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Photo of a Buick Encore GX

Buick Encore GX

The 2024 Encore GX brought Buick's Wildcat face into production first.1

Researched November 2, 2026 from 17 sources

At a glance

0100200
137–181 hpPower
0510
8.7–9.3 s0–60 mph
0100200
193 km/hTop speed
0150300
220–250 N·mTorque
01,0002,000
1,501–1,535 kgWeight

The coral arc spans the family, from its mildest version to its wildest.3458910

Engine
1.2/1.3 L turbo inline-3; China Encore Plus: 1.5 L turbo inline-449
Layout
Front-engine; front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive4
Gearbox
FWD: CVT; 1.3 L AWD: 9-speed automatic5
Built at
GM Korea, Bupyeong-gu, South Korea; SAIC-GM, Yantai, China4

The story

Built to expand Buick's crossover range, the 2020 GX was a separate model between Encore and Envision. It shared the Chevrolet Trailblazer's VSS-F platform and offered 23.5 cu ft of seats-up cargo space.2345

2019: Shanghai debut on VSS-F20192020: North American launch; Encore in Mexico20202021: 2021 marks the U.S. sales peak · IIHS Top Safety Pick20212022: Original Encore bows out20222023: 2024 refresh: Wildcat face and Avenir · Encore Plus adds a 1.5-liter four20232025: Chinese production ends20252026: 1.3 L becomes the standard engine2026 Buick Encore (first generation): 2013–2022Buick Encore (first generation)Buick Encore GX (9BUB): 2019–present9BUB 20122014201620182020202220242026
GenerationsBefore and afterMilestones347
Show the numbers
YearWhat happened
2013–2022Buick Encore (first generation)
2019–presentBuick Encore GX (9BUB)
2019Shanghai debut on VSS-F
2020North American launch; Encore in Mexico
20212021 marks the U.S. sales peak
2021IIHS Top Safety Pick
2022Original Encore bows out
20232024 refresh: Wildcat face and Avenir
2023Encore Plus adds a 1.5-liter four
2025Chinese production ends
20261.3 L becomes the standard engine
  1. 2019

    Shanghai debut on VSS-F

    The GX appeared beside the second-generation Encore at the 2019 Shanghai Auto Show, sharing the Chevrolet Trailblazer's VSS-F platform.4

  2. 2020

    North American launch; Encore in Mexico

    North America's 2020-model GX arrived early in the year; Mexico's February launch called it simply Encore.4

  3. 2021

    2021 marks the U.S. sales peak

    The GX's U.S. sales peak in 2021. It remains among Buick's steadiest sellers, with 57,528 U.S. deliveries in 2025.46

  4. 2021

    IIHS Top Safety Pick

    The 2021 model earned IIHS Top Safety Pick, with Good frontal crash ratings, Superior daytime pedestrian crash prevention and Acceptable LATCH ease of use.4

  5. 2022

    Original Encore bows out

    After the original Encore ended with the 2022 model year, the larger GX took over as Buick's entry-level model.7

  6. 2023

    2024 refresh: Wildcat face and Avenir

    The 2024 refresh gave the GX Buick's Wildcat face and new crest; Avenir replaced Essence at the top to push toward premium rivals.148

  7. 2023

    Encore Plus adds a 1.5-liter four

    China's renamed Encore Plus arrived in Lequ and Zhiqu trims with a CVT and 181-hp 1.5 L turbo four; 0–100 km/h was quoted at 8.5 seconds.49

  8. 2025

    Chinese production ends

    The family's Chinese production run ends in 2025; the Encore Plus disappears from Buick China's website that March.4

  9. 2026

    1.3 L becomes the standard engine

    Buick drops the 1.2 L early in 2026; the 1.3 L becomes standard across the trim range.4

Every generation

  • Buick Encore (first generation)
    Buick Encore (first generation)2013–2022
  • Buick Encore GX
    9BUB2019–present

Power over the years

From 137 hp to 181 hp in 3 years.

050100150200 202020222024 hp 2020 · 137 hp · 1.2 L turbo FWD2020 · 155 hp · 1.3 L turbo2020 · 162 hp · China 1.3 L turbo2023 · 181 hp · China Encore Plus 1.5 L 181 hp China Encore Plus 1.5 L 137 hp 1.2 L turbo FWD
459
Show the numbers
YearHorsepowerModel
20201371.2 L turbo FWD
20201551.3 L turbo
2020162China 1.3 L turbo
2023181China Encore Plus 1.5 L

Versions

7 versions worth knowing, with their power.

