2021 Buick Encore

small SUV / 4-door SUV

2021 Buick Encore 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

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

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Headlights
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Basic
Front crash prevention: pedestrian (day)
Not available

Seat belts & child restraints

Seat belt reminders
LATCH ease of use

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning

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 2015-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Buick Encore Convenience Group 4-door 4wd

The Buick Encore was introduced in the 2013 model year and the Chevrolet Trax was introduced in the 2015 model year. Beginning with 2015 models of the Encore and Trax, the front-end structure was modified to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

Overall evaluation
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 driver-side 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 reasonably 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 reasonably well, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEN1502
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 14
Footrest (cm) 9
Left toepan (cm) 8
Brake pedal (cm) 9
Parking brake (cm)
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 2
Upper occupant compartment
Steering column 4
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 14
Upper dash (cm) 12
Lower instrument panel (cm) 12

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEN1502
Head
HIC-15 107
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.3
Extension bending moment (Nm) 7
Maximum Nij 0.23
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 3.9
Right 0.1
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 7
Right 2
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 1
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.53
Right 0.33
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.8
Right 0.6
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 56
Right 49

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2015-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2015 Buick Encore Convenience Group 4-door 4wd

The Buick Encore was introduced in the 2013 model year and the Chevrolet Trax was introduced in the 2015 model year. Beginning with 2015 models of the Encore and Trax, the front-end structure was modified to improve occupant protection in small overlap frontal crashes.

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
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but started to roll around the right side because the seat belt allowed excessive forward excursion of the head and torso.

Action shot taken during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger’s survival space was maintained reasonably well.

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

Intrusion into the passenger's space was reasonably well controlled, and risk of injuries to the dummy's legs and feet was low.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

Test ID CN15007
Lower occupant compartment
Lower hinge pillar max (cm) 13
Footrest (cm) 11
Right toepan (cm) 7
Center toepan (cm) 1
Rocker panel lateral average (cm) 4
Upper occupant compartment
Center dash (cm) 7
Upper hinge pillar max (cm) 12
Upper dash (cm) 11
Right lower dash (cm) 10

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CN15007
Head
HIC-15 110
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 8
Maximum Nij 0.17
Chest maximum compression (mm) 25
Femur (kN)
Left 0.9
Right 3.5
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 4
Right 5
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 1
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.58
Right 0.66
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.9
Right 2.0
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 46
Right 50

Driver injury measures

Test ID CN15007
Head
HIC-15 105
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Extension bending moment (Nm) 15
Maximum Nij 0.26
Chest maximum compression (mm) 22
Femur (kN)
Left 0.1
Right 0.8
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 4
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.19
Right 0.20
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 35
Right 49

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2013-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Buick Encore 4-door 4wd

The Buick Encore was introduced in the 2013 model year and the Chevrolet Trax was introduced in the 2015 model year.

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

Action shot taken during the moderate overlap frontal crash test.

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

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from hitting hard structures during rebound by the side curtain airbag.

Intrusion into the driver's space was minimal, and all leg and foot injury measures were low. The deployed knee airbag is resting on the dummy's lower legs.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF1303
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 3
Left (cm) 6
Center (cm) 9
Right (cm) 6
Brake pedal (cm) 11
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) -2
Rearward (cm) -7
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF1303
Head
HIC-15 194
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Extension bending moment (Nm) 12
Maximum Nij 0.25
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Legs
Femur force - left (kN) 0.2
Femur force - right (kN) 0.6
Knee displacement - left (mm) 1
Knee displacement - right (mm) 0
Maximum tibia index - left 0.19
Maximum tibia index - right 0.30
Tibia axial force - left (kN) 1.5
Tibia axial force - right (kN) 3.3
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 36
Right 87

About the original moderate overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: updated test

Rating applies to 2021-22 models

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

The Buick Encore was introduced in the 2013 model year.

Overall evaluation
Structure and safety cage
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh/hip
Leg/foot
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
Chest
Thigh
Rear passenger restraints and dummy kinematics

View of the vehicle after the crash showing the airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

The rear passenger dummy's head came close to contacting the front seatback, which increases the risk of head injuries.

The rear passenger dummy injury values indicate a moderate risk of injury to the head or neck and a likely risk of injury to the chest. During the crash, the shoulder belt remained in an ideal position on the dummy’s chest.

The rear passenger dummy's lap belt remained in the ideal position on the pelvis.

During rebound the rear passenger dummy's head moved outside of the side curtain airbag. The head protection is inadequate and puts the head at risk of possible contact with outside objects.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CEF2103
Footwell intrusion
Footrest (cm) 4
Left (cm) 7
Center (cm) 14
Right (cm) 7
Brake pedal (cm) 10
Instrument panel rearward movement
Left (cm) 0
Right (cm) 0
Steering column movement
Upward (cm) 3
Rearward (cm) -1
A-pillar rearward movement (cm) 0

Driver injury measures

Test ID CEF2103
Head
HIC-15 247
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.5
Extension bending moment (Nm) 11
Maximum Nij 0.15
Chest maximum compression (mm) 29
Femur (kN)
Left 0.2
Right 0.6
Knee displacement (mm)
Left 0
Right 1
Knee-thigh-hip injury risk (%)
Left 0
Right 0
Maximum tibia index
Left 0.24
Right 0.44
Tibia axial force (kN)
Left 1.7
Right 2.2
Foot acceleration (g)
Left 48
Right 95

Rear passenger injury measures

Test ID CEF2103
Head
HIC-15 for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Peak gs at hard contact 28
Neck
Tension (kN) 2.5
Compression (kN) 1.1
Maximum Nij for head contact during forward excursion
no contact
Chest
Chest index 47
Shoulder belt tension (kN) 7.3
Thigh (kN)
Left femur compression 0.4
Right femur compression 1.3

About the moderate overlap front test

February 2024 adjustment to rating criteria

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2013-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Buick Encore 4-door 4wd with standard front and rear head curtain airbags and standard front and rear seat-mounted torso airbags

The Buick Encore was introduced in the 2013 model year and the Chevrolet Trax was introduced in the 2015 model year.

