The Buick Encore GX vs. The Chevy Trailblazer

When shopping for a new vehicle, it’s important to compare your options to ensure you make the best choice for your family. Many SUVs on the market have similar features, but the different offerings in comfort and horsepower can make the difference between a car you like and the car you love. Buick’s Encore GX and the Chevrolet Trailblazer are two luxurious offerings from leading brands that offer plenty of features that can make running errands or road-tripping more comfortable for your family. However, understanding the differences can help you pick the model that fits your lifestyle.

Exterior Features

The Buick Encore GX is a four-door SUV with a stylish exterior that is made to stand out. It comes with the signature Buick grille, with red detailing on the front to complete the sleek and sporty look of the vehicle. This compact and versatile crossover SUV also offers roof rails that can support a travel case or various types of sports equipment, like kayaks or bicycles. If you have a sporty family that enjoys outdoor activities, you may enjoy this feature on your SUV.

Buick offers the Encore GX in Summit White, Ebony Twilight Metallic, Cinnabar Metallic, Sapphire Metallic, Sunset Glow Metallic, Rosewood Metallic, Satin Steel Metallic, and White Frost Tricoat.

The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a powerfully styled crossover SUV, measuring about 4 inches longer than the Encore GX, with an imposing all-black front grille and sculpted detailing on the sides. Many of the paint options have a contrasting roof color and detailing, contributing to a utility vehicle look for the SUV. It also has roof rails, four doors, and LED brake lights.

The Trailblazer comes in the following exterior colors: Zeus Bronze Metallic and Summit White, all over Summit White, Summit White and Zeus Bronze Metallic, Mosaic Black Metallic and Summit White, Mosaic Black Metallic and Zeus Bronze Metallic, Iridescent Pearl Tricoat and Zeus Bronze Metallic, Satin Steel Metallic and Summit White, Blue Glow Metallic and Summit White, and Vivid Orange Metallic and Summit White.

Interior Features

The Encore GX’s relatively compact exterior surrounds a surprisingly spacious interior, with plenty of storage and materials that provide a luxurious look without the price tag. Soft-touch sections on the armrests and dash pads provide an upscale feel and improve the vehicle’s overall comfort of the riding experience. The high seating in the front offers a comfortable driving position, making those longer commutes more tenable, and the rear folding seats provide more than enough storage space for an extended road trip.

The Encore GX interior is available in Ebony with leather-appointed seat trim, Whisper Beige with Ebony interior accents and leather-appointed seat trim, and Signet with Ebony interior accents and leather-appointed seat trim. The infotainment center is an impressive standard 8-inch touch screen that includes phone connectivity for easier navigation, phone calls, and music. It also offers a 4G LTE data connection and onboard Wi-Fi for those who work on the go. You can upgrade the standard six-speaker audio system to a premium Bose audio setup.

Comparatively, the Chevrolet Trailblazer’s interior provides spacious storage options with plastic black detailing, with embellishments available only on the higher trims. You can also upgrade the interior infotainment center to include wireless connections and two smartphone interfaces, but base Trailblazers stick to SiriusXM radio and a six-speaker stereo. The interior of the Chevrolet is available in two color schemes: Jet Black and Almond Butter and Jet Black with Arizona accents.

Engine and Powertrain

The first two trims of the Encore GX offer a sturdy ECOTEC turbocharged 1.2-liter engine. An SUV’s engine can mean the difference between a city vehicle and an off-roading SUV for adventure. Buick offers 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. A continuously variable transmission comes standard for all trims with front-wheel drive, but for a reasonable upgrade price, you have the option of all-wheel drive with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Encore GX’s high seating and compact build don’t challenge its super smooth ride, thanks to impressive suspension and weighted steering.

If you’re worried about your carbon footprint, this Buick also provides reasonable fuel economy, with 26 miles per gallon in the city and 29 mpg on the highway, which is impressive for a car of this size and weight.

The Trailblazer offers a 1.2-liter turbocharged engine, with the option to upgrade to a 1.3-liter engine with a higher trim level. You can further upgrade the 1.3 engine to all-wheel drive, which Chevrolet doesn’t offer on the 1.2-liter engine. The all-wheel-drive upgrade includes a nine-speed automatic transmission. The Trailblazer’s smaller engine provides a slower acceleration rate, making certain passing maneuvers more difficult. Despite its smooth handling through curves, its suspension isn’t as impressive as the Encore GX, creating a slightly rougher ride. The fuel economy is also similar to the Encore GX, at about 29 mpg city and 31 mpg highway.

Trims

If you’re looking for luxury features to add to your crossover, Buick offers three trims, with luxury features like 18-inch aluminum wheels available on even the basic Preferred level trim. On the Select trim, you can include heated driver and passenger seats and a remote vehicle starter system. The highest-level trim, the Essence, includes leather-appointed seating and a heated and leather-wrapped steering wheel. The Essence also offers an air ionizer, purifying the air inside your SUV as you drive.

Comparatively, the Trailblazer has four trims, with the LS having the most basic features. The LT includes heated mirrors and a remote vehicle starter system, while the highest trims, the Activ and the RS, offer a bigger engine with stop/start technology and LED tail lamps. The RS also offers 18-inch aluminum wheels, a standard feature on the Encore GX.

Visit Us at Koons Woodbridge Buick GMC

The Trailblazer is a solid crossover SUV with a sleek exterior, but the Encore GX offers all that and more from the basic trim for a family that prioritizes comfort and engine power. To test drive the Encore GX for yourself, come see us at Koons Woodbridge Buick GMC. Trade in your old car for any of our latest Buick or GMC SUV models.

Image via Flickr by JoeInSouthernCA | Licensed by CC BY-ND 2.0

Tags: Buick Encore GX, Chevy Trailblazer
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