Buick Encore

Buick Encore: Which Version to Buy and Why

The Buick Encore in this catalogue comes down to a clear set of choices: the original 1 generation from 2012–2016 or its 2016–2019 restyling, FWD or AWD, and—in the restyled model—138 hp or 153 hp. Every version is a Gasoline-powered SUV 5-doors with a turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and a 6-speed Automatic gearbox.

The Buick Encore in this catalogue comes down to a clear set of choices: the original 1 generation from 2012–2016 or its 2016–2019 restyling, FWD or AWD, and—in the restyled model—138 hp or 153 hp. Every version is a Gasoline-powered SUV 5-doors with a turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine and a 6-speed Automatic gearbox. The original FWD 1.4 AT has the lowest measured combined fuel consumption at 6.7 L/100 km, while the restyled 153 hp 1.4 AT AWD provides the strongest output at 153 hp and 239 Nm. Buyers prioritizing lower weight and measured economy should start with FWD; those prioritizing AWD and the strongest engine should consider the restyled 153 hp version.

Buick Encore generations: what changed?

The Buick Encore is represented by one generation with a later restyling, not two unrelated generations.

The 1 generation ran from 2012 to 2016 as an SUV 5-doors and contains two versions, both named 1.4 AT. They share a 1,364 cc turbocharged Gasoline engine producing 140 hp and 200 Nm, plus a 6-speed Automatic gearbox. The meaningful choice is drive: one version is FWD and the other is AWD. Both have 190 mm of ground clearance and a 54 L fuel tank.

The 1 generation, restyling ran from 2016 to 2019, remained an SUV 5-doors, and contains four versions. All are named 1.4 AT, so they must be distinguished by power and drive: 138 hp FWD, 138 hp AWD, 153 hp FWD, and 153 hp AWD. Compared with the original generation, ground clearance fell from 190 mm to 157 mm, a difference of 33 mm, and tank capacity fell from 54 L to 53 L. The restyling also introduced a stronger 1,399 cc engine with 153 hp and 239 Nm alongside the 1,364 cc unit with 138 hp and 200 Nm.

Buick Encore engine specs and version comparison

The original 140 hp engine develops approximately 102.6 hp per litre. The restyled 138 hp engine produces about 101.2 hp per litre, while the restyled 153 hp engine reaches approximately 109.4 hp per litre. The 153 hp engine therefore provides the highest specific output.

Moving from the restyled 138 hp engine to the 153 hp engine adds 15 hp and 39 Nm while increasing displacement by 35 cc. That is a 10.9% power increase and a 19.5% torque increase. Peak torque also arrives at 2,000 rpm in the 153 hp engine, while the 200 Nm engine supplies its peak across 1,850–4,900 rpm.

Buick Encore performance, mpg and fuel economy

Among versions with complete consumption figures, the original 140 hp FWD 1.4 AT uses the least fuel: 6.7 L/100 km combined. Its measured figure is 1.7 L/100 km below the 8.4 L/100 km recorded by both the restyled 138 hp FWD version and the restyled 153 hp AWD version.

Within the restyled 138 hp pair, AWD raises consumption by 0.4 L/100 km in the city, 0.7 L/100 km on the highway, and 0.3 L/100 km combined. The restyled 153 hp AWD version is more powerful than the 138 hp AWD version yet records 0.8 L/100 km less in the city, 0.2 L/100 km less on the highway, and 0.3 L/100 km less combined.

Only the original versions have measured 0–100 km/h results: 10.7 seconds for FWD and 10.8 seconds for AWD. The 0.1-second difference favors FWD. A top speed of 187 km/h is measured only for the original 140 hp FWD 1.4 AT; all other top-speed values are not measured.

Buick Encore dimensions, weight and clearance

Overall exterior dimensions are not measured in the supplied data. Wheel sizes are also not measured for every version.

AWD adds 31 kg to the original 140 hp Encore and 55 kg to either restyled power version. The original 140 hp FWD model has the lowest kerb weight at 1,394 kg; the restyled AWD models are the heaviest at 1,523 kg, a difference of 129 kg.

Weight per horsepower helps clarify the trade-off. The original 140 hp FWD version carries about 10.0 kg per hp, compared with about 10.2 kg per hp for the original AWD version. The restyled 138 hp models carry about 10.6 kg per hp with FWD and 11.0 kg per hp with AWD. The restyled 153 hp models improve those ratios to about 9.6 kg per hp with FWD and 10.0 kg per hp with AWD. On the available figures, the restyled 153 hp FWD 1.4 AT has the strongest power-to-weight relationship.

Which Buick Encore version should you buy?

For the lowest measured fuel consumption, choose the original 1 generation 1.4 AT with 140 hp and FWD. It combines 6.7 L/100 km combined consumption with the lowest kerb weight, 1,394 kg. It also has the catalogue’s only measured top speed, 187 km/h, and the quickest measured 0–100 km/h time, 10.7 seconds.

For AWD with the lowest weight, choose the original 140 hp 1.4 AT AWD. At 1,425 kg, it is 98 kg lighter than either restyled AWD model. It also provides 190 mm of ground clearance, 33 mm more than the restyled alternatives. Its fuel-consumption figures and top speed are not measured.

For the strongest AWD specification, choose the restyled 153 hp 1.4 AT AWD. It delivers 15 hp and 39 Nm more than the restyled 138 hp AWD version while returning a measured 8.4 L/100 km combined instead of 8.7 L/100 km. Both weigh 1,523 kg, so the stronger engine does not carry an additional recorded weight penalty.

For the best power-to-weight ratio, choose the restyled 153 hp 1.4 AT FWD. Its 1,468 kg kerb weight and 153 hp output equal about 9.6 kg per hp. However, its acceleration, top speed, and fuel consumption are not measured, so its numerical advantage should not be turned into an unsupported performance or economy claim.

The restyled 138 hp 1.4 AT FWD is the simpler restyled choice when FWD is sufficient, but the supplied figures do not give it an obvious numerical advantage over the other versions. It weighs 74 kg more than the original 140 hp FWD model, has 2 hp less, offers 33 mm less ground clearance, and records combined consumption that is 1.7 L/100 km higher. The restyled 138 hp AWD version is similarly difficult to prefer on figures alone: it has the highest measured combined consumption at 8.7 L/100 km and shares the highest kerb weight at 1,523 kg.

No reliability, engine-problem, overheating, warning-light, repair, price, or for-sale data is included here. Those points cannot be used to rank the versions. Based strictly on the measured specifications, the original 140 hp FWD 1.4 AT is the economy-oriented choice, the original 140 hp AWD 1.4 AT is the higher-clearance AWD choice, and the restyled 153 hp versions are the choices for maximum power and torque.