2026 Buick Encore GX For Sale
Subcompact SUV
2026 Buick Encore GX for Sale Hot Springs AR
Three trims from $27,295, a turbocharged three-cylinder in every one, and an Avenir trim that carries more standard content than most cars a class up. Here is what the 2026 lineup actually gives you.
The 2026 Buick Encore GX is the smallest, easiest way into a new Buick, and the one most first-time buyers and downsizing empty-nesters end up test-driving in Hot Springs: five seats, 171.2 inches long, and a turning diameter under 37 feet that makes the parking spots around Oaklawn and downtown a non-issue. It starts at $27,295 including destination, returns up to 30 mpg combined, and carries 50.2 cubic feet with the back seat folded down. Every trim runs a turbocharged three-cylinder rather than the naturally aspirated four-cylinder most rivals use, which is where its low-speed pull comes from.
Allen Tillery Buick GMC stocks the Encore GX in Hot Springs and delivers along Highway 70 and Interstate 30 to Benton, Bryant, Malvern, Arkadelphia and Hope, and to Little Rock buyers cross-shopping a smaller footprint than a Terrain or Acadia. Three trims, one engine family, and what changes as you move up is displacement, drivetrain and how much of the Avenir's finish arrives standard.
Key Numbers
- The 2026 Buick Encore GX starts at $27,295 for the Preferred, including destination.
- Preferred runs a 1.2L turbo three-cylinder standard (137 hp, 162 lb-ft); the 1.3L turbo (155 hp, 174 lb-ft) is a $395 option on Preferred and standard on Sport Touring and Avenir.
- Front-wheel drive is standard with a CVT; all-wheel drive is available with a 9-speed automatic.
- EPA rates the 1.3L front-wheel-drive Encore GX at 29 city / 31 highway / 30 combined.
- Cargo volume is 23.5 cu ft behind the rear seat and 50.2 cu ft with it folded.
2026 Buick Encore GX Engines and Powertrain Options
Two engine displacements, both turbocharged three-cylinders, and the choice mostly resolves itself by trim. The Preferred comes standard with a 1.2L turbo three-cylinder rated at 137 horsepower and 162 lb-ft of torque, with the larger 1.3L turbo three-cylinder available on Preferred as a $395 option. The Sport Touring and Avenir both come standard with that 1.3L engine, rated at 155 horsepower and 174 lb-ft. Either way, the character is the same: a turbocharged three-cylinder pulls harder off the line than its horsepower number suggests, because the torque arrives early rather than building toward redline the way a larger, naturally aspirated four-cylinder does.
Drivetrain and transmission
Front-wheel drive is standard on every trim and pairs with a continuously variable transmission (CVT). All-wheel drive is available on every trim - $1,605 on the Preferred, $1,600 on Sport Touring and Avenir - and swaps in a conventional 9-speed automatic rather than the CVT. That is worth knowing before you shop by price alone: the AWD Encore GX is not just a traction upgrade, it is a different gearbox underneath it.
Fuel economy by configuration
| Configuration | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.2L, front-wheel drive | 30 MPG | 31 MPG | 30 MPG |
| 1.3L, front-wheel drive | 29 MPG | 31 MPG | 30 MPG |
| 1.3L, all-wheel drive | 26 MPG | 28 MPG | 27 MPG |
EPA estimates published at fueleconomy.gov. Your mileage will vary.
Encore GX Trim Lineup and Pricing
Three trims, and each one is a clear step up rather than a repackaging of the last. Prices below include the standard destination charge.
Preferred, from $27,295
The entry point, and the one most Encore GX buyers cross-shop against a Honda HR-V or Chevy Trailblazer. Eighteen-inch Bright Silver wheels, cloth and leatherette seating, an 11-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, an 8-inch digital instrument cluster, and the full Buick Driver Confidence safety suite standard.
Sport Touring, from $28,495
The 1.3L engine standard rather than optional, 18-inch Gloss Black wheels, seats with "ST" embroidery, a flat-bottom steering wheel and sport-tuned exterior trim. The step up from Preferred is styling and standard power, not a new feature set.
Avenir, from $32,795
Buick's top trim, and the one that makes the class-up comparisons interesting. Nineteen-inch Pearl Nickel wheels, perforated leather seating, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control, and a power liftgate - none of which most subcompact-crossover rivals offer at any price.
Preferred, Sport Touring and Avenir each carry their own stock on the lot: Preferred inventory, Sport Touring inventory, or Avenir inventory. The full step-up table is on the 2026 Encore GX trims comparison.
Technology and Connectivity
An 11-inch color touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto is standard on every trim, alongside an 8-inch digital instrument cluster. An available mobile Wi-Fi hotspot keeps passengers connected on the drive up Highway 70, and remote start works from the key fob or the myBuick app, which matters on the first hard-frost morning of the year more than any spec sheet does.
