2021 Buick Encore GX
Price Range: $8,844 - $21,590
Buick Encore GX Reviews
Owner Reviews
5(57%)
4(12%)
3(12%)
2(10%)
1(9%)
Most Helpful Owner Reviews
Long term owner
Colorado Rural Dan, 08/05/2021
2021 Buick Encore GX Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A)
Know that this vehicle is better than the "professional" reviewers give it credit for. Incredible room up front. Very easy for this large Colorado, hat wearing cowboy, to get in and out of. My wife and I have no children at home so we are not concerned about back seat layout so I will not comment on that. Controls are intuitive, easy to use. Setting up my wife's apple and my android … phone was a snap. The car comes with it's own hotspot which is really nice in Colorado where we often had no cell reception while driving. Though we repeatedly saw that mileage on the highway would be at best 30mpg out real life experience, so far, is 36mpg. We live very rural and so do little to no "city" driving. Was not looking to buy a new SUV when we found this but could not refuse the deal Buick offered. Our good fortune. It is NOT underpowered. The EncoreGX gets the job done! If you are in the market for a new small SUV, look at the EncoreGX. Ours is in "preferred" trim 4wd, and truly cannot see why I would spend the extra to go up a model. This has everything that we could want. Update: I have now had this vehicle for 10 months. The 4wd has worked well for this winter. Handling has been excellent
I did replace the all seasons with snow tires. The hot spot was ok but did not work as well as I initially thought so did not pay for the subscription and let it lapse. The paint seems to chip easier than I think it should so I now have a bottle of touch up to use so that it does not become a problem. Would still rate this 4.5 stars. Would recommend and would buy again in the same situation. Update: Have now had for 1 year. Still love it. Now I see a reason for the upgrade and wish I had, as by now the extra money spent would seem inconsequential. I have the clothes seats, white. Would be much easier to keep clean if they were leather. I miss that it does not have the adaptive cruise control that keeps you spaced from the car ahead. I would still recommend to anyone wanting a small SUV. By the way, up here at 8,000 plus feet it gets over 40 mpg. I know it would not do that down at near sea level but is a nice thing anyway. 22000 miles now, year and a half in. Would still buy again, would recommend to a friend. Thought about upgrading to a 2023, however the Buick does not hold its value like my Subarus do so cancelled that idea. Update: Have now had for 38000 miles. No problems. As it has a turbo engine I change oil every 5000 miles to make sure the turbo charger is always running on clean oil. Has worked so far. If interest rates become reasonable again I will trade in for a new one. Would stick with the GX as I really like the way it handles in these mountain snows and I find it very comfortable to drive. Update: Still running strong. 34,000 miles plus. No major problems. Still like this vehicle a lot. Highly recommend. My model has the 6 year transmission with awd capability. Cannot speak to the 2wd models with the CVTs. Now at 48000. Still love it. Small problem, the oil drain plug is plastic, yep, not sure if that is just my year or is still that way. Thing is they break. Costly to have my mechanic replace it. Found a deal online where I bought a dozen. Every other oil change I now replace the plug. The plastic will get brittle and crack. Could be I could just replace with a steel plug but I did it this way. Last winter my washer lines froze and now my reservoir leaks. Will repair at next oil change. Still going strong still recommend.
To Me It's Best Sub Compact SUV For The Price
Zolman, 12/08/2020
2021 Buick Encore GX Essence 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A)
I've test driven all the sub compact SUV under $50,000. The Encore GX didn't have the raw power of some of the other brands BUT it had all I needed plus much better gas mileage. We just got done with a 650 mile road trip and averaged 38MPG. That's much better than the rating and all we did was drive speed limit. It's got enough power to merge into traffic and pass slow traffic on two … lane roads. The interior is great and with all the refinements of the premium brands in its class. Granted it doesn't have real leather or 24 speakers, but I don't need that. What I really liked is the moon and combined sun roof, camera system and the safety features. No other SUV in it's class came close. And some of the pro evaluator's said there was cabin road noise ??? I listen to the radio when I drive.
I love my GX
Happy Owner, 11/15/2020
2021 Buick Encore GX Select 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A)
So I am not an automotive aficionado, I am an average middle-class consumer. I have read reports of “sloppy steering”, awkward displays, etc., and I have experienced none of that. It’s a great looking little SUV that you can park almost anywhere. I have the 1.3 liter turbo and it’s a lot peppier than my previous Encore’s 1.4L engine. For the price, I just don’t know how you can beat it. … I would buy it again without hesitation.
