Crash Test Rating
Source   NHTSA
MPG (up to)
23 -28 City / 30 -34 HWY
Horsepower
138 -153
Seats
5
Front passenger 3/4 w/ wheels turned.

Positive Owner Reviews

accountCircle John D
Safety features during a crash test.
Handling space gas mileage safety features as well back up camera and tailgate. Radio controls are easy to figure out.
accountCircle Carolyn W
The gas mileage and seating size of the car.
I love the look of the car. Also the interior set up is great. I get great gas mileage. This is my first luxury car and I love driving it.
accountCircle Emily S
Good car reliable uncomfortable back seats good snow driving recommend my car.
It is very small and the seats in the back and not comfortable they are very extremely stiff. There's only one armrest in the front. But it never has any issues and drives in the snow good. The back seat is very cramped and do not move they cannot lean back or go forward. They are stuck. My back seat middle seat belt plug in is stuck between the seats and there's no way to get it out.
accountCircle xavier b
My satisfaction with my ride
It's surprising but i've never had any problems just regular maintenance oil change dtc change windshield wipers passes every yearly inspection runs smooth nothing to complain about
accountCircle Candy J
It's the reincarnation of my 2002 Saturn.
Its smooth and roomy. Its pretty. I can carry luggage and people. I love Buick encores and the whole Buick family.
accountCircle Veronica E
It is great for the size, compact but off the ground.
I like that it is compact yet high off the ground with a large trunk. Drives great. The actual seating area is just a bit too snug. Wish there was more room in the backseat for legs.
accountCircle Katrina C
Overall I am really happy with my Buick encore 2016.
I love my new Buick encore, its a 2016 model. Very reliable and it is great on gas. The look is very clean and I love the lights of the dashboard. I travel often with my husband and son who is 6 months old. There's enough room for his car seat and all the baby stuff that we have to take with us when we travel which is usually quite a bit. One thing I should mention is that I've had the car for only 2 years and already had to buy a battery for $150.
accountCircle Joy P
I love it. It gets an average of 22-25 miles per gallon.
Perfect compact SUV. Extra features included as standard. Great mileage.

Negative Owner Reviews

accountCircle Kimberly Crowner
Reliability and standing behind there product
My engine valves had to be replaced at 80,000 miles. No warning sign until I started out to go to work had no power engine light came on and began blowing black smoke. $4,000 to be repaired. Been repaired for about a month and engine light has come on twice however, not staying on. Not trusting Buick products or the company at this time.
accountCircle Katherine
ITS AWFUL!!!
Definitely wouldn’t recommend this car. Got my car basically brand new with 19,000 miles on it. From the start it felt like my transmission was slipping. Then my car wouldn’t start unless it was jumped so had to get a new battery to fix that. Then at 40,000 miles the turbo went out in the car when I was over an hour away from home. Half the time the inside trim lights and lights for my radio and heating and cooling buttons won’t turn on. Out of all the cars I’ve had and the price I had to pay for this car. It’s a piece of s**t
accountCircle Dave
Most unreliable car I’ve owned
At 48000 intake manifold replaced, both 02 sensors replaced, 75k catalytic converters replaced, 77k water pump replaced….trust it as far as I can throw it…would give negative stars if I could. Avoid this piece of GARBAGE!!!
accountCircle Marilyn
Nothing under warranty??
Have Had nothing but problems with the 2016 Buick Encore! At 53,000 miles the Coil Pack needed to be replaced. At 57,000 miles the Alternator went. And at 58,000 miles it needs an A/C compressor and Turbo pipes Replaced. Spoke to GM/ Buick customer service and all they would do would off 20% off, not to mention the dealer charges double than any other mechanics. Needless to say 20% is an insult. Done with GM products.
accountCircle Lance Oviatt
Parts unavailable.
Transmission went out and they have no estimate of when one will be available.It's been sitting dead at the dealer for over four months now.
accountCircle Kathy
Several car parts cracked within one year
I am very disappointed with my 2016 Buick Encore. I have had it for 3 1/2 years now, however in the last year I have had several issues even though it is regularly serviced and taken care of. It has had the battery replace, the camshaft cover has cracked twice now and other camshaft parts were needed as well, the turbo line has cracked, and the A/C had a tear in the line and leaked refrigerant. I hate the windshield they put in these buicks as they don't defrost quickly and no matter what type of wiper blades are used there is a smear effect that occurs when raining.
accountCircle Yvette
GM poor customer service
My car battery died and the car required a jump start. This caused the Intellilink system to display "Locked". Took the car to a GM dealer who did not know how to fix it. Insisted that I needed to buy a new radio because the system was permanently "locked", which is a completely ridiculous concept. Spoke with GM Customer service was not helpful, just said "sorry your having problems with the car". My advice is to never buy a GM vehicle.
accountCircle Modia
Horrible
I've had 2 batteries replaced in 2 years and the ac is completely screwed and it cost 1700.00 to fix it. I hate this car. I do not recommend. I'm at the point where I am going to turn the car and get a repo on my credit. It's that bad.

