Why did they stop making Buick Encore?
The traditional Buick Encore was discontinued in the North American market after the 2022 model year, with the Encore GX serving as the entry-level Buick crossover instead. This shift reflects a broader tightening of Buick’s lineup toward larger SUVs and future electrified models.
Buick’s decision to end the Encore line is part of a broader industry pattern: automakers are pruning aging or less profitable models to focus resources on vehicles with stronger demand, higher margins, and clearer paths to electrification. This article examines the factors behind the move, what replaced the Encore, and what it signals about Buick’s strategy going forward.
Root causes of the Encore’s discontinuation
Below is a look at the key pressures that led GM to retire the traditional Encore and reallocate resources to newer products.
- Weak sales and limited market share in a crowded subcompact crossover segment.
- Ageing design and platform; the Encore rode an older GM Gamma II architecture with limited modern tech updates.
- Strategic shift toward higher-margin SUVs and crossovers, along with a commitment to electrification across Buick’s lineup.
- Product portfolio rationalization within GM: consolidating offerings to reduce overlap and streamline development costs.
- Need to allocate development dollars to future Buick models, including electric vehicles, rather than refreshing an aging entry model.
These factors collectively made continued production of the traditional Encore less viable for Buick in a competitive market that prizes efficiency, technology, and electrification.
What filled the gap left by the Encore?
With the Encore retired in North America, Buick positioned the Encore GX as the new entry point to the brand’s SUV lineup. The Encore GX is marketed as a more modern, better-equipped option that aligns with Buick’s current design language and technology emphasis.
- The Encore GX offers updated styling, more interior space, and contemporary technologies compared with the original Encore.
- It serves as Buick’s entry-level crossover while other models like the Envision and Enclave address mid- and full-size segments.
- The move reflects GM’s broader strategy to standardize platforms and push electrified variants in Buick’s lineup.
In short, the Encore is off the active North American roster, and Buick is leaning on the Encore GX as an upgraded, more capable entry model within a streamlined SUV lineup.
Market context and Buick’s broader strategy
Buick’s product strategy in recent years has focused on modernizing its SUV lineup and preparing for an electrified future. The company has been consolidating platforms, updating design language, and prioritizing models with stronger sales momentum and higher profit potential.
As part of GM’s broader electrification push, Buick has signaled continued emphasis on SUVs and crossovers, while introducing EV-focused initiatives and upcoming models under the Buick Electra family. The Encore’s removal from the U.S. market fits into this larger plan: retire aging, low-margin offerings and reinvest in vehicles that better match consumer demand for space, technology, and electrification.
Electrification and Buick’s future models
Buick has outlined a path toward electrified propulsion across its lineup, with future crossovers and EV-specific models planned to compete in a market that increasingly favors battery-electric options. This strategic direction influenced the decision to retire the traditional Encore and concentrate on newer, more adaptable platforms.
Summary
The Buick Encore was discontinued in North America as part of a portfolio optimization aimed at improving profitability and aligning with a future focused on larger SUVs and electrification. The Encore GX now fills the entry-level role, offering modern tech and better efficiency, while Buick continues to evolve its lineup toward electrified, higher-demand models. The change reflects broader industry trends and Buick’s aim to remain competitive in a changing market.