This car is NOT slow (with 1.3L)
Peter, 12/17/2020
2021 Buick Encore GX Essence 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A)
Purchased a 2021 Encore GX Essence and it is a fantastic car. Let’s address the elephant in the room first; SO many reviews of this car are positive until they get to the engine and then it all falls apart with comments pertaining to it being very slow and loud. Mine is FWD and most reviews are with AWD which may be part of the problem. My experience with the 1.3L has been instantaneous … power with no turbo lag and quite quite. Mine includes the Advanced Tech Pkg Experience Buick Pkg, Convenience Pkg and is quite a vehicle that definitely feels a class above. It is higher in price but with this amount of tech (self parking anyone?), the quiet interior, very smooth ride and sharp styling I encourage anyone considering this car, and even those not considering it to drive it. You should be impressed. So no one is confused, the “Model” section below does not include an Essence FWD 1.3L forcing me to select the AWD option.
2021 Buick Encore GX video
Top Subcompact SUVs for 2021-2022 | Extra-Small & Easy to Drive – What's Not to Like?
Subcompact SUVs have been gaining in popularity over the last few years. For people who don't need or want the space of a midsize SUV or for those who just want to save a few bucks, a subcompact SUV is a smart and economical choice. These extra-small SUVs maintain that elevated ride height and utility of their larger counterparts, but their smaller size means easier… parking and better gas mileage. What's not to like? In this video, Mark Takahashi runs down our choices for the best subcompact SUVs for 2021-2022. From the Subaru Crosstrek, the new Chevy Trailblazer and Hyundai Kona to the more luxurious BMW X1, Audi Q3 and Volvo XC40, Mark gives a breakdown of each pint-sized SUV. What do we like and dislike about each? What should you know about them? How do they rank in each category? Mark explains all. So whether you're a first-time driver, you have a small family or you're just looking for something fun to drive, we've got you covered in this video of the 2021 Top Subcompact SUVs.
Safety
Our experts’ favorite Encore GX safety features:
- Teen Driver
- Monitors teen driver use of a vehicle, providing a driving report card to parents after the teen returns home.
- Buick Driver Confidence
- Bundles a collection of driving aids including forward collision warning, pedestrian detection and automatic emergency braking.
- OnStar and Buick Connected Services
- Provides automatic collision notifications and other connected safety services through OnStar.
FAQ
Is the Buick Encore GX a good car?
The Edmunds experts tested the 2021 Encore GX both on the road and at the track, giving it a 7.9 out of 10. Edmunds’ consumer reviews show that the 2021 Encore GX gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 58 reviews) What about cargo capacity? When you're thinking about carrying stuff in your new car, keep in mind that the Encore GX has 23.5 cubic feet of trunk space. And then there's safety and reliability. Edmunds has all the latest NHTSA and IIHS crash-test scores, plus industry-leading expert and consumer reviews to help you understand what it's like to own and maintain a Buick Encore GX. Learn more
What's new in the 2021 Buick Encore GX?
According to Edmunds’ car experts, here’s what’s new for the 2021 Buick Encore GX:
- Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay compatibility
- Satellite radio now standard
- Part of the first Encore GX generation introduced for 2020
Is the Buick Encore GX reliable?
To determine whether the Buick Encore GX is reliable, read Edmunds' authentic consumer reviews, which come from real owners and reveal what it's like to live with the Encore GX. Look for specific complaints that keep popping up in the reviews, and be sure to compare the Encore GX's 4-star average consumer rating to that of competing vehicles. Learn more
Is the 2021 Buick Encore GX a good car?
There's a lot to consider if you're wondering whether the 2021 Buick Encore GX is a good car. Edmunds' expert testing team reviewed the 2021 Encore GX and gave it a 7.9 out of 10. Our consumer reviews show that the 2021 Encore GX gets an average rating of 4 stars out of 5 (based on 58 reviews). Safety scores, fuel economy, cargo capacity and feature availability should all be factors in determining whether the 2021 Encore GX is a good car for you. Learn more
How much should I pay for a 2021 Buick Encore GX?
The least-expensive 2021 Buick Encore GX is the 2021 Buick Encore GX Preferred 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT). Including destination charge, it arrives with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of about $24,200.
Other versions include:
- Preferred 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $24,200
- Select 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $25,800
- Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $26,200
- Select 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $27,800
- Essence 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT) which starts at $28,600
- Essence 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A) which starts at $30,600
What are the different models of Buick Encore GX?
If you're interested in the Buick Encore GX, the next question is, which Encore GX model is right for you? Encore GX variants include Preferred 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT), Select 4dr SUV (1.2L 3cyl Turbo CVT), Preferred 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A), and Select 4dr SUV AWD (1.3L 3cyl Turbo 9A). For a full list of Encore GX models, check out Edmunds’ Features & Specs page. Learn more
Cost to Drive
Monthly estimates based on costs in Florida
$173/mo for Encore GX Preferred
vs
$221/mo
Avg. Compact SUV












