I was five years old when my family decided to travel from South Carolina to Wyoming to stay the summer at a ranch. After that summer, we made our way to California and then hopped on a flight to Hawaii. After our near-death experience with Hurricane Iniki in 1993, we drove back from California to Tennessee, all in the same vehicle. I wish, however, that we’d had the 2022 Buick Encore GX at the time, which would have been more spacious, comfortable, and efficient on those long days crossing state line after state line.
Now that I have a family of my own, I’ve debated about the best type of vehicle for us to use while traveling. We like to explore, both in the city and out in the country, and to have a car that is suited for both would be ideal. The Buick Encore GX could handle the winter weather we experience at home and any terrain or inclement weather encountered elsewhere. I’d love to be able to take my family to the rainy Pacific Northwest, the deserts and mountains of Nevada and Utah, and the forests of Eastern Tennessee.
We’ve also talked about visiting New England during the fall, which means we’d need a vehicle that could handle wet leaves, slippery roads, and possible snow. We’d also need more space to pack up whatever we’d need for a few weeks, as well as room for everyone to stretch their legs. Though we’ve considered minivans and larger SUVs, the 2022 Buick Encore GX is at the top of my list because of its size (easier to maneuver through older towns that weren’t originally built for motorized vehicles, more parking space options, and it has a tighter turning radius than many other SUVs), its 50+ cubic feet of space, and its fuel efficiency of 30 miles per gallon.
A Family Affair
With that 50.2 cubic feet of space, we could pack a tent, a couple of air mattresses, a cooler, some fishing poles, etc…, to spend the weekend camping in the Rockies or the Smoky Mountains. Or we could load up the back with costumes, props, and food for a day or two at the Renaissance Faire or a convention like DragonCon, which I’ve been attending since 2014. Whatever we decided to do together as a family, I’m confident we could do so in the Buick Encore GX.
During travel in bad weather, we could rely on the Encore GX’s Stabilitrak system to help keep the car from skidding. In the city, we could rely on the Buick Driver Confidence Suite to ensure that other drivers didn’t preemptively end our trip, whether we ended up utilizing the automatic emergency braking, the following distance indicator, or the forward collision alert tools.
With all the technology options available, we could also provide entertainment for each and every family member, whether they needed the wireless smartphone charging station, the infotainment center, or the Wi-Fi hotspot. The toddler could watch CocoMelon to his heart’s content while the older two entertained themselves with TikTok videos and Twitch streamers, leaving the adults to listen to our podcasts in peace. We can even ignore the honking and road noise around us on the highway thanks to the QuietTuning technology like the acoustic laminated glass and triple door seals. This might also help with making naptime a less stressful ordeal.
For The Adults
The best part, at least for the grownups, in my opinion, is the luxury of the Buick Encore GX. Not only do we have enough space, entertainment options, and safety features, we get ultra-comfortable features like heated seats and climate control for both the driver and front-seat passenger. There is even a huge center console that can hold whatever drinks and snacks we want on hand, which is great for those of us who need multiple options or don’t share the same snack opinions as our partners.
I know that a lot of us do not share our temperature preferences with our partners. I prefer a slightly breezy, cool temperature inside, so I would take advantage of a system that allowed me to have a fan on while my partner would most likely prefer to keep things warmer and slightly less windy. If my partner got cold, they could use the seat warmer, while I might instead choose to sit back and sink into the leather seating and enjoy the coolness.
These seemingly little things make travel so much easier. If you’re constantly bickering over the temperature, the fan, the music, or the entertainment, trying to find your own space and not be overcrowded, tempers will flare, and vacation will be less enjoyable. That’s why I would love to take the Buick Encore GX on a trip and see for myself the difference it makes when everyone is able to stretch out, entertain themselves, and be comfortable.
Something for Every Style of Family Vacation
Of course, if you’re looking for a more physically adventurous vacation, unlike our family, there are a few other things you might want to take a peek at for the Encore GX––like the integrated roof rails. This feature allows people like my brother and his wife to load up their kayaks so they can take advantage of all the rivers and lakes where they live. A friend of mine who resides in the Pacific Northwest would also benefit from this addition because she likes to go paddleboarding and practice her yoga on the water.
Or, if you’re the sort of family who wants to go antiquing, thrifting, or checking out yard sales, estate sales, and auctions while you explore a new town or two, the hands-free power liftgate would be a great addition to the family vehicle. My dad enjoys features like this because he’s always on the hunt for Mission-style furniture, interesting lamps, and hand-cast pottery. He usually has his hands full of treasures on the weekends, but living on his own, he doesn’t always have an extra pair of hands to help him load up great finds to take home and display.
My other brother, on the other hand, enjoys car camping and would love a chance to use the Encore GX’s moonroof for some stargazing. There are several places in the United States that are noted for their lack of light pollution, and he loves nothing more than going with a few of his friends to enjoy the quiet and gaze up at the stars every few months. Something like the Encore GX would be great for him and his friends because everyone could put their seats back and point out the constellations that seem brighter away from all the city lights. All while remaining comfortable and cozy inside the vehicle and away from any nocturnal wildlife.
Whether you’re touring a slice of the American West, prowling through the Redwoods in California, or visiting historical sites on the East Coast, I believe the 2022 Buick Encore GX is a fantastic choice for the perfect family vacation.
Where Will You Go?
I cannot wait to try out the Encore GX. I think the luxurious details, the safety features, and the options for everyone to have their own entertainment, along with the ability to travel almost anywhere, are exciting when I think about all the places my family and I can go. It’s like a whole new world has opened up, and the options are seemingly endless. If you had the chance to experience the 2022 Buick Encore GX, where would you go, and who would you take with you?
