2014 Buick Encore SUV Road Test Review

2014 Buick Encore SUV Road Test Review

By Bob Plunkett

Near Milford Proving Ground, the vehicle research facility for General Motors in the suburbs of Detroit, we're scooting along Slobart Road for some driver-seat tests in the 2014 Encore, Buick's luxurious 5-passenger crossover utility vehicle for the eensy-weensy class.

Unveiled at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and reaching Buick showrooms in 2013, the Encore has a 100.6-inch wheelbase and a 168.4-inch tip-to-tailpipe length, segmenting it to the compact class.

It pulls power from an itsy-bitsy turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 1.4-liter displacement -- the smallest for any model in the 110-year history of Buick.

Despite the wee-scale statistics for this Baby Buick, Encore steers and handles quite nicely, exhibiting quick-response agility and the smooth and quiet ride quality of a luxury car. [Click here for full review]