2026 Buick Encore GX

Performance

The 2026 Encore is available with a choice of efficient engines. All trims come standard with front-wheel drive (FWD) and have all-wheel drive (AWD) as an option. The standard engine on the Preferred trim is a turbocharged 1.2-liter inline-3 that produces 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque @ 2500 rpm. The engine is connected to a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT). The combination produces an EPA-estimated city/highway/combined mpg of 30/31/30.  This engine is configured to operate on both E85 ethanol blend and standard gasoline. 

Optional on the Preferred FWD model and standard on the Sport Touring, Avenir, and all AWD models is a turbocharged 1.3-liter inline-3 engine that bumps horsepower up to 155 and torque up to 174 lb-ft at 1600 rpm. The low RPM for the torque peak results in a spirited feel during city driving. With FWD, this powertrain delivers just a hair less power than the standard engine, with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 29 / 31 / 30 mpg. AWD models replace the CVT with a 9-speed automatic transmission and have an EPA estimated fuel economy of 26/28/27 mpg.   

Exterior

The Encore offers a unique take on the Buick front-end design, featuring a low-mounted chrome-rimmed grille with a tight mesh pattern. High-mounted but low-profile LED daytime running lights give the face a sleek appearance, while the actual headlights below are subtle—almost to the point of being hidden.   

Separate front and rear creases along the side echo classic Buick body shapes of the past, as the extended chrome window trim above adds more character. A step above the base Preferred model, the Sport Touring features a sportier appearance with standard roof rails, complemented by dark 18-inch wheels and dark rocker panels, as well as a gloss-black grille mesh.     

The Avenir aims for a more elegant look with its unique “Black Ice” grille treatment and chrome front and rear bumper trim. The car also features exclusive clear lens LED taillights. Along the side are black carbon metallic body side molding and exclusive Avenir 19-inch Premium Pearl Nickel aluminum wheels. 

Interior

The Encore GX’s tall cabin provides a sense of spaciousness that belies its exterior dimensions. The Whisper Beige interior selection, along with the available panoramic moonroof, further enhances the effect. The dash is designed around Buick’s Virtual Cockpit System (VCS), which elegantly combines the driver and infotainment displays behind a single sheet of glass. The rest of the cabin is a flowing combination of soft-touch materials and unique stitching patterns on the dash and doors. In keeping with its exterior trim, the ST features a sporty flat-bottom steering wheel and an embroidered logo on the head restraints.   

The Avenir indulges with perforated leather seating surfaces, 8-way power adjustment for the driver’s seat, 6-way for the front passenger, its logo embroidered on the headrests, and Avenir badging on the door sills.  Both the Sport Touring and Avenir are available with the 7-speaker Bose® premium audio system. 

Buick’s QuietTuning system enhances the Encore GX’s interior ambiance by reducing unwanted road noise from entering the cabin. This creates a calm and luxurious driving experience that makes the Encore GX feel larger than it is.  

Technology

Buick’s Virtual Cockpit System (VCS) features a combined, configurable 8-inch driver information center and a class-leading 11-inch infotainment display, elegantly positioned to face the driver and housed together. The latest version of Buick’s infotainment system offers a sleek layout, a customizable home screen, and easily accessible menus. You can also connect your smartphone to the vehicle’s interface using standard wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™ compatibility. Wireless phone charging is also available.

Safety

Both AWD and FWD Encore GX models achieved a 5-star overall rating from the NHTSA. Every Encore GX comes standard with the Buick Driver Confidence package, which includes several technologies dedicated to both collision avoidance and driver assistance. Package features include:   

• Forward Collision Alert   

• Automatic Emergency Braking   

• Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning   

• IntelliBeam auto high-beams    

• Front Pedestrian Indicator   

• Following Distance Indicator   

Additional standard safety features include Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. The tire pressure display shows individual readings for each tire, and the tire fill alert notifies you when a tire is inflated to the correct level. Another standard safety feature is the Teen Driver system, which allows you to set a teen-driver-specific key fob to prevent the car from shifting out of park until the driver’s seatbelt is buckled, and mutes the radio until the front passenger’s seatbelt is buckled. The system also provides an in-vehicle report card after the teen-specific fob is used.