The Buick Encore GX is one of those cars that rarely shouts for attention and then quietly wins people over once they live with it. It is Buick’s little crossover, priced above the coupe-styled Envista and below the bigger Envision. Buyers who want to have a taste of luxury without paying luxury money still come here, and sales numbers are high.
This Buick Encore GX review takes you through the whole story: how the model has changed since 2020, what it is like to drive, how much space you actually have, what the different trims cost in the US, and the messier question of what buyers in Gulf countries pay. If you are buying subcompact SUVs and you’re looking to decide if this one deserves a test drive, it should be a pretty clear answer by the end.
Buick Encore GX at a Glance
| Specification | Details |
| Vehicle Type | Five-seat subcompact crossover SUV |
| Assembled In | South Korea |
| Current Trims | Preferred, Sport Touring, Avenir |
| Engine Options | 1.2L turbocharged 3-cylinder (137 hp / 162 lb-ft); 1.3L turbocharged 3-cylinder (155 hp / 174 lb-ft) |
| Drivetrain | Front-wheel drive (CVT) or All-wheel drive (9-speed automatic) |
| 0–60 mph | Around 9.2 seconds (1.3L engine) |
| Fuel Economy | Up to 30 city / 31 highway mpg (FWD); about 27 mpg combined (AWD) |
| Cargo Space | 23.5 cu ft behind rear seats; 50.2 cu ft with rear seats folded |
| Length | 171.1 inches (approximately 14 feet) |
| 2026 US Price | Approximately $27,000–$33,500 (before destination charges and optional extras) |
| Gulf Availability | Not officially sold; available only through independent importers |
| Best Used Model Years | 2021–2023 for value; 2024+ for updated styling and technology |
What the Buick Encore GX Actually Is
Buick builds the Encore GX in South Korea and sells it as a five-seat subcompact crossover. It measures 171.1 inches long, or 14 feet long, which means it’s easy to park in a tight garage but roomier inside than the badge says. Buick markets it as premium rather than luxury, and that framing is fair. You get quieter cabins and softer materials than most mainstream rivals without the price of a Lexus or an Audi.
Not to be confused with the plain Encore (the smaller model that was sold alongside it in the US and Canada through 2022). The GX is longer, wider, and more practical. In some markets (such as Mexico), Buick dropped the “GX” name and just sells this car as the Encore.
The Buick Encore GX Year by Year
Because of how many buyers buy in a model year, here is how the car has evolved.
The 2020 Buick Encore GX launched on the line in 2020. Buick announced it at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show in 2019 and launched it for the 2020 model year with turbocharged three-cylinder engines with front or all-wheel drive for turbocharged models and front- and rear-wheel drive. Early cars were in Preferred, Select, and Essence trims.
The 2021 Buick Encore GX carried over with one welcome upgrade: wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto became standard across the line. It’s a small change, but one that dated the older infotainment systems fast.
The 2022 Buick Encore GX stayed largely the same mechanically. This was also the last year Buick sold the smaller standard Encore next to it in North America, so the GX was the only small Buick crossover afterward.
The 2023 Buick Encore GX finished the pre-refresh era. Solid and unremarkable and by then starting to feel a step behind newer rivals on screen size and cabin design.
The 2024 Buick Encore GX is the one to know about. Buick redesigned it at midcycle with a new face, slim LED accent lights up front, and the brand’s tri-shield logo for the first time since 1990. Inside there was a new digital cockpit with an 11-inch touchscreen and 8-inch driver display all in one sheet of glass. The trim line was also revamped, and it was Preferred, Sport Touring, and the much-anticipated Avenir.
The 2025 Buick Encore GX was a straight carryover. Buick just changed a couple of paint colors and left everything else alone, which is what you want from a car one year after a refresh.
The 2026 Buick Encore GX remains virtually unchanged. The spare tire was now optional, a tire inflator kit was now standard, and the color palette slightly changed with Brilliant Red joining the range. A full redesign is expected around 2029, so the current car has a couple of years left in this form.
Driving the Buick Encore GX
Nobody buys this car for drag races, and that’s fine. Two turbocharged three-cylinder engines do the work. The base 1.2-liter turbo produces 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque. Up a little and get a 1.3-liter turbo with 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft, standard on the higher trims and available on the base car.
The transmission is also influenced by the drivetrain. Front-wheel-drive models have a continuously variable automatic, while all-wheel-drive models have a nine-speed automatic. The 1.3-liter car went from 0 to 60 mph in about 9.2 seconds alone for independent testing, which is a hair better than the segment average, and the low-end torque makes it feel livelier around town than the numbers state.