  • Standard

    Preferred

    2020–2023

    137 hp
  • Preferred

    Standard

    Preferred

    2024–present

  • Essence

    Standard

    Essence

    2020–2023

  • Special

    Sport Touring package

    2020–2023

  • Sport Touring

    Standard

    Sport Touring

    2024–present

    155 hp
  • Avenir

    Standard

    Avenir

    2024–present

    155 hp

  • Standard

    Encore Plus Lequ and Zhiqu Editions

    2023–2025

    181 hp

How to spot one

Look for

  • A five-door SUV, larger than the original Encore and positioned below the Envision.4
  • 2024-on: new tri-shield crest, with the main headlights below the turn signals near the hood.48
  • Early Sport Touring: red grille and bumper accents, body-color moldings and 18-inch wheels.4
  • Encore Plus: split-style grille, wing-shaped LED headlights and a silver-accented rear skid plate.9

Year by year

  1. 2024

    New grille and bumpers, slimmer lights and updated tri-shield crest; main headlights sit below the turn signals and fog lights vanish.48

  2. 2023 (China)

    China's refresh is renamed Encore Plus, with a split-style grille, wing-shaped LED headlights and silver-accented rear skid plate.49

Don’t confuse it with

  • Buick Encore (2013–2022)

    The original Encore is shorter; faux fender vents are a clue to 2013–2016 examples.57

  • Photo of a Buick Encore GX
    Encore GX
    Photo of a Buick Envista
    Buick Envista

    Buick Envista

    The Envista has a lower-slung body; both it and the 2024 Encore GX use Wildcat design cues.1

Against its rivals

  • Mazda CX-30 (2020)

    Encore GX vs Mazda CX-30 (2020)

    Price as tested lower is better

    Encore GX$36,620
    Mazda CX-30 (2020)$31,425
    10
  • Mercedes-Benz GLC300

    Encore GX vs Mercedes-Benz GLC300

    Full-throttle noise lower is better

    Encore GX72 dB
    Mercedes-Benz GLC30076 dB
    8

Prices

Price when new
$0$10K$20K$30K$40K 2020202220242026 2020 · $25,195 · US base, FWD2020 · $27,095 · US base, AWD2020 · $35,720 · US Essence AWD, as tested2024 · $26,895 · US range base2024 · $29,695 · US Sport Touring AWD base2024 · $34,795 · US Avenir base2024 · $39,580 · US Avenir AWD, as tested 2020 · $25,195 · US base FWD, 2020 model year
3817
Show the numbers
YearPriceAmountDetail
2020Launch price$25,195US base FWD, 2020 model year
2020Price when new$25,195US base, FWD
2020Price when new$27,095US base, AWD
2020Price when new$35,720US Essence AWD, as tested
2024Price when new$26,895US range base
2024Price when new$29,695US Sport Touring AWD base
2024Price when new$34,795US Avenir base
2024Price when new$39,580US Avenir AWD, as tested

The rest of the story is in the app

The full file tells why each version matters, the legend behind the car and what to check before buying one.

  • Versions

    • Why each of the 7 versions matters

  • Legend

    • 12 stories from its legend
    • “A background role in Day Shift”
    • “A design leader became GM Korea's boss”

  • Generations

    • The story of each of the 2 generations

  • Market

    • 5 things to check before buying one
    • Where prices are heading, and why
Read the full file in SPOT

SPOT is free on iPhone. Full car files come with SPOT Plus.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to the source it rests on.

See all 17 sources
  1. Wagons to Wildcat: The Evolution and Future Promise of Buick's Striking Modern Design motortrend.com
  2. 2020 Buick Encore GX First Drive | Bringing serenity to the subcompact market - Autoblog autoblog.com
  3. Tested: 2020 Buick Encore GX Might Bore Us, but It Does the Job caranddriver.com
  4. Buick Encore GX - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  5. 2020 Buick Encore GX - MotorWeek motorweek.org
  6. Buick Encore GX Sales Figures | GCBC goodcarbadcar.net
  7. Buick Encore - Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org
  8. Tested: 2024 Buick Encore GX Avenir Reaches for the Stars caranddriver.com
  9. SAIC-GM puts 2023 Buick Encore Plus onto market | Gasgoo autonews.gasgoo.com
  10. 2020 Mazda CX-30 Vs 2020 Buick Encore GX Comparison Test motortrend.com
  11. Meet the CEO: Engineer Roberto Rempel is new GM Korea chief | Business Chief Asia businesschief.asia
  12. Alexa, Get me behind the wheel of a Buick Encore Essence - Miami’s Community News communitynewspapers.com
  13. Cars in Day Shift (2022): All 55 Vehicles | What's After the Movie whatsafterthemovie.com
  14. 2027 Buick Encore GX Pricing, MPG, Comparisons, Specs - iSeeCars.com iseecars.com
  15. Buick Recall A212335470: Emergency Jack Can Fracture While In Use — 2020 Encore GX | CarComplaints.com carcomplaints.com
  16. The Buick Encore GX Might Be The Most Underrated Small Crossover For Under $30,000 jalopnik.com
  17. 2024 Buick Encore GX SUVOTY Review: Fresh, Still Not Luxurious motortrend.com
  • motortrend.com
  • autoblog.com
  • caranddriver.com
  • en.wikipedia.org
  • motorweek.org
  • goodcarbadcar.net
  • autonews.gasgoo.com
  • businesschief.asia
  • communitynewspapers.com
  • whatsafterthemovie.com
  • iseecars.com
  • carcomplaints.com
  • jalopnik.com

Photo credits

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