GM has released details of the 2013 Buick Encore's official EPA fuel economy.

Set to become one of the most efficient cars in its class, the Encore will managed a combined 28 mpg, with 25 mpg city and 33 mpg highway from its 1.4-liter, turbocharged gasoline engine.

That, says Buick, is enough to put it ahead of the 26 mpg combined 2013 Ford Escape, and the 25 mpg combined Jeep Compass.

It even beats the MINI Countryman and Volkswagen Tiguan, when equipped with the Buick's standard automatic transmission.

What Buick doesn't mention is that two other similarly-sized import models in the $20,000-range remain competitive: The Subaru XV Crosstrek with its 28-mpg combined rating, and our current crossover favorite, the 29-mpg 2013 Mazda CX-5. Both of these also run on regular gas like the Buick, rather than the premium gas suggested by MINI and VW.

That still makes the Encore the most efficient crossover among domestic brands though, and it'll be the sixth of Buick's models to offer EPA-estimated fuel economy greater than 30 mpg.

Buick will add all-wheel-drive versions of the Encore at a later date.

The good news for buyers in the crossover market is that more models than ever are within reach of that 30-mpg barrier--and in a class this competitive, they're only going to get better.

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