Where the Encore GX earns its keep is refinement. Body roll is kept in check in corners, grip is good, and steering is light but accurate. Walking through a parking lot or on an otherwise busy street is a lot of fun. The rough edges are apparent in the details: the stop-start system can shudder when the engine restarts, the brake pedal is touchy, and the nine-speed can be a little anxious to get everything in the right gear when you want speed.
Fuel economy is a strong feature on front-drive cars, which can get up to 30 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Add all-wheel drive, and the score drops to about 27 mpg. That is competitive, though a couple of rivals stretch further on a tank.
Interior: Inside the Cabin
This is where the Buick “almost-luxury” pitch hits hardest. The front seats sit in a quiet, well-designed space with soft-touch materials where your hands fall most often. Buick’s QuietTuning insulation keeps road and wind noise down, and on the highway the cabin stays impressively hushed for a small SUV.
The catch is that the plushness thins out as you move back. Rear-seat plastics are hard and cheaper than front-seat plastics, and top trims can have a few pieces, like the glove box, that feel below the price. If you rarely carry rear passengers, you will never notice. If you shuttle kids or colleagues on a daily basis, it’s worth looking before you buy.
Space is better than the compact footprint suggests. Rear legroom is 36 inches, roughly average for the class, and adults fit without complaint on shorter trips. The 60/40 split rear seats fold flat, and higher trims add a folding front passenger seatback so you can slide in something long, like an 8-foot board, on the diagonal.
Cargo room is a big selling point. You get 23.5 cubic feet behind the rear seats and 50.2 cubic feet folded, which is great for the segment. And on the tech side, every Encore GX has an 11-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot. A six-speaker audio system is standard, with a Bose upgrade on higher trims, plus a wireless charging pad and a panoramic moonroof.
Trims and What You Get
The current car can be found in three trims, one for front or all-wheel drive.
Preferred is the entry point and, for most buyers, the smart choice. It is equipped with the big screen, wireless phone mirroring, remote start, and Buick’s driver aids: automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, lane keep assist, and auto high beams.
Sport Touring is the style pick. The 2024 Buick Encore GX Sport Touring brought a sportier look with a custom grille, red accents, gloss-black exterior trim, 18-inch gloss-black wheels, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and two-tone seats. Mechanically it’s comparable to all the other cars, so it’s attitude with attitude and not speed.
Avenir is the luxury flagship. It layers in leather seating with embroidered headrests, larger 19-inch wheels, an exclusive grille, and the nicest cabin materials Buick offers in this car. It also unlocks features the lesser trims skip, such as the flat-folding front passenger seat as standard.
Buick Encore GX Pricing in the US
Pricing varies with model year and dealer discounts, but the current picture is straightforward. The 2026 Buick Encore GX starts at about 27,000 to 28,000 US dollars for the Preferred trim and climbs to about 33,500 dollars for a loaded Avenir. These figures are before the destination freight charge, taxes, and any options, and dealers decide the final number.
Here is the rough US ladder for the current car:
| Trim | Approx. US Starting MSRP |
| Preferred | $27,000–$28,000 |
| Sport Touring | ~$29,000 |
| Avenir | ~$33,500 |
Worth knowing: pricing guides like Kelley Blue Book recommend at least a couple thousand dollars below sticker, as the real transaction prices are typically under MSRP. For all-wheel drive, it is approximately 2,000 dollars more than front-drive.
If you are shopping older model years used, expect good value. A clean 2020 to 2022 Buick Encore GX typically trades well below a new one and the 2024 refresh cars are more expensive than previous models.
[Team note: Check current used market ranges against live listings before publishing exact used figures.]
What Gulf Buyers Should Know About Pricing
Here the honest answer matters more than a tidy number. Buick is not an officially represented brand in the Gulf. General Motors has its Africa and Middle East operations in Dubai and sells Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac in this region. There is no official Buick dealer network, no factory-backed GCC-spec Encore GX, and no official AED price list from the manufacturer.
What that means in practice: any Buick Encore GX you find in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, or Oman are imported through independent importers and not an authorized Buick dealer. These are all US-market cars brought in from and sold or exported by specialist dealers in areas like Dubai’s Al Aweer auto market.
Pricing follows that reality. A straight currency conversion of the US sticker puts the Preferred at 103,000 AED and the Avenir at 123,000 AED before you add shipping, customs duty, and importer margin. In the real world, independent listings of the new Buick models in the UAE have come from around 95,000 AED depending on the exact year, trim, and spec. Treat any Gulf figure as an import estimate, not a fixed price, and budget separately for parts and servicing, as you will rely on independent workshops rather than a factory dealer network.
