Buick Encore: Blind Spot Monitoring Feature Explained

The Buick Encore is a stylish and spacious five-person SUV ideal for all types of drivers. It comes with a range of safety features, including a rear-vision camera, 10 airbags, and traction control. One of the most notable safety features offered in the Buick Encore is the Side Blind Zone Alert, also known as blind-spot monitoring. This feature uses radar sensors to detect vehicles approaching in adjacent lanes and warns the driver with an illuminated icon in the corresponding mirror. If the turning signal is on, the icon will flash to prevent a potential collision with the unseen vehicle. The Side Blind Zone Alert is always activated and can be accessed through the infotainment system settings or, depending on the trim level, as a button on the instrument console.

The Buick Encore's blind spot sensor location

The Buick Encore does offer blind spot monitoring, also referred to as Side Blind Zone Alert. This feature is available in the 2021 Buick Encore, a five-person SUV that is ideal for all types of drivers. If you opted for the safety package when purchasing your Buick Encore, you will have the blind spot sensors located on each side of the rear bumper. They are placed there because they use radar technology to perform alerts about vehicles in your blind spots.

The Side Blind Zone Alert feature uses hidden radar sensors in the rear corners of your vehicle. When you are driving forward, these sensors can detect moving vehicles located behind your side mirror in the next lane over. This feature is always activated and cannot be turned off.

When you start your vehicle, you will see both side-view mirror alerts briefly light up—this tells you the system is working. An amber warning symbol will light up on the side-view mirror on the side where the system has detected a vehicle. If you turn on your turn signal in that direction, this warning symbol will flash as an extra warning to not change lanes.

It is important to note that the system may light up a warning indicator due to non-moving objects such as guardrails, signs, and trees. This is normal. Additionally, under bad weather or poor visibility conditions, the system might not function as intended. To keep the system working properly, be sure to keep the sensor areas in the rear bumper clear of obstructions such as dirt or snow.

While this technology is helpful, it is important to remember that safety and driver-assistance features are no substitute for the driver's responsibility to operate the vehicle safely and attentively.

How to turn off the blind spot monitoring system

The Buick Encore is a stylish and spacious SUV that comes with an array of safety features, including the option of a Blind Spot Monitoring system. This system, known as the Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, uses radar sensors in the rear corners of the vehicle to detect moving vehicles in your blind spot, providing visual alerts to help you avoid lane change collisions.

Turning Off the Blind Spot Monitoring System:

If you want to deactivate the Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert system in your Buick Encore, you can do so by following these steps:

• Access your infotainment system: Start by accessing the infotainment system screen, which is typically located in the center console area of your dashboard.
• Navigate to the Vehicle Personalization Menu: From the infotainment system screen, find and select the Vehicle Personalization menu. This menu allows you to customize various settings and features of your vehicle.
• Locate the Lane Change Alert Setting: Within the Vehicle Personalization Menu, look for the "Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert" setting. This setting is usually found within the "Safety" or "Driver Assistance" sub-menu.
• Turn Off the Feature: Once you have located the Lane Change Alert setting, you can turn off the feature. This can be done by selecting the option to disable it or by toggling the setting to "Off."
• Confirm the Change: After making the change, confirm that the Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert has been successfully deactivated. This can usually be done by checking the side-view mirrors, as the amber warning symbol should no longer be illuminated.

It is important to note that the Lane Change Alert and Side Blind Zone Alert are two parts of the same feature and cannot be turned off separately. Therefore, turning off the Lane Change Alert will also deactivate the Side Blind Zone Alert. Additionally, the system will retain your chosen setting even after shutting down and restarting the vehicle. So, if you want to use the feature again, remember to manually turn it back on through the same steps.

Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert

The Buick Encore does offer blind spot monitoring, which is referred to as Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert. This feature uses hidden radar sensors in the rear corners of the vehicle to detect moving vehicles located in the blind spot or the next lane over when driving forward.

This feature is designed to help prevent lane change collisions and is especially useful when driving on busy highways or in other situations where it may be difficult to check blind spots adequately. It is important to note that the system only provides alerts and does not operate the brakes or steer the vehicle. Drivers should still use their turn signals and check their mirrors and surroundings before changing lanes.

The Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert feature can be turned on or off through the vehicle's infotainment system or, depending on the trim level, via a button on the instrument console. When the vehicle is started, both side-view mirror alerts will briefly come on to indicate that the system is active. The system may also light up a warning indicator due to non-moving objects such as guardrails or trees, which is normal. However, under poor visibility conditions, the system may not function as intended, so drivers should always maintain situational awareness and refer to their mirrors and surroundings when changing lanes.

The Buick Encore's safety features

The Buick Encore is a small SUV that offers a range of safety features to protect you and your family on the road. The 2020, 2021, and 2022 Buick Encore models have received a 5-star "Overall Safety Rating" from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. While the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) gave the 2022 Buick Encore a "Good" rating in three crash tests, it only received an "Acceptable" rating in the side and small overlap front passenger-side tests.

The Buick Encore offers several standard and optional safety features. The standard safety features include a rearview or rear vision camera, which is included in every Encore model and helps to improve visibility when reversing. The Buick Encore also offers a range of driver-assistance features, although these are mostly available as optional upgrades. These include blind-spot monitoring, also known as Side Blind Zone Alert, which uses radar sensors in the rear corners of the vehicle to detect vehicles in your blind spot and alerts you with an illuminated icon in your side mirror. This feature is available as an option on higher trim levels of the Buick Encore.

Other available driver-assistance features include rear cross-traffic alert, which notifies you of approaching vehicles when reversing, and OnStar Automatic Crash Response, a subscription service that notifies emergency services and sends them your location in the event of a crash. The Buick Encore also offers a Tire Pressure Monitoring System, which provides visual and audible alerts when it detects a change in pressure in one of your tires, and a Lane Change Alert system that works in conjunction with the Side Blind Zone Alert to warn you of vehicles approaching your lane change zone.

The Buick Encore also offers a Safety Package II for $695, which includes a lane-departure warning system, rain-sensing windshield wipers, a forward-collision warning system, and front and rear parking sensors.

The Buick Encore's engine options

The Buick Encore is a subcompact crossover SUV built by General Motors from 2012 to 2022. It is Buick's fourth SUV, following the Rendezvous, Rainier, and Enclave. The 2022 Buick Encore is equipped with a 155-horsepower turbocharged 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine, which is an upgrade from the previous year's model, which had 138 horsepower. The engine is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission and comes with standard front-wheel drive, with all-wheel drive available as an option.

The Buick Encore's engine has been described as underpowered and struggling, with slow acceleration times and average fuel efficiency. The 2022 model's upgrade in horsepower was an attempt to address complaints of sluggish performance in previous years. However, the engine still feels underpowered due to the vehicle's weight and high suspension.

In summary, while the Buick Encore's engine options may not offer exciting performance, they are suitable for everyday driving and provide a comfortable and efficient experience for those seeking a small-scale SUV.

Frequently asked questions