Buick Encore Models

Models also known as Trim Levels, are used to identify a vehicle's level of equipment or special features.

car
Base
138 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats
car
Sport Touring
153 HP 30 MPG 5 Seats
car
Convenience
138 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats
car
Leather
138 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats
car
Premium
138 HP 26 MPG 5 Seats
Photos may not match model

2016 Buick Encore Owner Reviews

4.15
352 Reviews
close Write Review
5 stars 49%
4 stars 32%
3 stars 10%
2 stars 3%
1 star 6%
accountCircle Heather S on September 7, 2021
Encore
2016 encore has been a good car until this past 2 weeks (8/2021). Now it seems like the whole car is crapping out at once. The buick dealership says it's the valve cover gasket and the crank case gasket $750 to fix. I had Autozone run diagnostic and there's a long list of everything else like the computers not communicating with each other. Onstar gives diagnostic of engine/transmission problems!! It is not running good so I know something is wrong. My engine light just came on 3 days ago, my ABS light just started coming on for a few seconds only when I'm stopped but not all the time, that started 2 days ago... This is the last GMproduct I buy!
accountCircle Dave on August 9, 2021
Most unreliable car I’ve owned
At 48000 intake manifold replaced, both 02 sensors replaced, 75k catalytic converters replaced, 77k water pump replaced….trust it as far as I can throw it…would give negative stars if I could. Avoid this piece of GARBAGE!!!

Pros from Owners

likeFilled Angela J.

It has a hatchback, that means there is more room for groceries and more shopping, larger items as well. It is compact and can fit into most parking spaces. The vehicle came in a nice metallic blue, so you can get the vehicle in any color you want.

likeFilled Sayuri F.

I love this car! It is compact yet big cargo space. Lots of pockets to put small items. Love the leg space in the back for tall people. Easy seat folding when you have something to load in the back.

likeFilled Paula M.

It gets great gas mileage. I love that it is small and easy to park. I love how it notifies you when you need an oil change and when your tire pressure is low. It is roomy enough for a family of four to drive it on vacation. There is decent storage in the back.

likeFilled Matthew S.

Small enough to feel like a compact car. Great gas mileage. Nice sound system. Quiet ride. Tight suspension. The car handles really well and for being a crossover vehicle, it feels more like a car, which is helpful when parking in small parking spots.

likeFilled Tom J.

Con- wheelbase is too short, need a bigger gas tank, part replacement is expensive. Pro- plenty of room in the back providing only a two family household. Great fuel mileage, nice dashboard arrangement.

likeFilled Nathan T.

The pros are that they last a long time. I haven't had any problems with my car for 4 years. It is also very fast. I love the interior. It truly is a beautiful car. Brakes are really good as well. Definitely worth the purchase.

likeFilled Sara B.

Sporty, cute, quick. Big trunk, remote start, power seats and windows, XM radio, CD player, back up camera. All wheel drive which is great in the winter. Screen to see oil level, gas level, tire pressure.

likeFilled Nancy C.

Small size, easy handling, plenty of zip. Wi-Fi hotspot. I liked the color choices. I am short in stature and the seat moves up and pushes forward enough to make driving comfortable. It has a stylish look.

Cons from Owners

dislikeFilled Angela J.

Being a smaller vehicle, I cannot move or purchase furniture, I cannot fit more than 4 additional people in the car. Other than that, it is a nice vehicle. Though it is a small car, it still qualifies as an SUV, and will be charged SUV prices if driving some places for parking.

dislikeFilled Sayuri F.

This car is compact so it is not for long leg driver and tall people driver for the front seat. I do not like the fact it is not push start on this model but keyless start is available to his car. I think this car is very well fit for female or girl car.

dislikeFilled Paula M.

It is grey and small so it is hard to find in the parking lots especially when it is sandwiched between two big pickups or SUVs. The roof rack is for looks and it would be nice if you could carry luggage on the roof but you need special equipment for that.

dislikeFilled Matthew S.

It has a very small engine with terrible power. It is a very weak 4 cylinder which makes it struggle when it goes over even just slight hills. The dash-console seems to hang a little low with unused plastic that does not work well for people with long legs. There are 2 big blind spots due to the panels between the side windows that really hampers views when pulling out of spots.

dislikeFilled Tom J.

Short wheelbase,small gas tank. Good room in the back providing you only a two person family, feel every bump the suspension needs to be more of a relaxed car. Parts are expensive, had a ac tube break and the car was still brand news and they used crimp fittings instead of. Radiator type clamps, was not covered in warranty and boy was that very unfair had to pay $675.

dislikeFilled Nathan T.

The only con about my car now is that it is 4 years old and I like newer cars. It is still a beautiful car and runs great though. Not to much negative stuff to say about it really. Maybe a newer version would be good.

dislikeFilled Sara B.

