail, the Buick didn't have sensitivity adjustments. The parking sensors were far too sensitive. Backing out of a side road we ditch the Camry. the sensors used to warn that someone or another vehicle was overly sensitive and I could not find an adjust to tune the sensitivity. The Bose entertainment console wasn't just a name. Spotify has a built-in eq. I was able to pair immediately. The system remembered my phone and everytime I entered the car remembered and paired immediately, it bumped. Listening to 2-Short and Bay Area Rapper J. Stalin and YG left me impressed! There are 2 subwoofers. One subwoofer in the trunk and one under the driver side passenger seat. While it wasn't super powerful, the bump would cause the mirrors to vibrate. After a full day of cranking the Bose audio, a rattle appeared. It was the tire change tools. GM finally makes a decent sunroof, I should say designed. I was disappointed that many of the parts shipped for final assembly were made in Mexico. Then shipped to Korea for final assembly. I wasn't consoled to learn that this car while "American" is American in name only. Tires were top-notch made in USA Continental Tires. This car was light, under 3000lbs! The light weight was evident. Panic stops hauled the Encore to a controlled stop. Light cars while great for gas mileage slamming the rear hatch and the doors left a metallic echo. This hollowness wasn't apparent on the freeway. At the speed limit and above I felt like I was in a larger car. The Encore rides like a much larger vehicle. Quiet, On an evening road trip to Vancouver I was unable to hear much. This is a small car this delivers impressive technology. Drive and passenger semi powered seat. While the provides power assisted pitch, back and forth and lumbar, the back support is manual? That a huge omission! You won't regret buying this little car. You'll be pleased with the strong engine that delivers a solid kick. The dialed non-CVT transmission is best in class. That's right, for all the impressive engine management this car has gears. When the engine is floored the car shifts to stay in it's powerband. Shifts are timed perfectly. I had to smile when it shifted. The engine would pull like mad and keeps the power coming in gobs Remember this engine is only 1.4 liters. The same size engine as those whiny little Fiats. The engine screams in protest if over-revved. Whiiiiiiinnnnnnnneeee! Great engine transmission tuning. Get your thrills while you can. All these Turbo engines while offering an apparent increase in performance and while modern, cars like the Encore are a dying breed. Starting sometime in 2025 cars like this will have to average a federally mandated 50MPG. CVT transmissions are coming. Companies like Subaru and Honda already have their entire lineups so equipped. Read Subaru reviews. Non-turbo, 4500lb outbacks powered by a 2.5lt engine. Snails. Before you're through paying for this car it will be junked. I know from experience that the average owner won't pay for the Turbo repairs. These turbo engines run crazy hot. All engine components including the plastic fiber intake manifolds become brittle and around 170,000 miles are done. A water pump change or even a head gasket means the front of the car needs to be dropped. Enjoy this car. Don't pay retail. Remember it won't last.
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Sucks to suck
Ricky, 04/15/2019
2019 Buick Encore 1SV 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
14 of 161 people found this review helpful
Crappy car, very little trunk space and rear seat space. Handling is complete garbage. Completely confused seeing 12 positive reviews. Please do yourself a favor and do not buy this vehicle, it was very unfortunate when I received this vehicle as a rental.
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The Essence of Awesome!!
Charlene , 06/11/2022
2019 Buick Encore Essence 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
This is an awesome car!! It is so beautiful! It handles so well and has such a smooth ride! I absolutely love it!!❤️
2019 at it's best
Michael H., 07/12/2022
2019 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Very satisfied with this vehicle it's styling, and all the features it has. We are extremely impressed with all the safety items that are the car.
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Disappointed: Too many engine issues
Tully422, 01/29/2025
2019 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased @ 18k miles, liked it at first. Tech-wise it was a step up from my Ford Escape: BUT, it didn't have the pep, even with the turbo, it's weak. Cargo space is tiny. Then there's the mechanical and data transmission/electrical issues... Weird things started to happen pretty much from the get. I'd push the volume up button on the steering wheel and instead of the volume going up, the windshield wipers would swipe once. Sometimes, the wipers just randomly go on by themselves. Or, I'd try to turn the radio station and same thing. There were times the a/c didn't blow as cold as usual. Every now and then the radio volume goes in and out. The radio mute function never worked, radio off never worked - but after replacing the last battery (we've replaced it twice), suddenly they work. Replaced the battery and less than a year later it was drained again - replaced battery again. Kicker is can't figure it out since these are all sporadic occurrences so until it is a constant issue we are stuck dealing with it. Have already had to replace the water pump, oil filter cooler housing (that was a big job and apparently very common with these vehicles), vapor canister purge valve and coolant housing water outlet. WAY too many repairs for a car with such low mileage, never had this many issues with any of my Ford vehicles at this stage. Also, things break easily. The driver's side front seat side panel has come off, the clips that keep it attached have broken - it's still attached by the cables that run the buttons, but doesn't look pretty, other small things as well - CHEAPLY made. DISAPPOINTED for this price point!! Will never buy a Buick/GM again...EVER.
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Great
Sam the man, 01/22/2023
2019 Buick Encore Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.4L 4cyl Turbo 6A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Great for getting around town
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