The 2014 Buick Encore takes comfortability and tranquility to a whole new level. This five-seater beauty has got you covered with ample headroom and legroom, both in the front and the back, ensuring a cozy ride for everyone onboard. If peace is what you're seeking, you're in for a treat. The Encore promises a serene cabin environment, where road noise doesn't stand a chance. Now, about that visibility - you might need to perfect your over-the-shoulder glance. But let's be honest, isn't it all worth it for such a plush sanctuary on wheels?
Read on to learn more about the 2014 Buick Encore.
The Encore's interior embodies a harmonious blend of comfort, luxury, and functionality. The cabin is well-constructed with soft-touch materials and an elegant blend of simulated wood and metallic accents, conjuring an upscale ambiance. The interior is dominated by Buick's standard IntelliLink system, featuring a responsive 7-inch touchscreen, ensuring infotainment and smartphone app integration is a breeze. The layout is user-friendly with well-placed buttons providing added functionality. The Encore offers spaciousness upfront with wide, comfortable seats that offer a commanding view. The rear, though slightly narrower, offers adequate legroom even for taller passengers. However, fitting a rear-facing car seat might be a bit of a squeeze. The 2014 Buick Encore shines when it comes to cargo space, with a capacity that expands to 48.4 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded flat.
The 2014 Buick Encore's exterior is delicately crafted to exude an aura of elegance and subtlety. Its compact dimensions, accentuated by its sleek, flowing lines, deliver an impression of agility and sophistication. The Encore's signature waterfall grille, flanked by distinctive, blue-accented projector-beam headlamps, immediately attracts the eye. These features are complemented by the sleek chrome accents and stylish side panels, giving the vehicle a touch of luxury. Plus, there's a standard roof rack for extra cargo space and a sporty look. The 18-inch alloy wheels not only enhance the overall appeal but also provide excellent grip and stability on the road. And the LED taillamps, not only ensure high visibility but also add a modern touch to the rear view of the vehicle.
The 2014 Buick Encore is equipped with a 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that generates 138 horsepower, a standard offering in most compact SUVs in its class. While this four-cylinder engine is adequate for daily city driving, providing a smooth and reliable ride, it struggles to provide the power needed for swift highway merging or overtaking maneuvers. The car is also mated to a six-speed automatic transmission which is keen to shift up to higher gears quickly. While this characteristic plays a role in optimizing the vehicle's fuel economy, it comes at the cost of a somewhat dulled responsiveness. Despite these shortcomings in performance, the Encore's engine stands out for its fuel efficiency, offering a balance for those who prioritize economy over power.
With front-wheel drive, the Encore boasts an EPA fuel economy rating of 28 miles per gallon (mpg) combined, comprising 25 mpg in the city and 33 mpg on the highway. Opting for the all-wheel-drive model will yield slightly lower figures, with 26 mpg combined, which breaks down to 23 mpg in urban areas and 30 mpg on open roadways. These figures place the 2014 Buick Encore among the more fuel-efficient options in its class, adding to the vehicle's overall cost-effectiveness and appeal for everyday commuting.
The 2014 Buick Encore is fully equipped with a wide range of standard safety features. These include front-seat knee airbags, side airbags, curtain airbags, antilock brakes, and traction and stability control. With the added benefit of OnStar, you'll have access to automatic crash notifications, roadside assistance, and more. For enhanced safety, consider opting for the blind-spot monitoring system and rear cross-traffic alerts. And let's not overlook the Encore Premium, which offers forward collision warning and lane departure warning systems. In crash tests, the 2014 Encore has done really well. It got five stars for overall crash protection and five stars in the frontal-impact and side-impact protection categories. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave it a top rating of Good in its crash tests. The only area where it fell short was the small-overlap frontal-offset crash test, but that's common among similar small crossover SUVs. With all these features, the 2014 Buick Encore ensures a safe ride for everyone on board.
The 2014 Buick Encore is a royal charmer with its luxurious interior, tasteful exterior, and a multitude of tech features that will keep any gadget guru grinning. It's no racehorse when it comes to performance, but it makes up for it with impressive fuel economy - perfect for the practical at heart. The word 'cramped' might come to mind when squeezing into the backseat, but hey, kids and pets probably won't complain. And for those with a knack for packing, its cargo space is nothing short of a Tetris player's dream. The Encore also flaunts a safety arsenal that could rival a superhero's, although it did stumble a bit in the small-overlap frontal-offset crash test. But let's be real, in the world of compact SUVs, it's still a shining star.
So, would we recommend this car? A resounding yes for those who appreciate luxury, safety, and don't mind giving the fast lane a miss. After all, it's not just about the destination, it's about the ride, right? And with the 2014 Buick Encore, that ride is going to be a comfortable one.