The back seat is very small so it is very crowded when 3 people ride in the back, especially if there is a car seat. It is hard for 3 people to all have seatbelts on in the back seat. Had to get new tires after about a year.

dislikeFilled Nancy C.

The inside is rather small. There is no center console. The screen is not a touch screen. There is no GPS, other than with OnStar. The back hatch door is not adjustable and I need a small step stool to reach it to close it.

Ranks #16 Compact SUV by Owners

The 2016 Buick Encore has an average owner rating of 4.30 out of 5 which ranks it #16 of 26 other Compact SUVs.

1
Tie
car
4.7
1
Tie
car
4.7
16
car
4.29

Ranks #2 Compact SUV by Fuel Economy

The 2016 Buick Encore has a combined MPG of 32 which ranks it #2 of 26 other Compact SUVs.

1
car
34 MPG
2
Tie
car
32 MPG
2
Tie
car
32 MPG
2
Tie
car
34 MPG

Is The 2016 Buick Encore A Good Car?

Yes- I haven't had any issues beyond regular maintenance. I wish I had gotten the AWD for winter driving. The car feels light and easy to get pushed around by wind.
Sarah S.
Yes a basic ride. Smooth ride. Good gas mileage. Low maintenance. Rather good acceleration. . A little small for my needs. . Miss fog lights and wiper driver.
Linda M.
It's nice but is small I like the IntelliLink comm unit it means hands free but I really like the front grill is sharp very catchy.
Cedric R.
I absolutely love my Encore. This vehicle looks great and rides great. Has many amenities that I was not use to.
Sam F.
Yes. It is study and has a high undercarriage which is great for when it snows. It gets pretty good gas mileage for its size.
Sarah L.

How Reliable Is The 2016 Buick Encore?

Yes, it is reliable. The only issue I had was when I got stuck on ice and the engine shut off unexpectedly.
Sarah S.
Seems good to me. Keep good tires. The free oil changes from the dealer great too. I have many miles and no major repairs.
Linda M.
Not that I have noticed but I do think there was a recall but I am not sure if it was this year or the year before they look the same to me.
Cedric R.
Yes very reliable and I have had no issues whatsoever. I love bring up high and being able to see. Love the backup camera feature.
Ashlee L.
I've only had it for a few months but it seems to be a reliable car. The only annoyance I have come across so far is that the Bluetooth unpairs with my phone every now and then but that could be a... Read More
Julie E.

Is The 2016 Buick Encore A Good Value?

I bought my mode for $16,000 at 3 years old. It depends on the dealership and condition of car, but it seems like a good value.
Sarah S.
I pay a lot per month in my loan. I think the vehicle cost around $35000. Not sure it is a great value. Still I like it.
Linda M.
I think it was advertised at 19,5 but I got it for 13,3 with a 2 year warranty and free roadside service but I think it is a good value for what I have paid but it is on the small side.
Cedric R.
We bought ours used so paid around 17,000. With tax and title. We think this was very reasonable for a perfect condition SUV.
Chris F.
At 40000 miles with a warranty it came to about 26k. This was a little higher than I wanted to pay but given that the car seems sturdy and is covered by warranty so it seems like it will be worth the... Read More
William B.

Related Articles for 2016 Buick Encore

From the Vehicle History blog

car
2016 Buick Encore Problems Cover Airbag Recalls, Engine Stall, and Power Steering Failure

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a 2016 Buick Encore tow a pop up camper?

Answer: If You are wondering whether the 2016 Buick Encore can tow a pop up camper, I can help give You some information on that. It can be possible for the Buick Encore to tow a pop up camper if the camper weighs less...

What might cause 2016 buick encore coolant leak?

Answer: Coolant leaks in any vehicle can happen as hoses gaskets and seals age. They most often appear between the reservoir and radiator and involve cracked, damaged or disconnected hoses. Drivers will typically...

2016 Buick Encore: What is the tire size and pressure, and wheel size?

Answer: Finding the tire size for Your 2016 Buick Encore will be easy because all trim levels including the base, convenience, premium, and sport touring models all came factory standard with the same 215/55R18 tires....

Does the 2016 Buick Encore have heated seats?

Answer: The 2016 Buick Encore comes with optional headed seats available on the vehicle. They are part of the cold weather package which also includes a heated steering wheel and they are only available with the...

How many quarts of oil does the 2016 Buick Encore take?

Answer: The 2016 Buick Encore has a 1.4 L 4Cylinder engine that takeS4.2 quarts of oil with a filter. The type that is used in the Encore is 0W-30 in below -20 F or 5W-30 in all temperatures. Motor oil is primarily...

Answers are provided by third parties. We do not guarantee accuracy of responses

Safety & Reliability

NHTSA Logo
NHTSA Crash Test

Overall

Front

Rollover

Side

*National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
IIHS Logo
IIHS Crash Test

Moderate Overlap Front

Side

Roof Strength

Driver-side Overlap Front

*Insurance Institute for Highway Safety