Which Trim Level of the 2026 Buick Encore GX Should You Buy?
Key Points
- Small Buick SUV is, price excepted, unchanged for the 2026 model year
- Available in Preferred, Sport Touring and Avenir trim levels
- Pricing starts at $27,995 (all prices include $1,795 destination charge).
The Buick Encore GX enters its seventh year on sale in 2026, duking it out with the Envista for the title of bestselling product in the brand’s SUV-only portfolio. The little runabout is unchanged for 2026. Buick offers the Encore GX with a choice of turbocharged three-cylinder engines, a continuously variable automatic transmission or a nine-speed automatic, and front- or all-wheel drive.
There’s a difference of only $5,500 between the base prices of the least and most expensive of the three available trim levels. So, which 2026 Buick Encore GX is right for you? Help make your decision based on the equipment and the prices listed below.
Related: 2025 Buick Encore GX Avenir Review: Premium or Not?
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Shop the 2026 Buick Encore GX near you
Trim Details and Pricing
Preferred: $27,995
The basic Encore rides on 18-inch alloy wheels and includes keyless entry and start, remote start and heated exterior mirrors. The interior features manually adjustable front seats and cloth upholstery with synthetic leather trim. Cabin technology consists of an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, six-speaker audio system, and 11-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
Sport Touring: $29,195
The Sport Touring gets a larger and slightly more powerful engine but is otherwise mostly an appearance package. It features black finishes on its wheels, bumpers and grille; a black roof is optional on models painted in Brilliant Red, Moonstone Gray Metallic and select White Sands examples. The Sport Touring also gets roof rails, LED taillights, full synthetic-leather upholstery and an electric auxiliary heater to warm the cabin more quickly.
Avenir: $33,495
Buick dresses up the Avenir trim with body-color lower-body and bumper trim, a unique grille and 19-inch wheels. Inside, it features genuine leather upholstery, heated front seats, a power-adjustable driver seat, a heated steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control.
Standard and Available Safety Features
Standard safety equipment on the 2026 Buick Encore GX includes forward collision warning with pedestrian detection, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning and steering assist, blind spot monitors, rear cross-traffic alert and automatic high beams.
An Advanced Technology Package is available for the Preferred and Sport Touring. It includes adaptive cruise control, a 360-degree camera system and rear parking sensors. On the Avenir, the same tech is lumped in with a handful of luxury upgrades in the Avenir Technology Package.
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- Research the Buick Encore GX
Powertrain Specs and MPG
The 2026 Encore GX’s base engine is a turbocharged 1.2-liter three-cylinder. Only available in the entry-level Preferred trim with a continuously variable automatic transmission and FWD, it makes 137 horsepower and 162 pounds-feet of torque. The 1.2-liter returns an EPA-rated 30/31/30 mpg city/highway/combined.
A 155-hp, turbo 1.3-liter three-cylinder that puts out 174 pounds-feet of torque is optional for just $395 on the Preferred and standard on the Sport Touring and Avenir. Opt for FWD, and the 1.3-liter is paired with a CVT and rated at 29/31/30 mpg; with AWD, the turbo three gets paired with a nine-speed automatic and returns 26/28/27 mpg.
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