2020 Buick Encore drops more powerful 1.4-liter four-cylinder option

[adamcar]

The 153-hp engine goes away, perhaps slated for the Encore GX


2020 Buick Encore drops more powerful 1.4-liter four-cylinder option

Interesting tidbit:

The more powerful 1.4-liter engine also delivered better gas mileage, with buyers getting one more mile per gallon in combined driving. Even so, buyers didn't dig it. In comments to CarsDirect, a Buick spokesperson said those purchasing 2019 Encores have only chosen the burlier motor 12 percent of the time.

The weak take-rate could end up doing Buick an easy favor. The Buick Encore GX is expected to make landfall on U.S. shores sometime this year, riding on a different platform than our present Encore, and bringing a longer wheelbase with it. It will slide into the lineup between the $23,200 Encore and $31,995 Envision. This is all hypothetical at the moment, of course, but that seems a perfect place to insert the 153-hp 1.4-liter as an exclusive standard feature.

 

[adamcar]

Those of us with the 153 hp LE2 engine have somewhat of a rare bird!

 

[David Lopez Vargas]

Those of us with the 153 hp LE2 engine have somewhat of a rare bird!

Agreed. Thats why I got it because I know rarely does anyone have it. I do wish that GM would've made it with the option of a 2.0 turbo AWD. Just like the Caddy XT4.
Also get the option to get the Diesel engine just like the Opel Mokka. That would've been AMAZING

 

[oregon_rider]

Agreed. Thats why I got it because I know rarely does anyone have it. I do wish that GM would've made it with the option of a 2.0 turbo AWD. Just like the Caddy XT4.
Also get the option to get the Diesel engine just like the Opel Mokka. That would've been AMAZING

+ 1

Put the diesel drivetrain in it from the cruze and it would be my dream car. Diesel + 9 speed auto.

We regularly see 55 mpg on the highway in our 2017 diesel cruze sedan (has 9 speed auto).

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[2007LucerneCXL]

The Buick Encore is assembled at the GM Korea plant in Bupyeong, South Korea so optional items on other GM vehicles are not likely, diesel engines are DOA in Europe so it's also not practical.

 

[HotZ28]

I could not live, nor survive with only 153-hp! That thing is a turtle on high grass!

 

[oregon_rider]

For the cruze - the diesel motor is shipped to U.S. from the Hungary for final assembly of vehicle here in u.s.

 

[2007LucerneCXL]

Here's a 190HP for tall grass LOL

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[adamcar]

I could not live, nor survive with only 153-hp! That thing is a turtle on high grass!

It is not that bad! It is a little slow to get to 75, but once there, the torque of 177 lb/ft at 2,000 - 4,000 rpm keeps you going pretty well.

 

[DocBrown]

It is not that bad! It is a little slow to get to 75, but once there, the torque of 177 lb/ft at 2,000 - 4,000 rpm keeps you going pretty well.

Having the 153 HP engine, I can't imagine less power. It's adequate the way it is, just fast enough to get on and maneuver on the freeway. Keeping in mind that I am used to our HHR 2.4 with 172 hp and my truck with a 5.3, 315 hp.

 

[X E Ryder]

The 138hp motor is a better choice for me because I don't care for the stop/start feature (can't disable as I understand), and that would drive me nuts. Because this car was detuned for crappy 87 octane gas, a couple mods and tune on 91 bumps it right up. If you're a tinkerer it's cake. ;-)

 

[oregon_rider]

Running premium fuel in the stock tune 138 HP motor keeps you in the high octane advance map in ecu. At least for FWD, with premium fuel the acceleratuon is adequate with very good mpg

Jeff

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[X E Ryder]

Running premium fuel in the stock tune 138 HP motor keeps you in the high octane advance map in ecu. At least for FWD, with premium fuel the acceleratuon is adequate with very good mpg

Jeff

Indeed it does. There is significant room left for improvement on that map running 91 though. The torque management settings alone are considerably restrictive.