Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
2 Introduction
Using this Manual
To quickly locate information about the
vehicle, use the Index in the back of the
manual. It is an alphabetical list of what is
in the manual and the page number where
it can be found.
About Driving the Vehicle
As with other vehicles of this type, failure to
operate this vehicle correctly may result in
loss of control or a crash. Be sure to read
the driving guidelines in this manual in the
section called“Driving and Operating” and
specifically Driver Behavior 0187, Driving
Environment 0187, and Vehicle Design
0 187.
Danger, Warning, and Caution
Warning messages found on vehicle labels
and in this manual describe hazards and
what to do to avoid or reduce them.
{Danger
Danger indicates a hazard with a high
level of risk which will result in serious
injury or death.
{Warning
Warning indicates a hazard that could
result in injury or death.
Caution
Caution indicates a hazard that could
result in property or vehicle damage.
A circle with a slash through it is a safety
symbol which means “Do not,” “Do not do
this,” or“Do not let this happen.”
Symbols
The vehicle has components and labels that
use symbols instead of text. Symbols are
shown along with the text describing the
operation or information relating to a
specific component, control, message, gauge,
or indicator.
M:Shown when the owner’s manual has
additional instructions or information.
*: Shown when the service manual has
additional instructions or information.
0: Shown when there is more information
on another page — “see page.”
Vehicle Symbol Chart
Here are some additional symbols that may
be found on the vehicle and what they
mean. See the features in this manual for
information.
u: Air Conditioning System
G:Air Conditioning Refrigerant Oil
9:Airbag Readiness Light
!:Antilock Brake System (ABS)
$:Brake System Warning Light
9:Dispose of Used Components Properly
P:Do Not Apply High Pressure Water
B:Engine Coolant Temperature
_:Flame/Fire Prohibited
H: Flammable
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Instruments and Controls 93
Info Pages
Press
oorpto move between the
interactive display zones in the cluster. Use
the thumbwheel to select the items to be
displayed in the Info app. See Driver
Information Center (DIC) (Base Level) 0104
or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 107.
Audio
Press thumbwheel to select the Audio app,
then press
pto enter the Audio menu. In
the Audio menu browse for music, select
from the favorites, or change the audio
source. Move thumbwheel up (
w) or (x)
to change the station or go to the next or
previous track.
Navigation
Press thumbwheel to select the Navigation
app, then press
pto enter the Navigation
menu. If there is no active route, you can
resume the last route and turn the voice
prompts on/off. If there is an active route,
press thumbwheel to cancel or resume route
guidance or turn the voice prompts on
or off. Phone
Press thumbwheel to select the Phone app,
then press
pto enter the Phone menu. In
the Phone menu, if there is no active phone
call, view recent calls, or scroll through
contacts. If there is an active call, mute the
phone or switch to handset operation.
Options
Press thumbwheel to select the Options app,
then press
pto enter the Options menu.
Move thumbwheel up (
w) or down (x) to
scroll through items in the Setting menu.
Units : Press
por press the thumbwheel
while Units is displayed to enter the Units
menu. Choose US or metric units by
pressing thumbwheel while the desired item
is highlighted. A checkmark will be displayed
next to the selected item.
Speedometer
The speedometer shows the vehicle's speed
in either kilometers per hour (km/h) or
miles per hour (mph).
Odometer
The odometer shows how far the vehicle has
been driven, in either kilometers or miles.
Trip Odometer
The trip odometer shows how far the
vehicle has been driven since the trip
odometer was last reset.
The trip odometer is accessed and reset
through the Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Driver Information Center (DIC) (Base
Level) 0104 or
Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)
0 107.
Tachometer
The tachometer displays the engine speed in
revolutions per minute (rpm).
For vehicles with the Stop/Start system,
when the ignition is on, the tachometer
indicates the vehicle status. When pointing
to AUTO STOP, the engine is off but the
vehicle is on and can move. The engine
could auto start at any time. When the
indicator points to OFF, the vehicle is off.
When the engine is on, the tachometer will
indicate the engine’s revolutions per minute
(rpm). The tachometer may vary by several
hundred rpm, during Auto Stop mode, when
the engine is shutting off and restarting.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
106 Instruments and Controls
The Oil Life display must be reset after each
oil change. It will not reset itself. Do not
reset the Oil Life display at any time other
than when the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until the next
oil change. To reset, seeEngine Oil Life
System 0260.
Air Filter Life : Shows an estimate of the
engine air filter’s remaining useful life and
the state of the system. Engine Air Filter Life
95% means 95% of the current air filter life
remains. Messages will display based on the
engine air filter life and the state of the
system. When the REPLACE AT NEXT OIL
CHANGE message displays, the engine air
filter should be replaced at the time of the
next oil change. When the REPLACE SOON
message displays, the engine air filter
should be replaced at the earliest
convenience.
The Air Filter Life display must be reset after
the engine air filter replacement. To reset,
see Engine Air Filter Life System 0260.
Tire Pressure : Shows the approximate
pressures of all four tires. Tire pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa) or in
pounds per square inch (psi). If the pressure
is low, the value for that tire is shown in amber. See
Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 293 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0294.
Following Distance : When Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) is not engaged, the current
follow time to the vehicle ahead is displayed
as a time value on this page. If equipped
and when ACC has been engaged, the
display switches to the gap setting page.
This page shows the current gap setting
along with the vehicle ahead indicator.
Brake Pad Life : This displays an estimate of
the remaining life of the front and rear
brake pads. Messages will display based on
brake pad wear and the state of the system.
Reset the Brake Pad Life display after
replacing the brake pads. See Brake Pad Life
System 0268
Units : Press
lor thumbwheel on the turn
signal lever while units is displayed. Select
imperial or metric units by turning adjuster
wheel. Confirm by pressing
lor
thumbwheel.
ECO Drive Assist Menu (ECO) Items
This menu is only available on some
vehicles. Press MENU on the turn signal
lever until the ECO menu is displayed. Use
mor thumbwheel up/down to scroll
through the menu items. Not all items are
available on every vehicle. The following is a
list of all possible menu items:
Fuel Economy : The center displays the
approximate instantaneous fuel economy as
a number and bar graph. Displayed above
the bar graph is a running average of fuel
economy for the most recently traveled
selected distance. Displayed below the bar
graph is the best average fuel economy that
has been achieved for the selected distance.
The selected distance is displayed at the top
of the page as “last xxx mi/km.”
Top Consumers : List of top comfort
consumers currently switched on is
displayed in descending order. Fuel saving
potential is indicated.
During sporadic driving conditions, the
engine will activate the heated rear window
automatically. In this event, the heated rear
window is indicated as one of the top
consumers, without activation by the driver.
Economy Trend : Shows history of the
Average Fuel Economy from the last 50 km
(30 mi). Each bar represents about 5 km
(3 mi) of driving. During driving the bars will
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Instruments and Controls 107
shift to always reflect the most recent
distance on the right side. Press and
hold
lor thumbwheel to clear the graph.
ECO Index : Provides feedback on the
efficiency of current driving behavior. The
bar graph shows a value that is based on
current fuel consumption compared to what
is expected from the vehicle with good and
bad driving habits.
Driver Information Center (DIC)
(Uplevel)
The DIC displays are shown in the center of
the instrument cluster in the Info app. See
Instrument Cluster 090. The displays show
the status of many vehicle systems. The
controls for the DIC are on the right steering
wheel control.
DIC Operation and Displays
Selectable menu pages are:
.{(Home)
.4(Info)
.f(Audio)
.n(Navigation)
.5(Phone)
.8(Options)
Not all application will be available on all
vehicles.
Type 1
The DIC has different displays which can be
accessed by using the DIC buttons on the
turn signal lever.
DIC Buttons
1.
l: Press to set, or press and hold to
clear, the menu item displayed.
2.
m: Use the band to scroll through the
items in each menu.
3. SELECT : Press to access the cluster
applications. This button is also used to
return to or exit the last screen displayed on
the DIC.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
108 Instruments and Controls
If equipped with steering wheel controls, see
“Driver Information Center (DIC) (Uplevel)”
later in this section.
Type 2
worx:Move thumbwheel up (w) or
down (
x) in a list.
oorp: Press to move between the
interactive display zones in the cluster.
Thumbwheel : Press to open a menu or
select a menu item. Press and hold to reset
values on certain screens.
DIC Info Pages
The following is the list of all possible DIC
info page displays. Some may not be
available for your particular vehicle. Some
items may not be turned on by default but
can be turned on through the Options app.
See “DIC Info Page Options” earlier in this
section.
Speed : Shows the vehicle speed in either
kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per
hour (mph). The vehicle odometer is also
shown on this page.
Trip 1 or Trip 2, Average Fuel Economy :
Shows the current distance traveled, in
either kilometers (km) or miles (mi), since
the trip odometer was last reset.
The Average Fuel Economy display shows
the approximate average liters per
100 kilometers (L/100 km) or miles per
gallon (mpg). This number is calculated
based on the number of L/100 km (mpg)
recorded since the last time this menu item
was reset. This number reflects only the
approximate average fuel economy that the
vehicle has right now, and will change as
driving conditions change. Fuel Information :
Shows the approximate
distance the vehicle can be driven without
refueling. LOW will be displayed when the
vehicle is low on fuel. The fuel range
estimate is based on an average of the
vehicle's fuel economy over recent driving
history and the amount of fuel remaining in
the fuel tank. The Instantaneous Fuel
Economy display shows the current fuel
economy in either liters per 100 kilometers
(L/100 km) or miles per gallon (mpg). This
number reflects only the approximate fuel
economy that the vehicle has right now and
changes frequently as driving conditions
change.
Oil Life : Shows an estimate of the oil's
remaining useful life. If REMAINING OIL LIFE
99% is displayed, that means 99% of the
current oil life remains.
When the remaining oil life is low, the
CHANGE ENGINE OIL SOON message will
appear on the display. The oil should be
changed as soon as possible. See Engine Oil
0 258. In addition to the engine oil life
system monitoring the oil life, additional
maintenance is recommended. See
Maintenance Schedule 0323.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
Instruments and Controls 109
The Oil Life display must be reset after each
oil change. It will not reset itself. Do not
reset the Oil Life display at any time other
than when the oil has just been changed.
It cannot be reset accurately until the next
oil change. To reset, seeEngine Oil Life
System 0260.
Tire Pressure : Shows the approximate
pressures of all four tires. Tire pressure is
displayed in either kilopascal (kPa) or in
pounds per square inch (psi). If the pressure
is low, the value for that tire is shown in
amber. See Tire Pressure Monitor System
0 293 and
Tire Pressure Monitor Operation 0294.
Air Filter Life : Shows an estimate of the
engine air filter’s remaining useful life and
the state of the system. Engine Air Filter Life
95% means 95% of the current air filter life
remains. Messages will display based on the
engine air filter life and the state of the
system. When the REPLACE AT NEXT OIL
CHANGE message displays, the engine air
filter should be replaced at the time of the
next oil change. When the REPLACE SOON
message displays, the engine air filter
should be replaced at the earliest
convenience. The Air Filter Life display must be reset after
the engine air filter replacement. To reset,
see
Engine Air Filter Life System 0260.
Brake Pad Life : This displays an estimate of
the remaining life of the front and rear
brake pads. Messages will display based on
brake pad wear and the state of the system.
Reset the Brake Pad Life display after
replacing the brake pads. See Brake Pad Life
System 0268.
Fuel Economy : Displays average fuel
economy, the best fuel economy over the
selected distance, and a bar graph showing
instantaneous fuel economy.
Follow Distance : When Adaptive Cruise
Control (ACC) is not engaged, the current
follow time to the vehicle ahead is displayed
as a time value on this page.
If equipped and when ACC has been
engaged, the display switches to the gap
setting page.
This page shows the current gap setting
along with the vehicle ahead indicator.
Top Consumers : List of top comfort
consumers currently switched on is
displayed in descending order. Fuel saving
potential is indicated. During sporadic driving conditions, the
engine will activate the heated rear window
automatically. In this event, the heated rear
window is indicated as one of the top
consumers, without activation by the driver.
Economy Trend :
Shows history of the
Average Fuel Economy from the last 50 km
(30 mi). Each bar represents about 5 km
(3 mi) of driving. During driving the bars will
shift to always reflect the most recent
distance on the right side. Press and hold
the center toggle switch to clear the graph
or press
pto reset through the menu.
ECO Index : Provides feedback on the
efficiency of current driving behavior. The
bar graph shows a value that is based on
current fuel consumption compared to what
is expected from the vehicle with good and
bad driving habits.
Head-Up Display (HUD)
{Warning
If the HUD image is too bright or too
high in your field of view, it may take
you more time to see things you need to
(Continued)
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
114 Instruments and Controls
.Engine and Transmission
.Tire Pressure
.Battery
Engine Power Messages
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED
This message displays when the vehicle's
propulsion power is reduced. A reduction in
propulsion power can affect the vehicle's
ability to accelerate. If this message is on,
but there is no observed reduction in
performance, proceed to your destination.
Under certain conditions the performance
may be reduced the next time the vehicle is
driven. The vehicle may be driven while this
message is on, but maximum acceleration
and speed may be reduced. Anytime this
message stays on, or displays repeatedly,
the vehicle should be taken to your dealer
for service as soon as possible.
Under certain operating conditions,
propulsion will be disabled. Try restarting
after the ignition has been off for
30 seconds.
Vehicle Speed Messages
SPEED LIMITED TO XXX KM/H (MPH)
This message shows that the vehicle speed
has been limited to the speed displayed. The
limited speed is a protection for various
propulsion and vehicle systems, such as
lubrication, thermal, brakes, suspension,
Teen Driver if equipped, or tires.
Vehicle Personalization
The following are all possible vehicle
personalization features. Depending on the
vehicle, some may not be available.
For System and Apps features and functions,
see Settings in infotainment system.
To access the vehicle personalization menu:1. Touch the Settings icon on the Home Page on the infotainment display.
2. Touch the desired category to display a list of available options.
3. Touch to select the desired feature setting.
4. Touch
9or l to turn off or on a
feature. 5. Touch X to go to the top level of the
Settings menu.
The menu may contain the following:
Rear Seat Reminder
This feature allows for a chime and a
message when the rear door has been
opened before or during operation of the
vehicle.
Touch Off or On.
Climate and Air Quality
Touch and the following may display:
.Auto Fan Speed
.Auto Defog
.Auto Rear Defog
.Ionizer
Auto Fan Speed
This feature will set the auto fan speed.
Touch Low, Medium, or High.
Auto Defog
When set to On, the front defog will
automatically react to temperature and
humidity conditions that may cause fogging.
Touch Off or On.
Buick Encore GX Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada/Mexico-
14608036) - 2021 - CRC - 9/21/20
128 Infotainment System
Infotainment System
Introduction
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Steering Wheel Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Using the System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Software Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Radio
AM-FM Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
HD Radio Technology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Radio Data System (RDS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Satellite Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Radio Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Multi-Band Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Audio Players
Avoiding Untrusted Media Devices . . . . . 137
USB Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
Auxiliary Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Bluetooth Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
OnStar System
OnStar System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Navigation
Using the Navigation System . . . . . . . . . . 141
Maps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Navigation Symbols . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Destination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146OnStar System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
Global Positioning System (GPS) . . . . . . . 152
Vehicle Positioning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Problems with Route Guidance . . . . . . . . 152
If the System Needs Service . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Map Data Updates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Database Coverage Explanations . . . . . . . 153
Voice Recognition
Voice Recognition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Phone
Bluetooth (Overview) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Bluetooth (Pairing and Using a
Phone) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Apple CarPlay and Android Auto . . . . . . . 163
Settings
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Teen Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Trademarks and License Agreements
Trademarks and License Agreements . . . 172
Introduction
Read the following pages to become familiar
with the features.
{Warning
Taking your eyes off the road for too
long or too often while using any
infotainment feature can cause a crash.
You or others could be injured or killed.
Do not give extended attention to
infotainment tasks while driving. Limit
your glances at the vehicle displays and
focus your attention on driving. Use voice
commands whenever possible.
The infotainment system has built-in
features intended to help avoid distraction
by disabling some features when driving.
These features may gray out when they are
unavailable. Many infotainment features are
also available through the instrument cluster
and steering wheel controls.
Before driving:
.Become familiar with the operation,
center stack controls, steering wheel
controls, and infotainment display.