Four trim levels comprise the Buick Encore range for 2020: the 1SV, Preferred, Sport Touring, and Essence. Under the hood of each model is a 1.4-liter turbo-inline-four engine that directs 138 hp and 148 lb-ft to the front wheels, with available all-wheel-drive on the three upper trims. A pretty savvy six-speed automatic transmission rows the gears for every configuration.
The 1SV comes equipped with the majority of the features available to the Encore, including basic air conditioning, cruise control, remote keyless entry, and a 4.2-inch driver information display. The cabin is upholstered in leatherette, while only the driver’s seat offers six-way power-adjustment to complement the manual tilt-and-telescoping steering column. The eight-inch touchscreen grants access to Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and the 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot. The starter model rides on plain 18-inch alloy wheels and comes equipped with halogen headlights, LED taillights, and LED daytime running lights.
The Preferred trim gets all the same features as the 1SV, but it offers more customization options with available packages and color choices. The only upgrades to the standard features are a cargo cover, and front and rear floor mats. Similarly, the Sport Touring only adds fog lights, a rear sport spoiler, remote start, and 18-inch Midnight Silver finished wheels.
The top-of-the-range Essence drops the rear spoiler, but it upgrades the headlights to LED clusters. Inside, the seats are upholstered in genuine leather and the passenger seat gets six-way power adjustability. Other new standard features include dual-zone climate control, driver-seat memory, heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, and a 120-volt power outlet. Advanced driver-assistance features are finally added as standard at this level, including blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert.