“I love everything about this car. For me it is the perfect size has all the features I wanted however there were so many more available if you wanted them. I love the color one of the only manufacturers that offers different than the standard colors.”
2020 Buick Encore GX: What's New, Specs & Features
Last updated August 13, 2026
The big news for 2020 is the Encore GX itself: this is its debut year as an all-new small SUV positioned above the older Encore. It is a new model launch, not a carryover.
About the 2020 Buick Encore GX
1st generation, first model year / all-new launch
The Encore GX is Buick’s small SUV for shoppers who want city-friendly size without giving up a more polished interior feel, useful cargo room, and modern safety tech. Buick markets it as a smart everyday crossover with an upscale edge: quiet on the road, easy to live with, and available with all-wheel drive. Its main draw is balancing comfort, technology, and a more premium look and feel than many subcompact SUV competitors.
The 2020 Encore GX is a small SUV with a polished cabin, flexible cargo space, and three trim levels. Preferred covers the essentials with smartphone integration and a standard safety suite, while Select adds heated seats, blind-spot monitoring, and rear cross-traffic alert. Essence is the premium version, with leather-appointed seats, LED lighting, and dual-zone automatic climate control.
What changed, by category
Structural
The Encore GX debuts as an all-new, roomier small SUV positioned above the older Encore in Buick’s lineup.
Powertrain
The new engine range consists of turbocharged 1.2-liter and 1.3-liter three-cylinder engines. Front-wheel-drive versions use a continuously variable automatic transmission, while all-wheel-drive versions use a nine-speed automatic.
Safety
Every trim has Buick’s Driver Confidence safety suite, including automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and braking, forward-collision warning, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams.
2020 Buick Encore GX specs and features by trim
| Feature | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3-Cyl, ECOTEC, Turbo, 1.3 Liter / 3-Cyl, ECOTEC, Turbo, 1.2 Liter | 3-Cyl, ECOTEC, Turbo, 1.3 Liter / 3-Cyl, ECOTEC, Turbo, 1.2 Liter | 3-Cyl, ECOTEC, Turbo, 1.2 Liter / 3-Cyl, ECOTEC, Turbo, 1.3 Liter |
| Transmission | Automatic, CVT | Automatic, CVT | Automatic, CVT |
| Drivetrain | FWD | FWD | FWD |
| Fuel Type | Gas | Gas | Gas |
| MPG City | 26–30 mpg | 26–30 mpg | 26–30 mpg |
| MPG Highway | 30–32 mpg | 30–32 mpg | 30–32 mpg |
| Horsepower | 137–155 hp | 137–155 hp | 137–155 hp |
| Torque | 162–174 lb-ft | 162–174 lb-ft | 162–174 lb-ft |
| Trunk/Cargo | 50.2 cu-ft | 50.2 cu-ft | 50.2 cu-ft |
| Rear Legroom | 36 in | 36 in | 36 in |
| Seats | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Doors | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Adaptive Cruise Control | |||
| Alarm System | |||
| Automatic Emergency Braking | |||
| Automatic High Beams | |||
| Blindspot Sensors | |||
| Lane Departure Warning | |||
| Park Assist | |||
| Rain Sensing Windshield Wipers | |||
| Rear View Camera | |||
| 360 Camera | |||
| Alloy Wheels | |||
| Fog Lights | |||
| LED Headlights | |||
| LED Tail Lights | |||
| Memory Exterior Mirrors | |||
| Power Moonroof | |||
| Roof Rails | |||
| Navigation System | |||
| Satellite Radio | |||
| Smartphone Interface | |||
| Auto-Dimming Interior Mirror | |||
| Dual Power Front Seats | |||
| Dual-Zone Climate Control | |||
| Heated Front Seats | |||
| Heated Steering Wheel | |||
| Integrated Garage Door Opener | |||
| Leather Seats | |||
| Memory Driver's Seat | |||
| Memory Steering Wheel | |||
| Power Driver Seat | |||
| Push-Button Engine Start | |||
| Remote Start | |||
Frequently asked questions
Is 2020 the first year of the Buick Encore GX?
Yes. The 2020 model is the first Buick Encore GX, launching as an all-new small SUV positioned above the older Encore.
Is the 2020 Encore GX the same vehicle as the 2020 Encore?
No. The 2020 Encore GX is a separate, roomier small SUV that Buick positioned above the older Encore.
What engines and transmissions does the 2020 Encore GX use?
The 2020 Encore GX uses turbocharged 1.2-liter and 1.3-liter three-cylinder engines. Front-wheel-drive models pair with a continuously variable automatic transmission, while all-wheel-drive models use a nine-speed automatic.
What safety features are standard on the 2020 Encore GX?
Every 2020 Encore GX has automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection and braking, forward-collision warning, a following-distance indicator, lane-keeping assistance, and automatic high beams.
Which 2020 Encore GX trim has the most premium cabin?
Essence is the most premium 2020 Encore GX trim. It has leather-appointed seating, heated front seats, dual-zone automatic climate control, an in-vehicle air ionizer, and LED exterior lighting.
2020 Buick Encore GX Reviews
What owners are saying about the 2020 Buick Encore GX.
4.2
2020 Buick Encore GX
(361 reviews)
“I have had many people tell me how much they liked my new Buick. This vehicle is very classy looking.”
“I love everything about my Buick Encore GX. The features were exactly what I was looking for in a vehicle. It is spacious, quiet and technologically advanced in the most important ways. The touchscreen is big enough to use easily, however it is difficult to keep clean. The interior is beautiful and well made. The exterior is classy and streamline.”