Whereas the market is awash with crossovers and SUVs, not all of them make the minimize. In accordance with the crew at GM Authority, Normal Motors is planning to axe the Buick Encore and Chevrolet Trax after the 2022 mannequin yr.
Citing unnamed however apparently well-placed sources, GM Authority says manufacturing of these two fashions will stop later this yr. The autos are assembled side-by-each at a GM plant in South Korea. Alert readers will recall that Buick and Chevy began providing these autos about 10 years in the past – they had been first launched for the 2013 mannequin yr in some markets – however have solely thrown the veneer of a mid-cycle refresh at them since that point. Easing these two out of manufacturing has doubtless been within the works for a while since ’22 fashions are denuded of some trim ranges and possibility packages in comparison with earlier years.
These are small rigs, meant to compete on the far finish of the dimensions when it comes to dimension and value. Final yr, they had been each handily outsold by their stablemates Trailblazer and Encore GX. The previous even managed to knock off the Hyundai Kona in its phase, beating it by about 100 items in response to the quantity provided by GMA. Nothing else within the phase appears to come back near the Honda HR-V, nonetheless, at the very least when it comes to outright gross sales.
And, earlier than you ask, the Encore GX has little to do with the Encore. In a complicated naming scheme, Buick launched the Encore GX extra just lately than the Encore, making use of the ‘plate to a machine that’s simply infinitesimally bigger (suppose simply a few cubic ft of additional cargo area) in comparison with the non-GX Encore. The truth that these two consonants sound extra like a easy trim degree than anything has additionally added to some confusion on the seller ground.
Seeking to the bowtie brigade, anticipate the Trailblazer to take up a number of the slack when it comes to gross sales and a focus as soon as the Trax shuffles off this mortal coil. And discount seekers needn’t suppose they will choose up a Spark after ’22 since that machine can also be scheduled to depart the roster subsequent yr. This may go away the Trailblazer, whose entry-level LS trim with its 137 horsepower 1.2-liter turbo is at present priced at $22,995 in America when geared up with front-wheel drive.
[Image: GM]
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