Buick Encore GX vs Chevrolet Trailblazer

The 2024 Buick Encore GX garnered attention as one of Buick's best-looking models. It drew inspiration from the stunning Wildcat concept from 2022, and its heavily refreshed design featured a new face. Sleek daytime running lights perched above the grill, accompanied by angular LED lamps flanking it lower on each side, created a modern, aggressive stance. The new Buick logo added to its fresh appeal. The top-tier Avenir trim had a unique grill and some chrome accents, further enhancing its upscale appearance. The rear design remained mostly unchanged from 2023, except for the new LED tail lights on the top two trims. Equipped with available 19-inch wheels, the Encore GX presented a handsome package.

Buick offered the Encore GX in vivid colors such as brilliant red, deep blue, and maroon. There was even an almost-orange paint color called Copper Ice Metallic. A few of these colors allowed for a contrasting black roof, black mirrors, and black roof rails.

Inside, the most significant change was the relocation of HVAC vents to make room for a new 19-inch glass panel housing both the digital gauge cluster and the touchscreen. Though it had some functional drawbacks, the large glass panel lent the interior a premium, tech-savvy look at first glance. However, it also had the typical GM issue of some cheap-feeling plastics in the interior, and color options were limited to black or cream.

In contrast, the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer took a sporty and aggressive approach with its design, a big departure from its more generic predecessors. The minor styling refresh accentuated its sporty theme, especially with thinner top accent lights and a reshaped grille suggesting a need for more air, complemented by smaller, deeply set lower headlights in faceted cutouts. The Trailblazer looked more athletic and serious than ever.

The interior of the Trailblazer received a thorough makeover, featuring a new digital instrument panel and a larger 11-inch touchscreen. This setup offered a modern look, though the digital instrument panel did not completely occupy its trapezoidal enclosure, leading to a downmarket feel at night. The materials on the doors and dash, while looking decent enough, were discernibly harder plastics. Padding at the usual touchpoints ensured a degree of comfort, and the available fabric inserts in the door panels added a more inviting feel.

While design-wise, the Trailblazer’s interior drew similarities to the Volkswagen Taos with its angled infotainment touchscreen and conventional climate controls. However, it paled in comparison to the more modern Hyundai Kona cockpit and the entry-level luxury flavor of the Mazda CX-30.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX maintained its existing powertrain options. Available in FWD or AWD, the base Preferred trim featured a 1.2-liter three-cylinder engine with 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, paired with a CVT. The turbocharged 1.3-liter three-cylinder engine delivering 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque was an upgrade option across all trims, coupled with a nine-speed automatic transmission. The turbo engine offered a more responsive drive, accelerating to 60 mph in about nine seconds. It was adequate, though not particularly quick, and exhibited some roughness at take-off.

Highway passing was slower with a noticeable transmission lag of at least two seconds, making quick maneuvers challenging. The selectable AWD system was a notable feature for city driving, allowing better control over fuel consumption by deactivating AWD when not needed. However, compared to rivals with automatic AWD systems like the Honda HR-V, it required driver intervention to engage.

On the other hand, the 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer also offered two powertrain choices. The base 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine produced 137 horsepower and 162 pound-feet of torque, but performance was hindered by the CVT, which was slow to respond. The Activ trim featured a more powerful 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine with 155 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque, coupled with a more responsive nine-speed automatic transmission and AWD.

The 1.3-liter engine provided adequate acceleration, but it was necessary to floor the pedal for highway speeds and passing maneuvers. The Trailblazer took over nine seconds to hit 60 mph from a standstill, placing it among the slower vehicles in its class. Braking was straightforward and predictable, and while handling was confident, it did not encourage spirited driving. The ride quality was comfortable, smoothing over road imperfections and minimizing wind and road noise.

When comparing to rivals, the Volkswagen Taos had similar power output and slow transmission responses, but handled better. The Hyundai Kona felt weaker with its CVT despite similar power, but its higher-performing N-Line models were significantly more expensive. The Mazda CX-30 stood out for its sharp handling and ample power, catering to more spirited drivers.

