Buick debuts 2013 Encore, a small, upscale SUV

Reporting from Detroit — Buick on Tuesday unveiled a small sport-utility vehicle scheduled to go on sale a year for now, as the brand moves to broaden the range of models sold at its dealerships.

The Encore, shown at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, will be the General Motors division’s second SUV, joining the much larger Enclave, which has become a popular model for the resurgent brand.

The five-seat Encore comes equipped with a turbocharged, four-cylinder engine and features the high driving position and visibility that have made small crossovers and SUVs a growing segment of the U.S. auto market.

PHOTOS: Highlights from the Detroit Auto Show

“The crossover segment continues to boom, and the Encore is Buick’s attempt to get a head start against luxury versions coming from Europe,” said Michelle Krebs, an analyst with auto information company Edmunds.com.

GM is positioning the Encore as an upscale offering above small SUVs sold by the automaker’s Chevrolet and GMC divisions.

“It represents a luxury alternative for a new audience of Buick customers, and delivers features and flexibility not typically found in vehicles of its size today,” said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick marketing.

It is to be sold in North America and China, where Buick is the most popular U.S. nameplate.

Helped by dropping land yachts such as the Lucerne in favor of new models such as the Enclave and LaCrosse sedan, Buick has gained ground in the U.S. over the last two years. The GM brand sold 178,000 vehicles last year, a 14% gain over the prior year.

It now outsells other premium brands, including Honda’s Acura division and Ford’s Lincoln.

PHOTOS: Highlights from the Detroit Auto Show

“Buick has been growing the brand with just a few models but now is adding much-needed new ones,” Krebs said.