Trims Compared
2026 Buick Encore GX Trims Hot Springs AR
Preferred, Sport Touring and Avenir run $27,295 to $32,795, and the step up from one to the next is a clear one, not a repackaging. Here is exactly what each dollar buys.
The 2026 Buick Encore GX lineup answers a simple question three ways: how much of the good stuff do you want standard versus how much do you want to configure yourself. Preferred, the entry trim, starts at $27,295 including destination and lets you add the stronger engine for $395. Sport Touring, from $28,495, makes that engine standard and adds sportier trim. Avenir, from $32,795, is where the equipment list stops being optional. Allen Tillery Buick GMC stocks all three for Hot Springs, Arkadelphia, Hope and Bryant buyers, and out to Hot Springs Village, with all-wheel drive available across the board.
Key Numbers
- Preferred starts at $27,295, Sport Touring at $28,495 and Avenir at $32,795, all including destination.
- The 1.3L turbo engine (155 hp, 174 lb-ft) is a $395 option on Preferred and standard on Sport Touring and Avenir.
- All-wheel drive is available on every trim: $1,605 on Preferred, $1,600 on Sport Touring and Avenir.
- Only Avenir gets perforated leather, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate control and a power liftgate.
2026 Buick Encore GX Trim Lineup at a Glance
| Trim | Starting MSRP | Positioning |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred | $27,295 | Lowest way into a new Buick |
| Sport Touring | $28,495 | The stronger engine, standard, with sportier trim |
| Avenir | $32,795 | Leather, heated wheel, dual-zone climate and a power liftgate |
Trim-by-Trim Breakdown
Preferred, from $27,295
Preferred is the volume trim and the one most first-time Buick buyers land on. Standard: an 18-inch Bright Silver wheel, 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. The 1.2L turbo three-cylinder (137 hp, 162 lb-ft) is standard; the 1.3L turbo (155 hp, 174 lb-ft) is a $395 option.
Sport Touring, from $28,495
Sport Touring makes the 1.3L engine standard rather than optional, and adds 18-inch Gloss Black wheels, ST-embroidered seats, a flat-bottom steering wheel and sport-tuned exterior trim. Everything else - the touchscreen, the instrument cluster, the safety suite - carries over from Preferred unchanged.
Avenir, from $32,795
Avenir is Buick's answer to a customer cross-shopping a class up. Nineteen-inch Pearl Nickel wheels, perforated leather seating, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control and a power liftgate are all standard here and unavailable on Preferred or Sport Touring at any price.
Side-by-Side Comparison Matrix
| Feature | Preferred | Sport Touring | Avenir |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price (incl. destination) | $27,295 | $28,495 | $32,795 |
| Standard engine | 1.2L turbo (137 hp) | 1.3L turbo (155 hp) | 1.3L turbo (155 hp) |
| 1.3L engine availability | $395 option | Standard | Standard |
| Wheels | 18-inch Bright Silver | 18-inch Gloss Black | 19-inch Pearl Nickel |
| Seating material | Cloth/leatherette | ST-embroidered cloth | Perforated leather |
| Heated steering wheel | Not available | Not available | Standard |
| Dual-zone climate control | Not available | Not available | Standard |
| Power liftgate | Not available | Not available | Standard |
| All-wheel drive | +$1,605 | +$1,600 | +$1,600 |
Common Encore GX Trim Comparisons
Preferred vs Sport Touring
The real difference is $1,200 and one engine. A Preferred with the optional 1.3L engine costs $27,690; a Sport Touring with the same engine standard costs $28,495 - $805 more for the Gloss Black wheels, ST-embroidered seats and flat-bottom wheel on top of the engine both trims now share. Buyers who do not care about the sportier trim pieces save that $805 by taking the option on a Preferred instead.
Sport Touring vs Avenir
$4,300 separates them, and it buys a completely different interior: perforated leather instead of cloth, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control and a power liftgate, none of which Sport Touring offers at any price. Buyers who want the sportier look keep Sport Touring; buyers who want the car to feel like a genuine step up in comfort move to Avenir.
The Encore GX Value Verdict and Step-Up Guide
Preferred is the volume trim for a reason: it carries the full safety suite and the same touchscreen as Avenir for thousands less. Sport Touring is for the buyer who wants the stronger engine standard and a sportier look without paying for leather. Avenir is for the buyer who wants the cabin to feel like a genuine upgrade, not just a new number to spend - every trim here earns its place.
| Step | Price Difference | What It Adds |
|---|---|---|
| Preferred to Sport Touring | +$1,200 | 1.3L engine standard, Gloss Black wheels, ST-embroidered seats, flat-bottom wheel |
| Sport Touring to Avenir | +$4,300 | Perforated leather, heated steering wheel, dual-zone climate, power liftgate, 19-inch wheels |
Which 2026 Encore GX Trim Is Right for You?
- Lowest way into a new Buick: Preferred with the standard 1.2L engine and front-wheel drive. See Preferred inventory
- Same price ladder, sportier look: Sport Touring, with the 1.3L engine standard and no extra cost over a Preferred equipped the same way. See Sport Touring inventory
- Stepping down from something bigger: Avenir, for the leather, the heated wheel and the power liftgate most rivals do not offer at any price. See Avenir inventory
Shop Encore GX Trims at Allen Tillery
Allen Tillery Buick GMC stocks Preferred, Sport Touring and Avenir at our Hot Springs showroom, an easy run in from Arkadelphia, Hope and Bryant or down from Diamondhead. Call (501) 881-4160 or book a test drive to compare trims side by side in person.
2026 Encore GX Trims FAQs
What is the cheapest Buick Encore GX trim?
Preferred, at $27,295 including destination, with the standard 1.2L turbo engine and front-wheel drive.
Is the Sport Touring worth the upgrade over Preferred?
For $1,200 more than a base Preferred, Sport Touring includes the stronger 1.3L engine standard - the same engine costs $395 extra on Preferred - plus the Gloss Black wheels and sportier trim.
What makes the Avenir trim different?
Avenir is the only Encore GX trim with perforated leather seating, a heated steering wheel, dual-zone automatic climate control and a power liftgate, all standard.
Can I get all-wheel drive on the Preferred trim?
Yes. All-wheel drive is available on every trim, including Preferred, for $1,605.
Does every trim get the same touchscreen?
Yes. The 11-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and the 8-inch digital instrument cluster are standard on Preferred, Sport Touring and Avenir alike.
How much more is the Avenir than the Preferred?
$5,500 including destination on both, $27,295 for Preferred against $32,795 for Avenir.
Is the safety suite different by trim?
No. Buick Driver Confidence, blind spot monitoring, rear cross traffic alert and the HD rear vision camera are standard on all three trims.
What wheel size comes on each trim?
Preferred and Sport Touring ride on 18-inch wheels; Avenir moves to 19-inch.
See every trim on the lot
Preferred, Sport Touring or Avenir - we will have it out front for Benton, Malvern and Little Rock buyers too.
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.