Interior and Comfort
The Encore GX seats five in two rows with 39.7 inches of front head room and close to 41 inches of front leg room - generous for a vehicle this size, and part of why it drives roomier than its 171.2-inch length suggests. Preferred and Sport Touring seat you in cloth and leatherette or ST-embroidered cloth; Avenir moves to perforated leather with a heated steering wheel and dual-zone automatic climate control, both uncommon in this class at any trim level.
Cargo and Passenger Space
23.5 cubic feet behind the rear seat, 50.2 cubic feet with it folded. In practice the first number is a full grocery run plus a stroller, and the second is a bookshelf from the Hot Springs antique shops or a bike with the front wheel off. The Encore GX carries no manufacturer-published towing capacity, and it is not built or marketed as a tow vehicle - if hauling a trailer is on your list, a Terrain or Acadia is the right conversation to have instead. The Encore GX specs and dimensions guide works through the full interior measurement set.
Safety and Driver Assistance
Buick Driver Confidence is standard on every 2026 Encore GX trim: automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking, forward collision alert, a following distance indicator, lane keep assist with lane departure warning, and IntelliBeam automatic high beams. Blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and an HD rear vision camera are standard as well; HD Surround Vision, a 360 camera view of the vehicle, is available. NHTSA rates the Encore GX 5 stars overall, and IIHS scores it Good on the small overlap front and updated side tests. It does not currently carry an IIHS Top Safety Pick designation.
Which 2026 Encore GX Is Right for You?
- You want the lowest way into a new Buick. Preferred with front-wheel drive and the standard 1.2L engine. See Preferred inventory
- You want a bit more pull without moving up a trim. Preferred with the optional 1.3L engine, a $395 add. See Preferred inventory
- You want the sportier look without paying for leather. Sport Touring, with the 1.3L standard and the blacked-out wheel and trim package. See Sport Touring inventory
- You have slid on an icy bridge once and would rather not again. Any trim with all-wheel drive and the 9-speed automatic. See Encore GX inventory
- You are stepping down from something bigger and do not want to feel it. Avenir. Leather, a heated wheel, dual-zone climate and a power liftgate that most rivals do not offer at any price. See Avenir inventory
The well-equipped pick to price out: a Sport Touring with all-wheel drive. It carries the stronger 1.3L engine standard, the sportier look, and lands well below the Avenir while still stepping up from base Preferred equipment. Run the numbers on our payment calculator before you come in.
Why Buy the 2026 Encore GX at Allen Tillery in Hot Springs
Allen Tillery Auto Buick GMC has been family-owned at 4573 Central Ave since 1967. The Encore GX is our most-asked-about Buick for first-time buyers and for Arkadelphia and Hope customers looking to downsize without downgrading. Call (501) 881-4160, book a test drive, get a trade appraisal, or start your financing before you arrive so the paperwork is not the long part of the day.
MSRP includes destination freight charge; excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Dealer sets final price.
2026 Buick Encore GX Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a 2026 Buick Encore GX cost?
The Preferred starts at $27,295, the Sport Touring at $28,495 and the Avenir at $32,795, each including destination.
Which engine comes standard on the Encore GX?
The Preferred comes with a 1.2L turbo three-cylinder (137 hp, 162 lb-ft) standard, with the larger 1.3L turbo available for $395. Sport Touring and Avenir both come with the 1.3L (155 hp, 174 lb-ft) standard.
Does the Encore GX come with all-wheel drive?
Yes, on every trim, for $1,605 on the Preferred and $1,600 on Sport Touring and Avenir. All-wheel-drive models pair with a 9-speed automatic instead of the standard CVT.
Can a Buick Encore GX tow a trailer?
No published towing capacity exists for this vehicle, and it is not marketed as a tow vehicle. If towing matters, a GMC Terrain or Acadia is the better fit.
What gas mileage does the Encore GX get?
EPA rates the 1.3L engine at 29 city / 31 highway / 30 combined with front-wheel drive, and 26 / 28 / 27 with all-wheel drive. The 1.2L front-wheel-drive engine is rated 30 / 31 / 30. It takes regular unleaded.
What is the cargo capacity of the Encore GX?
23.5 cu ft behind the rear seat and 50.2 cu ft with it folded down.
What warranty comes with a new Encore GX?
Bumper-to-bumper coverage runs 3 years or 36,000 miles and powertrain coverage runs 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Your first service visit is covered.
What is the difference between the Preferred and Sport Touring trims?
Sport Touring gets the 1.3L turbo engine as standard equipment rather than a $395 option, plus 18-inch Gloss Black wheels, ST-embroidered seats and a flat-bottom steering wheel. The safety suite and touchscreen are the same on both.
Drive a 2026 Encore GX this week
Tell us which trim you want to sit in and we will have it out front. Worth the drive from Benton, Malvern or Little Rock.
More on the 2026 Encore GX
May not represent actual vehicle. (Options, colors, trim and body style may vary)
The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price excludes tax, title, license, dealer fees and optional equipment. Dealer sets final price.