Encore vs Trax
 

For those of us shopping in Canada we have the option of the Buick Encore or its corporate cousin the Chevy Trax. Both vehicles are mechanically identical, sharing the Gamma platform. The biggest difference, Encore is assembled in Korea, Trax is assembled in North America.

The Trax has a base MSRP of $20k and the range topping LTZ AWD will set you back $30,880. Trax does't provide many of the standard creature comforts the Encore does, but it still is a value packed little CUV.

The Trax is 167.2 inches long and 70.0 inches wide and has a wheelbase of 100.6 inches.

The Encore holds a marginal gain over the Trax with an overall length of 168.4 inches and width 71.5 inches. Encore and Trax share wheelbase length of 100.6 inches

That adds up to an extra 3L of storage space in the Encores trunk, 533 L for Encore, 530 L for the Trax. Trax makes up the 3 L deficiency with 4 cup holders between the front seats, and 8 in total.

TRAX
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ENCORE

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More exploring and I noticed a couple things. The Trax comes with available Chevrolet MyLink system displayed on a 7 inch colour TOUCH screen. Due to screen location of the Encores infotainment system touch screen was impractical so on the Encore YOU CANT TOUCH...

The Trax is a few pounds lighter than the Encore, just 3,130lbs compared to Encores 3,190lbs. The Trax and Encore both deliver compact car fuel consuming numbers, the Trax consumption ratings of 7.8 L/100 km city and 5.7 L/100 km highway (manual) and 8.1 L/100 km city and 5.9 L/100 km highway (automatic) are negligibly better than the Encores 8.2L city / 6.0 highway.

A fully equipped Trax with MyLink and a sunroof, compared to an Encore equipped the same will save you almost $6k....

The choice is yours, if you feel you really need all the extra luxuries of the Encore go for it, but if you can do without save yourself $6k for the same car with a different logo... IN CANADA THAT IS

TRAX seems like a good competitor. Good bargain at a lower price. Better mileage too. You can definitely see the difference in the interior though. The TRAX interior is much more basic and plain.

The Trax has a much nicer looking dash design, better than the Encore. Just imagine if it had all the nice material on it like the Encore does.

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personal preference. I like the Encore dash more
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although for a basic interior the TRAX two tone seats are quite a nice touch. The TRAX dash is laid out much nicer, especially the centre stack but i would take the encores gauge cluster over the digital junk in the TRAX. You can definitely tell the two vehicles are related but GM really did put the extra effort in trying to distinguish the Encore from the TRAX

I just hate some of the design, like the outdated retro looking instrument cluster, side vents, steering wheel, etc.

Yeah I agree the bow tie with that kind of interior just throws me off and the gauge cluster doesn't match the interior at all. It looks very pieced together. I would stick with the buick.

I'm sure the Trax only comes with plastic trim on the interior. You just need to go see one and you will see why the Trax isn't as nice. No point explaining. When is the last time you've been in a low priced model Chevy car?

I am impressed with the interior of the Trax. The price difference, considering the two vehicles are the same in almost every other way, is quite appealing. Do they not sell the Trax in the USA?

If you add in all the bells and whistles on the Trax, would it bring the interior materials up to the level of the Encore?