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2021 Buick Encore sheds top two trims, offer only Base and Preferred

A few days ago, CarsDirect reported that the 2021 Buick Encore would prune its top two trims, the Sport Touring and Essence variants. Paring those two trims would leave the Base and the Preferred, creating larger price and amenities differences between the stalwart Encore and the new, larger, nicer Encore GX. It turns out the change has already gone into effect for the 2020 model year, as shown in Encore's Build & Price page at the brand's web site. Now the only trims available are the 1SV and Preferred. The prices for these trims won't change for next year, either. The Encore will start at $24,195 after a $995 destination charge, and now topping out at $26,215 for the all-wheel drive Preferred model. Previously, the Essence AWD established the top of the hill at $31,795. The move eliminates almost all of the MSRP overlap with the Encore GX, which ranges from $25,195 to $31,595. There will be less feature overlap, too. The now-dead Encore trims opened the door to proper luxury amenities like LED headlights, leather seats, dual-zone climate control, and an auto dimming rear-view mirror. The amenities available on the Preferred are limited to floor mats and accessories, save for the $495 Safety Package that adds Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert, and the $300 Remote Start. The Encore GX comes in three trims, Preferred, Select, and Essence, and "Leather-appointed seating" doesn't appear until the top-dollar Essence trim for $29,495 in FWD fettle.  The closest the Encore and Encore GX will get to one another is in engine output. The smaller crossover comes only with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that makes 138 horsepower and 148 pound-feet of torque. The Encore GX offers two engines depending on powertrain. A 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 137 hp and 166 lb-ft comes solely with front-wheel drive, and a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder with 155 hp and 174 lb-ft is available with either front- or all-wheel drive. Related Video:    

Buick begins offering 24-hour test drives

Even as the year's sales charts show a decline, Buick says its brand image is improving. To bolster that soft metric while it works on overhauling its lineup - consumers are clamoring for more crossovers - the brand will begin offering overnight test drives as of July 23. Buick trialled the program in Phoenix and got a good response, so it rolls out as an ad-supported nationwide campaign called "24 Hours of Happiness" as of July 22. The push is on probation for three months while Buick evaluates it, but they expect it to continue beyond 90 days. Cars will be sourced from the loaner fleets that dealers offer customers whose cars are in for service, so only dealers with such fleets will be able to participate. General Motors did the same thing in 2003 and 2004, at the time saying it led to more than 500,000 "extended" test drives and close to 190,000 sales. That program had a cash component, in that buyers were offered $250 if they chose a non-GM vehicle after their test drive. 24 Hours of Happiness won't come with any inducements; Buick is taking the long view, positioning this as support for the brand instead of as bait for immediate returns. The Phoenix dealer who ran the program first said that it got fewer bites than he expected, but that customers who took a car home "were far more likely to buy the vehicle." Cue the Regal GS hooning in three, two... Related Video:

Buick struggling to keep up with Encore demand

Buick is having a hard time keeping up with demand for its all-new Encore mini-CUV, according to a report from Automotive News. The stylish, lifted five-door went on sale in January, but dealers have reported that supplies have dwindled after the initial high demand, taking the proverbial "wind out of the sails."
General Motors admits that it underestimated demand for the diminutive Buick, which is built in Korea and sold as the Opel Mokka in Europe, where it's also seen success. Buick spokesperson Nick Richards told AN, "We increased production, so there have been a lot more landing within the last month."
Buick has done a booming business, though, even with its limited supply of Encores. With over 12,000 units sold in the first half of 2013, the small CUV is on pace to annihilate industry analysts' estimates, which predicted no more than 18,500 units in 2013. We're not entirely surprised. When we first drove the Encore late last year, Autoblog professed that we had no idea how sales would turn out, as the Encore wasn't really entering into an established segment. Even so, wefound a surprising amount to like in the Encore, enough that we "wouldn't bet against it" being a major success.