[Team note: AED figures are indicative conversions and gray-market observations, not official pricing; confirm with current importer listings before publishing.]
For a GCC buyer, the takeaway is simple. The Encore GX can be a pleasant, well-priced small SUV, but you’re buying an unofficial import. That’s compared to officially sold rivals from Chevrolet, GMC, or the mainstream Japanese and Korean brands that have local warranties and service support.
Finding a Buick Encore GX for Sale
The Encore GX is a common sight in the US on dealer lots, so a search for a Buick Encore GX for sale near me will usually yield lots of new and used examples within a short drive. Since Buick sells this car in volume, you have room to negotiate and to wait for the right color and trim rather than settle.
A few buying tips. If you want the modern look and the bigger screen, then 2024 and newer cars are better to buy because the refresh changed the whole feel. If value is the point, the lightly used 2021-2023 model with the wireless phone tech is where you will get most of the value for less. Always confirm whether a listing is front or all-wheel drive, because that determines the transmission and the fuel economy you will live with.
Gulf buyers looking for a Buick Encore GX near me will find far fewer results, and most will be independent importers rather than branded showrooms. Ask for the full import and service history, confirm the car meets local registration requirements, and factor in that a Buick Encore GX for sale in the region carries no manufacturer warranty.
How It Stacks Up
The subcompact premium-ish SUV space is crowded. The Encore GX, compared with the Mazda CX-30, trades a little driving polish for quieter, more luxurious interior space. Compared to the Subaru Crosstrek, it has lost its rugged off-road prowess but is a lot more refined on the road. The Honda HR-V and Nissan Kicks undercut it on price, and, in the case of the Kicks, it makes it more fuel efficient, but neither has the quietness of the Buick’s ride or a more sophisticated feel.
The interesting in-house rival is Buick’s own Envista, which is less expensive and shares much of the same underbelly. The Encore GX has a more traditional SUV shape, more cargo room, and even all-wheel drive on it, which the Envista doesn’t. The premium is there if you want more space and AWD. If you drive in the city and like the coupe look, the Envista is enough.
The Verdict
The Buick Encore GX is a genuinely nice small crossover that knows what it is; it won’t shock fans, and the three-cylinder engines are modest, but the quiet cabin, easy manners, generous cargo space, and price tag are part of a car that is easy to recommend to the right buyer. That buyer wants comfort and refinement over speed, a premium feeling without a premium payment, and most of their driving around town and on the highway.
For US shoppers, it’s a good choice that usually sells below sticker and holds up well as a used buy, especially in 2024-and-newer refreshed form. For Gulf buyers, though, the calculus is different: the car itself is fine, but the absence of an official Buick presence means you’re taking on an import with no factory support. Go in with eyes open and verify every number against live listings, and the Encore GX can still make a lot of sense.
FAQs
Q. Is the Buick Encore GX a reliable SUV?
A. The Buick Encore GX has a good reliability profile, as Buick has a strong showing in dependability surveys among mainstream brands. Its turbocharged three-cylinder engines and transmissions are proven, but like any used car, service history and regular maintenance matter more than the badge. Buyers of 2024 and newer refreshed models get the latest technology and updates.
Q. How much does a Buick Encore GX cost?
A. In the US, the 2026 Buick Encore GX starts at 27,000 to 28,000 dollars for the Preferred trim and goes to around 33,500 dollars for a loaded Avenir before destination charges and options. Real transaction prices often fall below sticker price. In Gulf countries, the car is only sold from independent importers, and prices vary widely because there is no official Buick dealer or factory pricing in the region.
Q. Is the Buick Encore GX sold in the UAE and Saudi Arabia?
A. Not officially. GM sells Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac in the Middle East but not Buick. Any Buick Encore GX in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or elsewhere in the GCC is an independent import. The manufacturer has no warranty and is dependent on independent workshops for parts and servicing.
Q. What is the difference between the Encore GX Sport Touring and Avenir?
A. The Sport Touring is the sporty model and has a very special grille, gloss-black accents, 18-inch black wheels, and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The Avenir is the luxury flagship with leather seating, 19-inch wheels, an exclusive grille, and the best cabin materials. Both have the same engine, so the choice comes down to sporty style versus upscale comfort.
Q. Which Buick Encore GX model year is the best to buy?
A. For the new look and features, the 2024 Buick Encore GX and later models are the best of the new models to buy, since they got a new look, a bigger screen, and a contemporary digital cockpit. For value, a used 2021 to 2023 model still has wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto along with basic comfort and space at a significant discount over a new car.
