General Motors has officially launched the all-new Buick Encore family of crossovers in China. The two models in question are the second-generation Buick Encore and the all-new Buick Encore GX. After making their debut in April during the 2019 Auto Shanghai show, the new family of small Buick Encore crossovers goes on sale to solidify Buick’s position in its largest market.
While the two new models of the Buick Encore family will be available in China, only the Encore GX is expected to reach the United States. This is because the non-GX 2020 Encore is part of GM’s family of vehicles based on the global emerging markets architecture, otherwise known as the GEM platform, which was developed to meet the needs of developing markets.

2020 Buick Encore
The Encore was the first Buick SUV built in China. Now, the brand has decided to turn the Encore nameplate into a family of models to take advantage of the growing demand for small utility vehicles in that country. The undertaking is one of Buick’s strategies to satisfy various customer profiles, while at the same time increasing its commercial appeal in the world’s largest automotive market.
“The arrival of the all-new Encore and Encore GX, followed by the all-new Enclave later this year, will complement the popular Envision,” said Molly Peck, executive director of Buick for SAIC-GM. “It will give Buick a strong presence across small, compact, midsize and large SUVs in its largest market – strengthening the brand’s overall competitiveness in one of the most competitive segments,” she added.
The 2020 Buick Encore is a direct replacement for the first-generation model, featuring almost identical dimensions. Buick says that this new small SUV is aimed at the “Internet generation” or generation Z, configured as an economic utility that offers a fresh and highly customizable design.
Meanwhile, the all-new 2020 Buick Encore GX is a new addition to the Buick lineup that slots between the subcompact Encore and compact Envision as a sort of “subcompact plus” entry. It is aimed at young families of the millennial generation as a high-quality offering designed to meet the most demanding global safety standards. In addition, the Buick Encore also offers a tasteful design, greater cabin space, better dynamic performance and the latest technologies.

2020 Buick Encore GX
Both all-new Buick Encore models adopt GM’s eighth-generation Ecotec engines, which meet the latest China-6 emission standard. The Encore GX is offered only with the turbocharged 1.3L I-3 engine making 163 horsepower and 177 pound-feet of torque. Meanwhile, the “regular” Encore is powered exclusively by the turbocharged 1.0L I-3 engine making 123 horsepower and pound-feet of torque.
The Encore GX’s 1.3T can be mated either to the GM nine-speed transmission or a CVT transmission, while the 1.0T in the regular Encore is offered exclusively with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The two new Buick Encore models are now on sale in China, with prices starting from 125,900 yen ($18,305 USD) for the Encore and 155,900 yen ($22,667 USD) for the Encore GX. The two models are covered by Buick’s new eight-year or 160,000 km SAIC-GM quality assurance guarantee for the main components, including the engine and transmission.
The Buick Encore GX will arrive in the United States and Canada in early 2020. It will be sold alongside the original, first-generation Buick Encore. Plans surrounding Mexico, the fourth and final market where the Buick brand is available, are currently unclear.
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Comments
I don’t understand why, if there is enough of a difference between the 2020 Encore and the 2020 Encore GX, including styling, dimensions, and options, that Buick doesn’t bring BOTH of them to the US? (Why would they keep the current generation Encore in the US when there is a new generation ready to go?)
P.S. – There are some spyshots of a new three-row Buick (Envoy?) on the Internet today and the vehicle, with production lights and grill, seems poised for release soon. (But why would they call it Envoy when they seem to be making a big deal of a “family” of Encores, and this new vehicle could be Enclave and the current Enclave could be Enclave GX as another “family”?)
And still NO regular Sedans at all from Buick. I am SOOOooo disappointed.
No Buick, when I Regal dies, I won’t be buying an SUV. Even a small SUV.
No more Verano, No more Regal, no more LaCrosse means you don’t make anything that I could buy any more.
I’m sure they’ll be lamenting their crushing loss.
Losing sedan customers is a big deal. Putting all of their eggs in the SUV basket just seems like a losing strategy. When Toyota, Honda and Hyundai drop sedans, then maybe GM’s decision will seem prophetic, but I’m with Jim. I’m not interested in any SUV. So I’m looking forward to what Peugeot will be making available in several years. Too bad for me and for GM.
Good luck getting that repaired if an accident happens
Jim, the “Future Buick Models” listing here on GM Authority reveals that a next-generation Buick Regal, on the VSS-F platform with the code 9DSB, is expected to launch in 2023 as a 2024, so it may be around for some years to come. If that information proves to be correct, hopefully you will consider buying another Regal when the time is right.
I will keep buying my american made jeep grand Cherokee
I only buy american made products built in the usa.thats why i have a jeep grand Cherokee
I think it is sort of stupid to have an all new Encore elsewhere and yet not use it for the US and replace the current one. I really like that GX model too.
When the trade tariffs with China get ironed out, I’m sure Buick will try to bring the next gen LaCrosse over here.
KEEP IT IN CHINA WHERE ALL THE OTHER CRAP IN ASSEMBLED