Top Safety Pick

2021 Buick Encore GX

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteria	Rating
Small overlap front: driver-side
Small overlap front: passenger-side
Moderate overlap front: original test
Side: original test
Roof strength
Head restraints & seats

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Headlights (varies by trim/option)
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Standard system	Superior
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Standard system	Superior

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteria	Rating
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

Optional blind spot detection
Standard lane departure warning & prevention

Key

G
Good
A
Acceptable
M
Marginal
P
Poor

Superior
Advanced
Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Buick Encore GX Select 4-door 4wd

The Buick Encore GX was introduced in the 2020 model year as a replacement for the Buick Encore, while the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer returns after an 11-year absence from the market as a replacement for the Chevrolet Trax. Two small overlap frontal tests of the Encore GX were conducted, one by the Institute and the other by General Motors . Ratings are based on both tests, but the vehicle specifications shown below are based on the Institute’s test.

Evaluation criteria	Rating

Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Action shot taken during the small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was maintained very well.

The frontal and side curtain airbags worked well together to keep the head from coming close to any stiff structure or outside objects that could cause injury.

The driver's space was maintained well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2105	CEN2104
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	6	5
Footrest (cm)	5	2
Left toepan (cm)	2	1
Brake pedal (cm)	3	2
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	1	1
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column	0	0
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	6	4
Upper dash (cm)	6	2
Lower instrument panel (cm)	5	2

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTN2105	CEN2104
Head
HIC-15	154	122
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1	1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm)	19	12
Maximum Nij	0.21	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	20	24
Femur (kN)
Left	1.1	0.1
Right	1.0	0.2
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	1	0
Right	1	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0	0
Right	0	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.44	0.66
Right	0.42	0.50
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	1.8	1.6
Right	1.3	1.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	54	50
Right	112	40

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Buick Encore GX Essence 4-door 4wd

The Buick Encore GX was introduced in the 2020 model year as a replacement for the Buick Encore, while the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer returns after an 11-year absence from the market as a replacement for the Chevrolet Trax. Passenger-side small overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 Encore GX conducted by General Motors.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Hip/thigh
Lower leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2109
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm)	8
Footrest (cm)	4
Right toepan (cm)	0
Center toepan (cm)	2
Rocker panel lateral average (cm)	0
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm)	5
Upper hinge pillar max (cm)	7
Upper dash (cm)	7
Right lower dash (cm)	6

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2109
Head
HIC-15	243
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.7
Extension bending moment (Nm)	14
Maximum Nij	0.18
Chest maximum compression (mm)	16
Femur (kN)
Left	1.9
Right	3.0
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	4
Right	10
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.75
Right	0.86
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	2.7
Right	2.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	50
Right	38

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTP2109
Head
HIC-15	168
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Extension bending moment (Nm)	11
Maximum Nij	0.20
Chest maximum compression (mm)	22
Femur (kN)
Left	0.0
Right	0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left	0
Right	0
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left	0
Right	0
Maximum tibia index
Left	0.26
Right	0.25
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left	0.5
Right	0.8
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	40
Right	55

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Buick Encore GX Select 4-door 4wd

The Buick Encore GX was introduced in the 2020 model year as a replacement for the Buick Encore, while the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer returns after an 11-year absence from the market as a replacement for the Chevrolet Trax. Moderate overlap frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 Encore GX conducted by General Motors.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Leg/foot, left
Leg/foot, right
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2104
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm)	3
Left (cm)	3
Center (cm)	4
Right (cm)	9
Brake pedal (cm)	10
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm)	0
Right (cm)	0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm)	-2
Rearward (cm)	9
A-pillar rearward movement (cm)	0

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTF2104
Head
HIC-15	180
Peak gs at hard contact	no contact
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm)	9
Maximum Nij	0.22
Chest maximum compression (mm)	23
Legs
Femur force - left (kN)	0.2
Femur force - right (kN)	1.9
Knee displacement - left (mm)	0
Knee displacement - right (mm)	0
Maximum tibia index - left	0.36
Maximum tibia index - right	0.46
Tibia axial force - left (kN)	1.7
Tibia axial force - right (kN)	5.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left	64
Right	129

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2020-25 models

Tested vehicle: 2020 Buick Encore GX Essence 4-door 4wd

The Buick Encore GX was introduced in the 2020 model year as a replacement for the Buick Encore, while the 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer returns after an 11-year absence from the market as a replacement for the Chevrolet Trax. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test of a 2021 Encore GX conducted by General Motors.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Driver head protection
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Torso
Pelvis/leg
Rear passenger head protection

