By Darlene
Donloe
Not only is this car fun to drive, it’s a head turner. Whether I
was on city streets or on the highway, the car drove well and handled
well.
When you’re in the market for a new car, you have to ask
yourself. What do you want from a car? Then you have to answer yourself. Hmmmm, I’ll probably find it in a Buick.
Here’s why.
The quiet cabin has a cozy interior and is convenient with its
4.2-inch diagonal Driver Information Center and 8-inch diagonal
color-touch screen display with easy to use controls. You get all of the
information needed at a glance.
Recent upgrade includes a restyled instrument panel, revised
front –end styling, interior material, new technology interface that offers
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone integration. There are also new headlights and a new
grille design.
There is a lot to like with the Encore. It delivers a solid fuel
economy, has excellent crash-test scores and an enviable list of tech and
safety features. There is a folding second row and a fold-flat front passenger seat.
This crossover SUV is offered in six trim levels: 1SV,
Preferred, Sport Touring, Preferred II, Essence and Premium.
The one I drove had a quicksilver metallic exterior and a shale interior
with ebony accents.
VEHICLE AT A GLANCE: Engine, ecotec turbo 1.4LVVT, DOHC
4-cylinder, keyless open w/extended range, remote keyless entry, airbags,
driver and front passenger: frontal, knee, side impact and head curtain; rear
outboard passengers: side impact and head curtain; StabiliTrak-Stability
control system w/traction control; anti lock brake system, 4 wheel disc brakes,
forward collision alert, lane departure warning, rear vision camera, side blind
zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, theft deterrent system, quiet tuning,
leather appointed seats, driver and front passenger heated seats, seat
adjuster, front pass 6-way powder with manual recline, seatback passenger flat
fold, seat rear 60/40 split folding, power windows w/express driver up/down,
climate control, cruise control, dual zone automatic, driver seat, heated
steering wheel, audio system – BOSE premium, Bluetooth for select phones and
music, XM radio, OnStar.
MSRP: $34,075
FUEL ECONOMY: 27/33
THE DRIVE:
Exceptional!
Darlene Donloe is a
seasoned entertainment, travel and car journalist whose work has appeared in People,
Ebony, Essence, LA Stage Times, LA Watts Times, Black Meetings and Tourism, Los
Angeles Sentinel, EMMY, The Hollywood Reporter, Rhythm & Business,
Billboard, Grammy, CYH, BlackVoices.com and more. Contact her via: ddonloe@gmail.com
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