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

View of the vehicle and barrier just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side curtain airbag.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbag.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES1301
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -15.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES1301
Head HIC-15 189
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.2
Compression (kN) 0.5
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 31
Lateral force (kN) 1.5
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 31
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.08
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.29
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 1.5
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.8
Combined force (kN) 3.1
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.2
L-M moment (Nm) 155
A-P moment (Nm) -22

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES1301
Head HIC-15 148
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 16
Lateral force (kN) 1.0
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 22
Average deflection (mm) 18
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 1.87
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.17
Pelvis
Iliac force (kN) 0.2
Acetabulum force (kN) 1.2
Combined force (kN) 1.4
Left femur
L-M force (kN) 0.3
L-M moment (Nm) 53
A-P moment (Nm) 11

About the original side crash test

Side: updated test

Rating applies to 2013-22 models

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

The Buick Encore was introduced in the 2013 model year and the Chevrolet Trax was introduced in the 2015 model year.

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

View of the vehicle just after the crash test.

View of the vehicle after the crash with doors removed, showing the side airbags and damage to the occupant compartment.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the driver dummy's head was protected from being hit by hard structures by the side airbags.

Smeared greasepaint shows where the rear passenger dummy’s head was protected by the side airbags.

Technical measurements for this test

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

Test ID CES2005
B-pillar to longitudinal centerline of driver's seat (cm) -18.5
Negative numbers indicate the amount by which the crush stopped short of the seat centerline.

Driver injury measures

Test ID CES2005
Head
HIC-15 188
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 1.0
Compression (kN) 0.3
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 43
Lateral force (kN) 1.6
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 43
Average deflection (mm) 41
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 3.32
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.66
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.8

Passenger injury measures

Test ID CES2005
Head
HIC-15 126
Peak gs at hard contact no contact
Neck
Tension (kN) 0.3
Compression (kN) 1.1
Shoulder
Lateral deflection (mm) 14
Lateral force (kN) 0.9
Torso
Maximum deflection (mm) 34
Average deflection (mm) 27
Maximum deflection rate (m/s) 2.62
Maximum viscous criterion (m/s) 0.44
Pelvis
Combined force (kN) 3.7

About the side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2013-22 models

Tested vehicle: 2013 Buick Encore 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
Curb weight3,327 lbs
Peak force15,414 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.63

About the roof strength test

Head restraints & seats

Seat type: Power leather seats

Overall evaluation
Dynamic rating
Seat/head restraint geometry
Technical measurements for this test
Seat type Power leather seats
Geometry
Backset (mm) 4
Distance below top of head (mm) 10
Seat design parameters
Pass/fail Pass
Max T1 acceleration (g) 11.3
Head contact time (ms) 56
Force rating 1
Neck forces
Max neck shear force (N) 27
Max neck tension (N) 371

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

Headlights

Trim level(s)

  • All trims
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination

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

The low beams never exceeded glare limits.

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

Technical measurements for this test
Trim level(s)
  • All trims
Low-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
High-beam headlight type Halogen reflector
Curve-adaptive? No
High-beam assist? No
Overall rating
Applies to 2021-22 models
LOW BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)		 Amount glare
exceeded threshold
Straightaway right edge 82.7 m None
Straightaway left edge 53.6 m None
250m radius right curve, right edge 52.0 m None
250m radius left curve, left edge 48.0 m None
150m radius right curve, right edge 41.8 m None
150m radius left curve, left edge 38.7 m None
HIGH BEAMS Average minimum useful
illumination distance (5 lux)
Straightaway right edge 169.3 m
Straightaway left edge 153.9 m
250m radius right curve, right edge 64.0 m
250m radius left curve, left edge 65.0 m
150m radius right curve, right edge 47.9 m
150m radius left curve, left edge 48.0 m

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Forward Collision Alert

Package name

  • Optional Safety Package II

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2020-22 models

Basic
Basic
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • Autobrake not available.

About the original front crash prevention test

Seat belt reminders

Rating applies to 2021-22 models

Overall evaluation
Front row
Unbelted occupant alert (audible & visual)
Initiation time
DurationNegligible (under 8 seconds)
Volume
Audio frequency
Second row
Startup status alert (visual)
None
Technical measurements for this test
Background cabin sound pressure level at 24 km/h 53 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 24 km/h 68 dB
Difference between background and signal 15.6 dB
Background cabin sound pressure level at 40 km/h 56 dB
Audible signal sound pressure level at 40 km/h 65 dB
Difference between background and signal 9.3 dB
Dominant audio frequency 750 Hz

About the seat belt reminder evaluation

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2016-22 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimConvenience Group
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.

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimConvenience Group
Seat type cloth
1 2 3
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
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

1
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
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
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
3
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
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

Seat position 21

3

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 31
Clearance angle (degrees) 69
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 28
Clearance angle (degrees) 68
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 22

2

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		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

Seat position 23

1

Lower anchor A
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 24
Clearance angle (degrees) 73
Lower anchor B
Open access rated No
Depth (cm) 4-6
Force (lbs) 25
Clearance angle (degrees) 74
Tether anchor
Location Middle seatback
Confusing hardware present Yes
Has contrasting label
within 3 inches of tether anchor		 No
Tether anchors can be accessed
while seatback is properly positioned
for use of LATCH		 Not measured

About the child seat anchor evaluation