Suddenly we have another crossover catfight. The 2012 Detroit auto show is where Buick unveiled its new contender in a burgeoning segment: the compact, premium crossover.

The 2013 Buick Encore will face off against recently revealed competitors, such as BMW X1 and Audi Q3. The German competitors will arrive here sometime this calendar year; we won't see the Encore until January 2013.

The 2013 Buick Encore will face off against recently revealed competitors, such as BMW X1 and Audi Q3. (Photo: General Motors)
In the meantime, we can mull over the show car, which is smaller than it looks. At 4,278 mm in length, it's just a touch shorter than Toyota Matrix (4,365 mm), but a touch longer than Nissan Juke (4,125 mm). With the rear seats folded down, Encore is said to offer 1,365 litres, which betters the seats-down cargo capacities of both German rivals.

Encore is also said to seat five, but it's a tight three in the back.

The little Buick is based on a version of GM's Global Small Vehicle (GSV) architecture, also known as Gamma II. This architecture underpins a lot of compact cars all over the world, but most notably Chevrolet Sonic in North America. Lately all the development work for Gamma II vehicles gets done in Korea. Korea is also where North American-market Encores will be built.

As such, you will recognize the Sonic-like powertrain — the Ecotec 1.4L turbo I4 and six-speed automatic transmission.

But it certainly looks like a Buick, both inside and out. The exterior echoes big brother Enclave's sculpted sheet metal, and features requisite Buick cues, like waterfall grille, chrome accents, and portholes.

Inside you'll find an IP that flows to the door panels, and a prominent centre stack that houses that a 7-inch LED screen. Among the premium pieces you can order are heated seats and steering wheel, leather, remote start, dual-zone HVAC, Bose sound system, six-way driver seat with lumbar, and voice-activated IntelliLink, which uses Bluetooth or a USB to connect the driver's Smartphone to the display.

Inside you'll find an IP that flows to the door panels, and a prominent centre stack that houses that a 7-inch LED screen. (Photo: General Motors) Continue reading 2013 Buick Encore Preview



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