Topic: Preview:2013 Buick Encore

[Autos_Editor]

Buick's new compact luxury SUV, arriving in early 2013, will face off against the BMW X1 and Audi Q3.

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[D70]

Looks like a guppy, no mention of weight or fuel consumption. It will be interesting to see how it measures up in real world living

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d70w7/5247348083/

[paul246]

Looks like it is melting over its own wheels.

[richink]

Discussed extensively in another thread.

All I can say is UGH.... Not another CUV/SUV from GM. As far as competing against The X1 & Q3...

[nlm]

Wow. Where do I even begin?

Upon first view I thought it was a distorted photo of a Enclave. Giant rear well gap is disproportionate to the front; is this BA Baracus' mom's van? Not much cargo capacity and not much power. Interior design looks decent from the photo but ruined by the terrible colour palette. Noise reduction is a good idea but noise cancellation frequencies not so much; they give me a distortion sensation and lead to headaches.

Pass.

[Winterpeg]

I actually don't mind the looks.....a sort of baby Enclave (or not?).
Hopefully it will be better than the old Buick Ronde-who?    

[Weels]

Geez, you guys are pretty harsh.  It doesn't look any worse than a Matrix for example to my eye.  Interior is pretty damn nice too.
Showed a pic to my wife & she said "it's cute!"  There is your target market.

But will agree that it competing against an X1 & Q3 is a bit of a stretch.

[CanuckS2K]

I love the interior but it all ends there.  That is one hideous looking vehicle.  

[CanuckS2K]

Having actually seen one at the NAIAS it doesn't look nearly as bad as the peanut gallery here would have you believe.

I'll have to reserve final judgement until I see one in person, but it sure isn't pretty in pictures to my eyes. 

[Neromanceres]

I too saw this at NAIAS.  I think it looks pretty good.  Considering this is an upscale CUV version of the Chevy Sonic the 1.4T should move this well (built on GM's Gamma II platform). It's a rebadged version of the Opel Mokka (which to me the Opel looks better). Too bad they are making the car in S. Korea and not along side the Sonic in Michigan.  Even though GM did state that they are considering production in the US.

I think this would make a good runabout. Depending on how it's priced it could do well.

[tazcubed]

By "Encore" do they mean a follow up to the Aztek? Certainly doesn't seem to be anything special, kind of looks like a mesh between the Matrix and the Smart For2 - and nothing I would consider paying for.

[dkaz]

You guys forgot the most important thing: no diesel and no manual transmission!

[whaddaiknow]

Butt ugly but I see why some may think it's cute  . The interior seems nice but I would have to reserve final judgement until I see it in person.
Personally, I wouldn't want to see it in my driveway even if it was $25k, let alone comparing it to the X1 or Q3.
They MUST be out of their mind pitching their 1.4T against BMW's 2.0T

[dirtyjeffer]

i don't think it looks that bad, and at first glance, seems like a practical vehicle instead of the "behemoths" that seem to litter our roads...however, aside from 18" wheels (which means expensive tire replacement) and a "prettier interior", it offers very little over our ET, which offers considerably more space...pricing wasn't mentioned (as it likely hasn't been finalized yet), but as it's a Buick, expect it to be $34,995, but then some special "Employee Pricing" markdown to $28,995...hmmm.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Geez, you guys are pretty harsh.  It doesn't look any worse than a Matrix for example to my eye.  Interior is pretty damn nice too.
Showed a pic to my wife & she said "it's cute!"  There is your target market.

But will agree that it competing against an X1 & Q3 is a bit of a stretch.

Same here. I showed a picture to Lady Osis and she really liked it. She loves the Enclave, but found it much too large.

Is Buick saying it's an X1 or Q3 competitor? Or was that added in by the writer?

[CanuckS2K]

Geez, you guys are pretty harsh.  It doesn't look any worse than a Matrix for example to my eye.  Interior is pretty damn nice too.
Showed a pic to my wife & she said "it's cute!"  There is your target market.

But will agree that it competing against an X1 & Q3 is a bit of a stretch.

Same here. I showed a picture to Lady Osis and she really liked it. She loves the Enclave, but found it much too large.

Is Buick saying it's an X1 or Q3 competitor? Or was that added in by the writer?

The strange this is that I really like the look of the Enclave a lot.  The Encore just looks scrunched up and awkward looking.  I suppose describing it as hideous as I did before might of been a little strong, but I just don't find this to remotely good looking.  Beauty is in the eye of the beholder though, right?   

[Blueprint]

Geez, you guys are pretty harsh.  It doesn't look any worse than a Matrix for example to my eye.  Interior is pretty damn nice too.
Showed a pic to my wife & she said "it's cute!"  There is your target market.

But will agree that it competing against an X1 & Q3 is a bit of a stretch.

Same here. I showed a picture to Lady Osis and she really liked it. She loves the Enclave, but found it much too large.

Is Buick saying it's an X1 or Q3 competitor? Or was that added in by the writer?

My Enclave-wanting wife also likes the Encore a lot.  If the pricing mimicks the Verano's, it will be a hit with the misses.

BTW, saw the Verano up close at the Montreal show, and it looks really good for the price.

[nsmyhte]

Having actually seen one at the NAIAS it doesn't look nearly as bad as the peanut gallery here would have you believe. Is it a piece of art? no. It ain't bad, however, for what it is.

The interior is lovely.

Whether or not there is a market for this kind of vehicle is yet to be seen.

Yes, there is a market for this kind of vehicle but its China not here.  This car was made for China, where Buick is huge and the emerging middle and upper class there are willing to pay for a small, premium, versatile car.

[CanuckS2K]

i don't think it looks that bad,

Indeed, while styling is subjective, it ain't the ugly duckling all the haters in this thread are making it out to be. 

Isn't that a little contradictory?   

[Jaeger]

i don't think it looks that bad,

Indeed, while styling is subjective, it ain't the ugly duckling all the haters in this thread are making it out to be. 

Isn't that a little contradictory?   

More than a little contradictory. Styling is "subjective" but if you think it's an ugly duckling, you're wrong, and a hater to boot?  And it is an ugly duckling.    Yes, I am only judging from photos - but I somehow doubt the ill-proportioned blobbiness is somehow resolved in the metal.  The interior does look nice.  But who knows - maybe it's crap in person.    Funny how only negative comments based on a photo are countered by playing the "wait to see it in person" card.

Jaeger