Should You Buy a 2026 or 2027 Buick Encore GX in Houston?

Buy the 2026 Buick Encore GX if the trim you want is in stock at a lower out-the-door price. Buy the 2027 if you want the newest model year and the price gap is small. Group 1 Buick GMC North in northwest Houston sells both, so you can compare the same trim side by side.

Keep reading below, then schedule a test drive in Houston. Bringing your own numbers to the lot settles this faster than any spec sheet.

Choose a 2026 Buick Encore GX for price or a 2027 for the newest year

The 2026 Encore GX Preferred starts at $26,200, and the 2026 Sport Touring starts at $27,400. The 2026 Avenir starts at $31,700.

For 2027, Edmunds lists the Preferred FWD at $26,900 before destination, and Cars.com lists the Sport Touring AWD at $29,300 and the Avenir FWD at $31,700. Those 2027 figures are the starting prices, and the gap to the 2026 trim is the number to check.

What does a 2026 or 2027 Buick Encore GX cost in Houston?

The price you pay is more than the starting MSRP. Texas charges a 6.25 percent motor vehicle sales tax on the sales price, minus any trade-in allowance (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, 2026).

Registration adds a state fee and a county fee. The state registration fee for a passenger vehicle of 6,000 pounds or less is $50.75, and Harris County adds a local fee of $11.50 (Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, 2026). A new vehicle bought in Texas that has not been registered before also pays a one-time inspection program replacement fee of $16.75 (Texas Department of Public Safety, 2026).

Title fees depend on where you live. An applicant in a county in a federal nonattainment area or an affected county pays $33, and an applicant in any other county pays $28 (Texas Transportation Code § 501.138, FindLaw, 2026).

Add these to the trim price you choose. A Preferred bought in Harris County costs more than its $26,200 starting MSRP once tax, registration and title are added.

Which Encore GX model year gives you the most for your Houston budget?

The Encore GX is sold with three gasoline setups in the 2026 model year. The FWD gasoline version is rated 29 city, 31 highway and 30 combined by the EPA.

The 2026 cargo space behind row 2 is about 23.5 cubic feet, and the whole nameplate is 171.1 inches long (Buick, 2026). The basic warranty is 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first, and the powertrain warranty is 5 years or 60,000 miles (Buick, 2026).

Put the model year next to your budget. The 2026 Preferred gives the same basic warranty and cargo space as the 2026 Sport Touring at a lower starting price, so the newer model year only earns its extra cost if you need its trim.

Who should skip a 2026 Encore GX, and who should skip a 2027?

Skip the 2026 if you want the newest model year and the price gap is small. Skip the 2027 if the trim you want is in stock at a lower price in the 2026.

At Group 1 Buick GMC North, we sell the new Buick Encore GX, Envision, Enclave and Envista, along with the GMC lineup, including the Terrain and Acadia. If a smaller or larger Buick fits your need better than the Encore GX, we can show you that model in the same visit.

The Preferred trim includes Buick Driver Confidence, an 11-inch infotainment display, cloth with leatherette seating, 18-inch wheels and LED headlamps as standard. Heated front seats, a heated steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and rear park assist are extra-cost options through packages on the Preferred.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for financing online for a new Encore GX at Group 1 Buick GMC North?

Yes. We offer a secure online finance application.

What Texas taxes and fees apply when I buy a new Encore GX?

Expect the 6.25 percent sales tax, the state registration fee of $50.75 with the county fee added, the $16.75 inspection program replacement fee for a new vehicle, and a title fee of $28 or $33 depending on your county (Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts, 2026; Texas Transportation Code § 501.138, FindLaw, 2026).

What drivetrains does the Buick Encore GX offer?

The 2026 Encore GX comes as AWD gasoline, FWD gasoline and FWD flex-fuel. The FWD gasoline version is rated 29 city, 31 highway and 30 combined by the EPA, and the AWD version is rated 26 city, 28 highway and 27 combined (fueleconomy.gov, 2026).

How much cargo space and seating does the Encore GX have?

The 2026 Encore GX has about 23.5 cubic feet of cargo space behind row 2 (Buick, 2026).

What should you ask any Houston dealer before you buy a new Encore GX?

Ask for the out-the-door price, including tax, registration and title. Ask whether the trim you want is in stock and whether the finance application can be started online at Group 1 Buick GMC North.

How do I get to Group 1 Buick GMC North from Willowbrook or Cypress?

Group 1 Buick GMC North is at 11300 FM 1960 West, Houston, TX 77065. Sales hours are Monday to Saturday 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, closed Sunday. Service opens at 7:00 AM Monday to Saturday, closing at 6:30 PM Monday to Friday and at 4:00 PM on Saturday, and is closed Sunday. Call sales at (281) 897-6690 before you drive out.

Why Houston buyers choose Group 1 Buick GMC North for a new Encore GX

Group 1 Buick GMC North has a 4.4-star rating across 7,919 Google reviews, and 79 in 100 of those reviews are five-star. Of the Houston-area Buick GMC dealers in the market, we have the most Google reviews.

In an August 2026 5-star Google review, Deann M. wrote: “Lee was great! Did everything through text & when I got there he had paperwork ready & car ready for test drive! Great experience”

The online trade-in tool gives a price by license plate, VIN, or make and model, and the online finance application is at the store’s site. Start there, then bring your trade and your list of trims to 11300 FM 1960 West, Houston, TX 77065. Call sales at (281) 897-6690 to confirm stock on the trim you want.

Group 1 Automotive, the parent company, operates 256 dealerships in the United States and the United Kingdom.

Group 1 Buick GMC North answers this question against the specific vehicle in front of you rather than the model in general. Value your trade and get pre-approved online, then see us at our Houston showroom, or call (281) 897-6690.

Disclaimer: Vehicle features, specifications, pricing, options, and availability may vary based on production timelines and dealership inventory; images are for illustrative purposes only. Starting MSRP figures are national and exclude destination freight charges, tax, title, license, and dealer fees. Standard and available equipment varies by trim, configuration, and model year; confirm the specification of the individual vehicle before purchase. Maximum towing and payload ratings depend on cab, bed, drivetrain, and equipment configuration; see the vehicle’s Owner’s Manual and trailering guide for limits. Electric range and charging times vary with battery, configuration, temperature, terrain, load, and driving habits. Safety or driver assistance features are no substitute for the driver’s responsibility to operate the vehicle in a safe manner. Financing and pre-approval are subject to credit approval. Contact Group 1 Buick GMC North for complete details regarding current vehicle inventory, pricing, and equipment.