Technical measurements for this test

Test ID	VTS2104
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm)	-18.0
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2104
Head HIC-15	268
Neck
Tension (kN)	1.1
Compression (kN)	0.2
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	35
Lateral force (kN)	1.7
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	36
Average deflection (mm)	32
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	4.59
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.68
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	1.2
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.7
Combined force (kN)	2.8
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.9
L-M moment (Nm)	171
A-P moment (Nm)	16

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Test ID	VTS2104
Head HIC-15	173
Neck
Tension (kN)	0.6
Compression (kN)	0.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm)	23
Lateral force (kN)	1.1
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm)	28
Average deflection (mm)	26
Maximum deflection rate (m/s)	2.28
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s)	0.28
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN)	0.5
Acetabulum force (kN)	1.6
Combined force (kN)	2.0
Left femur
L-M force (kN)	0.8
L-M moment (Nm)	70
A-P moment (Nm)	20

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2021-23 models

Tested vehicle: 2021 Buick Encore GX Preferred 4-door 4wd

Ratings apply to the Buick Encore GX (tested) and the structurally similar all new 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer.

Overall evaluation
Curb weight	3,243 lbs
Peak force	17,002 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio	5.24

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power cloth seat

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry

Technical measurements for this test

Seat type	Power cloth seat
Geometry
Backset (mm)	22
Distance below top of head (mm)	-6
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail	Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g)	10.6
Head contact time (ms)	68
Force rating	1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N)	16
Max neck tension (N)	454

About the head restraint & seat test
Currently, IIHS tests apply only to front seats.

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

Essence trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good in all 4 tests.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Essence trim
Low-beam headlight type	LED projector
High-beam headlight type	LED reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021-23 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	115.2 m	7.2%
Straightaway left edge	74.8 m	7.2%
250m radius right curve, right edge	89.6 m	46.0%
250m radius left curve, left edge	84.6 m	92.5%
150m radius right curve, right edge	67.9 m	62.3%
150m radius left curve, left edge	66.7 m	75.1%

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	178.8 m
Straightaway left edge	160.3 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	90.8 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	89.5 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	69.1 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	68.0 m

Trim level(s)

Preferred trim
Select trim

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the left side of the road and fair on the right side. On curves, visibility was inadequate in all 4 tests.

The low beams created some glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was good on the gradual right curve, fair on the gradual left and sharp right curves, and inadequate on the sharp left curve.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on the straightaway, on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Evaluation criteria	Measurement
Trim level(s)	Preferred trim Select trim
Low-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type	Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?	No
High-beam assist?	Yes
Overall rating Applies to 2021-23 models

LOW BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)	Amount glare exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge	85.6 m	41.6%
Straightaway left edge	61.7 m	41.6%
250m radius right curve, right edge	54.9 m	None
250m radius left curve, left edge	52.2 m	None
150m radius right curve, right edge	44.9 m	None
150m radius left curve, left edge	42.2 m	None

HIGH BEAMS	Average minimum useful illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge	178.7 m
Straightaway left edge	144.5 m
250m radius right curve, right edge	75.1 m
250m radius left curve, left edge	70.2 m
150m radius right curve, right edge	56.7 m
150m radius left curve, left edge	51.9 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

Standard Automatic Emergency Braking

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2021-23 models

Superior

This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle nearly avoided a collision.

About the original front crash prevention test

Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)

System details

standard Automatic Emergency Braking/Front Pedestrian Braking

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2021-25 models

Superior

Crossing child

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Crossing adult

In the 12 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.

Parallel adult

In the 25 mph test, this vehicle avoided a collision.
In the 37 mph test, impact speed was reduced by 16 mph. A warning was issued 1.5 seconds before impact.

About the pedestrian front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2021-25 models

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	Preferred
Seat type	cloth

This vehicle has 2 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor only.

Evaluation criteria	Rating
Overall evaluation
Vehicle trim	Preferred
Seat type	cloth

Rating icon	Rating
G	Good
A	Acceptable
M	Marginal
P	Poor
	Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol	Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol	Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol	Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
	No hardware available

Details by seating position

Position	Rating
1
1	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors
2
2	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	none available
3
3	Tether anchor
	easy-to-find location
	no other hardware could be confused for anchor
	Lower anchors
	too deep in seat
	not too much force needed to attach
	easy to maneuver around anchors

Technical measurements for this test

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	6
Clearance angle (degrees)	77
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	22
Clearance angle (degrees)	77
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
No lower latch for this seat position
Lower anchor B
No lower latch for this seat position
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

Lower anchor A
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	18
Clearance angle (degrees)	81
Lower anchor B
Open access rated	No
Depth (cm)	2-4
Force (lbs)	15
Clearance angle (degrees)	79
Tether anchor
Location	Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present	Yes
Has contrasting label within 3 inches of tether anchor	Yes
Tether anchors can be accessed while seatback is properly positioned for use of LATCH	Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation