The 2022 Buick Encore’s ground clearance of 6.22 inches is its biggest clearance yet—but does that mean this subcompact SUV is ready to be taken off-road?

Written by Matt Nightingale

Reviewed by Jessica Barrett

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

Table of Contents

2022 Buick Encore ground clearance
What is ground clearance—and why does it matter?
Is the Buick Encore a good off-road vehicle?
Guard against accidents with the best Buick Encore insurance

The ground clearance of the 2022 Buick Encore is 6.22 inches for both the Preferred and Preferred AWD trims. The subcompact crossover SUV sits a little lower than larger SUVs like the compact Toyota RAV4 or the Jeep Wrangler.

If you do most of your driving within city limits, ground clearance might not strike you as an important feature of your vehicle But, anybody who has taken their vehicle off-road knows that large ground clearance is essential for the safety and maintenance of your car.

If you’re curious to know what the ground clearance of your Buick Encore is, you’ve come to the right place. W've done done the digging and found all the ground clearances of every Buick Encore model. Read on to see how high your Encore is riding.

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2022 Buick Encore ground clearance

A vehicle’s ground clearance can vary from year to year and even between a model’s trim levels. But, Buick is nothing if not consistent—at least when it comes to the Buick Encore. Here’s a look at the ground clearances of the Encore’s two main trim levels:

Preferred

: 6.22 inches

Preferred AWD: 6.22 inches

As you can see, it’s perfectly consistent across the board.

Buick Encore ground clearance over the years

In production since 2013, the Buick Encore’s ground clearance has been pretty consistent throughout its existence. Every year each trim has shared the same clearance as its siblings. The only change came in 2015 when the Encore gained 0.02 inches. After that, every Encore—high trim to base model—has had a ground clearance of 6.22 inches.

Here’s a breakdown of the Encore’s ground clearance by year:

2013: 6.2 inches

2014: 6.2 inches

2015: 6.22 inches

2016: 6.22 inches

2017: 6.22 inches

2018: 6.22 inches

2019: 6.22 inches

2020: 6.22 inches

2021: 6.22 inches

The Encore’s consistency in ground clearance is something of an anomaly. Most vehicles’ ground clearance varies from trim to trim—like the 2022 Jeep Renegade whose clearance swings from 6.7 inches on the

Sport FWD

trim to 8 inches on the

Latitude 4x4

trim.

MORE:

How do you turn on AWD on a Buick Encore?

What is ground clearance—and why does it matter?

Ground clearance is what is used to describe the minimum distance between your vehicle’s underbelly and the ground. Basically, it's the space between your car and the ground, and that determines what you can safely pass over without damaging your car.

Clearance becomes most important when you take your vehicle off the flat and well-kept city streets and onto rougher terrain like gravel roads, dirt paths, and landscapes with no roads at all. Uneven terrain can have things like large rocks and logs that damage the bottom of your car if it’s not high enough off the ground.

Off-road experts suggest a minimum ground clearance of 6.6 inches when driving on gravel paths and dirt roads. A minimum clearance of 8.8 inches is recommended for more rigorous overland expeditions, and a 10.8 minimum clearance is recommended for intense 4x4 action like rock crawling.

MORE: Battle of the Buicks: the Encore vs. Encore GX

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Is the Buick Encore a good off-road vehicle?

While the Buick Encore is technically an SUV it doesn’t really meet the expert-recommended minimum clearance for off-road driving. Chances are you could still manage a gravel road—but with a maximum clearance of 6.22 inches, we wouldn’t recommend you try anything more daring.

Ground clearance isn’t the only thing you’ll want to consider when you decide to go off-roading. You’ll also want your vehicle to have a powerful engine and four-wheel or all-wheel drive. The Encore is available in all-wheel-drive, but its 155-horsepower engine might not be able to handle the type of heavy lifting you want it to endure.

If taking your vehicle for an off-road adventure is a must, you might want to look into a vehicle that’s more suited to the task. The off-road dynamo

Jeep Wrangler

is a great choice for thrill-seekers. The Wrangler is outfitted with four-wheel drive, a 285 horsepower engine, and an awesome 9.7-inch ground clearance—perfect for all your backcountry excursions.

MORE:

Buick car buying guide

Guard against accidents with the best Buick Encore insurance

Whether you go off-road or stick to the paved city streets, accidents happen. That’s why you want to have an insurance policy that gives you the protection you need at a price you can afford. Enter

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