Which year to buy
Too new to judge: 2026. Give a new year a year or two of owner reports.
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
2027 Encore GX trims
| Preferred | Sport Touring | Avenir | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Wireless Apple CarPlay | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Android Auto | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Wireless phone charging | No | Optional | Optional |
| Heated front seats | Optional | Optional | Standard |
| Heated steering wheel | Optional | Optional | Standard |
| Remote start | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Sunroof or moonroof | No | Optional | Optional |
| Power liftgate or tailgate | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| 360-degree camera | No | Optional | Optional |
| Adaptive cruise control | No | Optional | Optional |
| Blind-spot warning | Standard | Standard | Standard |
| Lane centering | No | No | Optional |
Features from Buick's 2027 equipment guide ("Optional": a package or option adds it); base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Buick reports it. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1.2L 3-cyl turbo 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | AWD, FWD | 27–30 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — |
| 2025 | 1.2L 3-cyl turbo 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | AWD, FWD | 27–30 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 15 | Electrical system (6) | Yes |
| 2024 | 1.2L 3-cyl turbo 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | AWD, FWD | 27–30 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 31 | Electrical system (20) | Yes |
| 2023 | 1.2L 3-cyl turbo 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | AWD, FWD | 27–30 mpg | 5 of 5 | 0 | 27 | Engine (6) | Yes |
| 2022 | 1.2L 3-cyl turbo 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | AWD, FWD | 27–30 mpg | 5 of 5 | 1 | 32 | Power train (13) | No |
| 2021 | 1.2L 3-cyl turbo 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | AWD, FWD | 28–31 mpg | 5 of 5 | 2 | 53 | Engine (15) | No |
| 2020 | 1.2L 3-cyl turbo 1.3L 3-cyl turbo | AWD, FWD | 28–31 mpg | 4 of 5 | 2 | 70 | Unknown or other (19) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Apple lists CarPlay for: Encore GX 2023–2025 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | BUICK ENCORE GX SUV N/A AWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 1 | 4 |
| 2026 | BUICK ENCORE GX SUV N/A FWD | Not Rated | Standard | Standard | 1 | 4 |
| 2026 | BUICK ENCORE GX SUV N/A AWD EARLY RELEASE | 5 | Standard | Standard | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | BUICK ENCORE GX SUV N/A FWD EARLY RELEASE | 5 | Standard | Standard | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Buick Encore GX SUV AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 15 |
| 2025 | Buick Encore GX SUV FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 15 |
| 2024 | Buick Encore GX SUV AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 31 |
| 2024 | Buick Encore GX SUV FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 31 |
| 2023 | Buick Encore GX SUV AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 0 | 27 |
| 2023 | Buick Encore GX SUV FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 0 | 27 |
| 2022 | Buick Encore GX SUV AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 32 |
| 2022 | Buick Encore GX SUV FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 1 | 32 |
| 2021 | Buick Encore GX SUV AWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 53 |
| 2021 | Buick Encore GX SUV FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 53 |
| 2020 | Buick Encore GX SUV AWD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 70 |
| 2020 | Buick Encore GX SUV FWD | 4 | Standard | Standard | 2 | 70 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Encore GX AWD | Auto 9-spd, 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2026 | Encore GX FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo | 30 |
| 2026 | Encore GX FWD FFV | Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.2 L, Turbo | 30 |
| 2025 | Encore GX AWD | Auto 9-spd, 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2025 | Encore GX FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.2 L, Turbo |
30 |
| 2024 | Encore GX AWD | Auto 9-spd, 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2024 | Encore GX FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.2 L, Turbo |
30 |
| 2023 | Encore GX AWD | Auto 9-spd, 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2023 | Encore GX FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.2 L, Turbo Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo |
30 |
| 2022 | Encore GX AWD | Auto 9-spd, 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo | 27 |
| 2022 | Encore GX FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.2 L, Turbo Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo |
30 |
| 2021 | Encore GX AWD | Auto 9-spd, 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo | 28 |
| 2021 | Encore GX FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.2 L, Turbo |
29–31 |
| 2020 | Encore GX AWD | Auto 9-spd, 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo | 28 |
| 2020 | Encore GX FWD | Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.3 L, Turbo Auto (variable gear ratios), 3 cyl, 1.2 L, Turbo |
28–31 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.