Buick's little Encore GX competes among the big boys

Mark Glover’s AutoGlo car reviews can be seen here and in the Cruisin’ News, "Oregon, Nevada and California's classic auto news & marketplace."

Sacramento, California -- I'm driving down the road, and that catchy jingle from the 1960s is playing in my head: "Wouldn't you really rather have a Buick ... "

What prompted that?

It was my time in the 2025 Buick Encore GX Avenir AWD, a subcompact sport-utility vehicle with enough room for five.

Best part of the experience: A nicely equipped model starting at $31,500. Next best part: Everything was easy to understand and use, from the on-board clock to the helpful safety/security technology.

Given the ultra-competitive world of small SUVs with widely varying prices, my ride seemed like a nice, comfortable break in a calm universe.

Power on the tester came from a nifty 1.3-liter, three-cylinder turbo engine that was more than powerful enough to power the little sport-ute around.  On the freeway, amid the slicing and dicing mob, I felt completely comfortable with the power supplied by the engine.  And the Encore GX was sure-footed in heavy traffic.

Fuel mileage was pretty fair at 26 miles per gallon in the city and 28 mpg on the highway.

The exterior look on the tester was classic compact sport-ute, but the front end had a little extra dash with nicely placed chrome accents.

The tester also included a generous helping of standard features, given the affordable price.  That included LED lighting, leather surfaces and an 11-inch, easy-to-see-and-use center dash display.

In the blizzard of small SUVs out there, it seems to me that this Buick would draw the interest of motorists who don't want to carry $50,000 to the dealership, plus those who crave utility for modest chores and family road trips of varying lengths.

I'm guessing those folks just might rather have a Buick.