Interestingly, while the Buick Encore may be dead, the Encore branding isn’t. The Buick Encore GX, which originated during the 2020 model year as the younger sibling of the now-discontinued subcompact crossover model, is still alive and kicking. In certain ways, the GX is single-handedly carrying on the legacy of its namesake. At the same time, there’s an argument to be made that the advent of the GX is mostly what killed the original Encore in the first place.
For the years that the Encore and the Encore GX shared a spot on Buick’s slate, the pair of models were ostensibly intended to complement one another. The Buick GX is slightly larger than its counterpart, slotting into the subcompact-plus range. Originally, the car was marketed as a premium alternative to the Encore, offering slightly more cabin space and storage, a wider range of customizability options for its three-cylinder engine, unique trims exclusive to the GX line, and other special features.
Despite Buick positioning the Encore and the Encore GX as two separate models, the crossover in terms of appeal between the two was undeniable. Not only did the pair fit within the subcompact SUV market but they were also priced competitively. For reference, the 2020 Buick Encore started at a base of $24,195, while the 2020 Buick Encore GX entered at a slightly higher but ultimately comparable price point of $25,095. At the end of the day, it was only an inevitability that the GX would start to siphon sales away from its sibling vehicle.
