South Korea plays a major role in the global auto industry. Beyond international brands such as Hyundai and Kia, General Motors also has a significant presence there, thanks to its acquisition of the Daewoo Motors brand around the turn of the millennium. GM Korea soon began operating out of the former Daewoo factory in the South Korean city of Incheon. The plant currently builds four vehicles sold in the US: the Chevrolet Trailblazer, Chevrolet Trax, Buick Envista, and Buick Encore GX. Let’s take a closer look at their history, design, and powertrain. Chevrolet Trailblazer 2024 - 2026 Chevrolet Trailblazer 2nd Gen (C1) Facelift (31)The Chevrolet Trailblazer is a subcompact crossover, unveiled in 2019 at the Los Angeles Auto Show and sold from the 2021 model year onward. It was introduced alongside a parallel model, the Tracker, aimed at emerging markets, in contrast to the Trailblazer, which was designed for more established sales locations.A wide variety of trim levels were made available on the North American market. One of them, the ACTIV, has a more rugged character that evokes the world of off-road excursions. Another, the RS, emphasizes sportiness, with a more performance-oriented design and appearance.Depending on trim level, a lineup of two engines was offered for the Trailblazer. Both are three-cylinder units, either 1.2 liters or 1.3 liters in size. They produce 137 and 155 hp, respectively. The model is available in both AWD and FWD guise; the former comes with a nine-speed automatic transmission, while the latter has a CVT.For the 2024 model year, the Trailblazer also received a minor facelift. This involved the redesign of the front fascia, which now sported a curvier design. A new front bumper and running lights, plus some new choices of paint color and wheel design, were added as well. On the tech front, the facelift added a larger 11-inch infotainment touchscreen and an 8.8-inch digital gauge cluster. Chevrolet Trax 2024 - 2026 Chevrolet TraxThe Chevrolet Trax is also a subcompact crossover; it was first unveiled as a concept in 2012, followed by the production model the following year. On the North American market, the Trax went on sale for the 2015 model year.While on a global level, the first-generation Trax was available with a variety of engines, including four gas-powered units and two diesels, in North America, the model was offered with only a single engine: a 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four that produced 138 hp and 148 lb-ft of torque. It was paired exclusively with a six-speed automatic. Three trim levels were offered (LS, LT, and LZ), each available with either a front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive drivetrain.In 2022, Chevrolet unveiled a second generation of the Trax, first in China and then in the US. The model went on sale for the 2024 model year on the North American market. It was visually quite different from its predecessor, with narrower, sharper headlights and a new grille among other updated visual elements. Since it looked quite different from the first-gen model, Chevrolet briefly considered using a different nameplate, but eventually decided to stick with Trax, as the name had already gained popularity in North America.Unlike the first-gen model, the new Trax is available only with front-wheel drive. Power comes from a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, which produces 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque, and a six-speed automatic transmission is the only option. The Chinese version of the model, on the other hand, offers an inline-four engine and a CVT. Buick Envista 2024 - 2026 Buick EnvistaWe jump from one GM brand to another with the Buick Envista, a compact crossover launched in 2022 and sold in North America since the 2024 model year. The Envista was originally introduced in China before making its way to the US and Canada.The Envista shares a platform with its Chevrolet Trax sibling. In North America, it is powered by the same 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine, producing 137 hp and 162 lb-ft of torque. Once again, the engine is paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, which sends power to the front wheels. There are three trim levels on offer: Preferred, ST (Sport Touring), and Avenir.In terms of design, the Envista has a decidedly modern, futuristic character, with pointed, narrow headlights and sleek, dynamic lines. The model has a fastback design, which helps it feel more dynamic and less bulky despite being a crossover. The interior is rich in tech, although it does keep things affordable to attract younger buyers as well. An 11-inch touchscreen controls the infotainment system, while there is a separate 8-inch display for the digital gauge cluster.Despite its compact nature, the Envista is also notable for offering plenty of passenger and cargo space when compared to its direct competitors. Legroom and headroom are both abundant, allowing even taller passengers to travel in total comfort.Although the Buick Envista was originally marketed in China alongside North America, it was removed from the Chinese market in 2025. The Chinese Envista was powered by a different engine: a 1.5-liter inline-four that produced 181 hp and 183 lb-ft. Buick Encore GX 2024 Buick Encore GX front, three-quarterThe last car on our list is the Buick Encore GX, a subcompact crossover sold from the 2020 model year onwards. The Encore GX is a larger sibling of the sub-compact Encore, slotting in between the Encore and the larger Envision in the Buick lineup. The Encore was then discontinued in 2022, leaving the Encore GX as the brand’s entry-level offering.The Encore GX was available in three trim levels in North America: Preferred, Select, and Essence. Later on, the lineup underwent a slight change: the entry-level trim continued to be called the Preferred, but the upper two were now called the ST and the Avenir. The lineup update was part of a facelift introduced for the 2024 model year, which also brought about a fairly major design update. The post-facelift Encore GX adopted Buick’s Pure design language, with sharp, narrow headlights and a redesigned front end and grille.Two engine choices are available for the Encore GX. The first is a 1.2-liter turbocharged three-cylinder unit, which produces 137 hp and 162 lb-ft. This engine can be exclusively paired with a CVT, which sends power to the front wheels. The second option is a 1.3-liter turbocharged three-cylinder, which produces 155 hp and 174 lb-ft. This engine can be had with either a CVT and FWD or a 9-speed transmission and AWD. A slightly more powerful version of the 1.3-liter engine, producing 162 hp and 177 lb-ft, powers the Chinese-market Encore GX.Sources: General Motors
