2020 Buick Encore

While it may fall into our below $25k category, the Buick Encore is actually one of the pricer subcompacts on the market, starting at $23,200 for the sparsely appointed and uncustomizable 1SV. Most buyers will overlook this model and start shopping from the Preferred up, with a starting MSRP of $24,600. The Sport Touring asks for $25,800 to get its slightly flashier looks, while the top-tier Essence, with its standard safety features, will set buyers back $29,300. Every model apart from the 1SV can be equipped with an all-wheel drivetrain for an additional $1,500. These prices exclude tax, registration, licensing, and GM's $995 destination charge.

Playing into its strength as a city-centric subcompact, the Encore offers quick and precise steering that makes maneuvering around the hustle and bustle on the streets or snagging that surprise parking space a breeze. The steering wheel gains a little heft at higher speeds, but it never engages the driver or communicates all that well. The braking follows in the same vein, seemingly tuned for low-speed town driving, without inspiring confidence at higher speeds.

Stubby and tall, the Buick feels top-heavy on the road, but it doesn't lean too hard into turns. The suspension certainly isn't designed to zip around a hairpin turn, but the Encore can manage softer turns at relatively enjoyable speeds. Nevertheless, the SUV will never live up to the S in its acronym.

The turbocharger is a little laggy, unsurprisingly, but throttle responses are on par with others in the segment. On the plus side, the transmission is well-tuned and seldom struggles to find the right gear for the situation, even if the engine struggles to handle anything but a light climb.

The Buick Encore markets itself as a more premium but still affordable subcompact crossover, and asks for a slightly higher investment in return. But is it really worth the extra cash?

With 138 hp and 148 lb-ft supplied by the turbocharged inline-four engine, the SUV offers no more power than any of its rivals and actually comes up short against some of the stronger optional engines that some competitors like the Hyundai Kona offers. It also doesn't deliver a particularly fun or engaging ride, which is often a selling point for smaller, more nimble crossovers.

Where the Buick does shine is in its materials and build quality. It feels a bit more premium than the run-of-the-mill subcompact, and the cabin is remarkably quiet for an affordable daily driver. But there are enough hard surfaces and cheap plastics peeking through to detract from this premium illusion. The good looks also can't detract from the fact that the Encore isn't as capacious as many rivals, with only adequate rear-seat space and underwhelming cargo capacity.

The standard feature list is pretty decent, but many rivals can be specced up to the same level at well below the cost of a comparable Encore. So, while the Buick may be a decent subcompact SUV when viewed on its own, it doesn't compare that well against similarly, or even more cheaply, priced competitors. Thus, we can't really call it a particularly good buy.

If you're looking at a subcompact, your primary concern is probably value for money. As such, the Preferred should meet your needs, with all the same features as the 1SV but a better variety of color and customization options available. However, the advanced safety features on the Essence are definitely tempting, and the top-tier trim can be had for under $30k in its base configuration. But if all you want is basic driver-assistance features, they can be optioned onto the much cheaper Preferred for just $495, while fancier assists are unavailable. Unless you live in an area prone to poor weather, you can get away without the more expensive all-wheel drivetrain to keep costs down.

Owned by the same parent company, namely GM, the Chevrolet Trax and Buick Encore are basically twins, with only slight variations in their build quality and standard features lists. Both subcompacts share the same turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 138 hp and 148 lb-ft, but the Chevy is the slightly more affordable of the two. It uses slightly lower grade materials and comes with fewer features, but it can be specced to rival the top-tier Encore Essence, while still managing to come out a few grand cheaper. Ultimately, the better choice here will come down to personal taste in style and your overall budget. Both are equally good, or bad, depending on your perspective.

One of the Encore's bigger siblings, the Buick Enclave occupies a much higher price bracket of between $40k - $50k. For this extra investment, you get a more potent naturally aspirated V6 engine that delivers 310 hp and 266 lb-ft to your choice of the front wheels or all four. It's not quite up to scratch with other midsize luxury SUVs, but the Enclave is a tier above the hoi polloi. The cabin is far more spacious, with three rows of seats coming standard, and the V6 is far more capable of towing the family trailer for weekend camping trips. It looks good and comes with a decent list of standard features, but, once again, the cheaper Chevrolet Traverse can match it in almost every area for less money. If you have your heart set on a Buick, then the Enclave is the more capable of the two crossovers, but only consider it if you really need the extra space and engine power.