The Buick Encore GX does 30.3 mpg combined (29.3 city, 31.3 highway), which works out to about $1,267 a year in fuel at $3.20 a gallon and 12,000 miles. Engine choice matters more than you'd think: 1.3L 3-cyl does 30.4 mpg while 1.2L 3-cyl does 30 — a difference of $17 a year. Against other 3-cyl cars it sits below the average of 32.3 mpg.
Every Buick Encore GX engine, compared
Gas mileage on the Buick Encore GX ranges from 30.4 down to 30 depending on which engine sits under the bonnet — a spread of $17 a year across 2 versions of the same car. Picking the right one often saves more fuel than picking a different car altogether. Yearly cost assumes 12,000 miles at $3.20 a gallon.
| Engine | Combined | City / Highway | Years | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.3L 3-cyl | 29.4 / 31.4 | 2020–2026 | $1,263 | |
| 1.2L 3-cyl | 29 / 31 | 2022–2023 | $1,280 |
What that actually costs
The Buick Encore GX burns a gallon every 30.3 miles, so 12,000 miles takes about 396 gallons a year. At $3.20 that is what the table below adds up to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Cost per mile | $0.106 |
| Fuel per year | $1,267 |
| Fuel over five years | $6,335 |
| Against other 3-cyl cars | +$78 a year |
| EPA's own estimate | $2,071 a year |
City or highway — who is this car for
The Buick Encore GX gives up 2 mpg the moment you leave the motorway — 31.3 out there against 29.3 in town, a 7% drop worth $84 a year. A wide gap punishes stop-and-start traffic; a narrow one means the car doesn't care where you drive it.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| City | 29.3 mpg | $1,311 a year if you only drive in town |
| Highway | 31.3 mpg | $1,227 a year if you mostly commute |
| Gap | +2 mpg (7%) | Narrow — equally happy either way |
How the Encore GX changed over the years
The Encore GX peaked in 2021 at 31 mpg (30 city, 32 highway) and was at its thirstiest in 2026 at 30 — 1 mpg apart, or $41 a year in fuel between buying one year and the other. The 2026 car does 30. Jumps usually mark a new generation or a new engine; dips often mean a heavier body or added all-wheel drive.
| Model year | Combined | City / Highway | Engines offered | Fuel per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 29 / 31 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2025 | 29 / 31 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2024 | 29 / 31 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2023 | 29 / 31 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2022 | 29 / 31 | 1 | $1,280 | |
| 2021 | 30 / 32 | 1 | $1,239 | |
| 2020 | 30 / 32 | 1 | $1,239 |
MPG is a number. Dollars per year is the answer.
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How we count
This page rests on 7 EPA ratings of the Buick Encore GX — 2 engines across 2020–2026. The mileage is EPA's laboratory figure, unchanged; the yearly bill is ours, at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon, against EPA's own estimate of $2,071. Full method.
Frequently asked questions
What mpg does the Buick Encore GX get?
30.3 mpg combined on average — 29.3 in the city and 31.3 on the highway, per EPA ratings across 2020–2026.
How much does a Buick Encore GX cost in fuel per year?
About $1,267 at 12,000 miles and $3.20 a gallon — roughly $6,335 over five years, or 0.106 dollars a mile.
Which Encore GX engine is the most economical?
The 1.3L 3-cyl at 30.4 mpg, against 30 for the 1.2L 3-cyl — a difference of about $17 a year.
Is the Encore GX good on fuel compared with similar cars?
Against other 3-cyl cars it sits below the average of 32.3 mpg, computed across 151 ratings.
Are these real-world Encore GX figures?
No — they are EPA laboratory ratings, the same ones printed on the window sticker, and EPA's own annual fuel estimate for the Buick Encore GX is $2,071 against the $1,267 we compute at 12,000 miles. Expect a little worse in practice: the spread between the 31 and 30 mpg versions of this car is smaller than the spread between two drivers of the same one.
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