Top Safety PickTop Safety Pick criteria

2023 Buick Encore GX

small SUV / 4-door SUV

Award applies only to vehicles with specific headlights

2023 Buick Encore GX 4-door SUV
2021 Buick Encore GX shown

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
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

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

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 2020-24 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.

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 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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

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

Driver injury measures

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 2020-24 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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on passenger side

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

Passenger injury measures

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

Driver injury measures

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 2020-24 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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

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

Driver injury measures

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 2020-24 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.

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

Measures of occupant compartment intrusion on driver side

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.

Driver injury measures

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

Passenger injury measures

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 weight3,243 lbs
Peak force17,002 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio5.24

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
Low-beam headlight typeLED projector
High-beam headlight typeLED reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
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 Some glare

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
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
Low-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
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 High-beam assist credit Some glare

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
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
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

Overall evaluation

This rating applies to all 2021-24 models

Superior
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 2021-24 models

Overall evaluation
Vehicle trimPreferred
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 trimPreferred
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
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
Tether anchor
easy-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
none available
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

Seat position 21

3

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

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		 Yes
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) 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