As a subcompact SUV, the 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir offered limited utility, aligning with much of its competition. Towing capacity was modest at just 1,000 pounds, but an available hands-free liftgate facilitated rear cargo loading. Behind the rear seats, the Encore GX provided 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space, expandable to 50.2 cubic feet with the seats folded down. Folding the front seat facilitated transportation of items up to eight feet long.

Inside, it offered available heated seats and a heated steering wheel, though seat ventilation was absent. Two-way power-adjustable seats were standard, with eight-way adjustable seats available only on the top trim or via the Comfort package on lower trims. A seven-speaker Bose audio system was also available.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer excelled in interior space and storage features. The front seats were firmly padded, offering comfort on long trips without any hard spots. Heated seats were standard on all but the base LS trim, and the Activ and RS trims included a heated steering wheel. A panoramic power sunroof was available on most trims.

The Trailblazer provided ample rear seat space, accommodating adult passengers comfortably with sufficient legroom and space under the front seats. As a result, rear-facing infant seats fit without needing to adjust the front seats. Headroom was adequate for individuals under six feet tall.

In terms of cargo space, the Trailblazer outperformed many rivals. It offered 25.3 cubic feet of space behind the rear seats, close to the Hyundai Kona’s 25.5 cubic feet, and exceeding the Volkswagen Taos’ 24.9 cubic feet and the Mazda CX-30’s 20.2 cubic feet. The hands-free power liftgate was an added convenience, with a selectable opening height to prevent damage in low-clearance areas.

The Encore GX’s interior featured an 11-inch touchscreen integrated with an 8-inch digital gauge cluster under one glass pane. Although visually appealing initially, the excessive unused screen space once illuminated created a somewhat awkward look. Nevertheless, it provided wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, USB-A and USB-C ports, a wireless charging pad, and an optional 120-volt outlet. The rear camera mirror with a wider view was a notable feature. The straightforward infotainment system lacked additional functionalities beyond essential smartphone mirroring, climate control, settings, camera views, and a Wi-Fi hotspot.

In contrast, the Trailblazer’s 11-inch infotainment touchscreen was a significant upgrade from previous models and came standard across all trims. Positioned to minimize driver distraction, the system’s input responses were slightly delayed. It featured wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, which paired well with the optional wireless charging pad. Satellite radio was standard, though a separate subscription was required. Native navigation was not available, relying instead on smartphone connectivity for navigation needs.

The base audio system included six speakers, with an optional Bose premium upgrade for enhanced sound quality. The technology suite in the Trailblazer was user-friendly and easy to operate, albeit average compared to competitors.

The 2024 Buick Encore GX featured the standard Driver Confidence package, including lane-keeping assist, lane-departure warning, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alert, following distance indicator, and automatic high beams. Blind-spot monitoring was also standard across all trims. However, rear park assist, rear cross-traffic alert, adaptive cruise control, and a 360-degree camera were optional.

Specifically, the Teen Driver and Buckle to Drive features were unique. Teen Driver enabled parents to monitor a young driver’s habits with a password-protected report card, offering a useful teaching tool. The Buckle to Drive feature temporarily prevented shifting out of park if the driver’s seat belt was not fastened, and could be turned off if desired.

The NHTSA awarded the 2024 Buick Encore GX five stars overall, including five stars for frontal and side crash ratings and four stars for rollover protection. The IIHS had yet to rate the 2024 model, though the 2023 version scored well in crashworthiness and front crash prevention, but had variable ratings for headlights and the LATCH system.

The 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer also received top safety ratings with five stars overall from NHTSA and the highest IIHS ratings in all crashworthiness tests. Standard safety features included frontal collision warning with automatic emergency braking, lane-keep assist with lane-departure warning, and optional blind-spot monitoring with rear cross-traffic alert and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control was an additional option.

While the Trailblazer’s safety features performed well without false alarms, the absence of a head-up display was felt. Instead, a series of red warning lights reflected on the windshield to alert the driver of potential collisions.