Buick’s compact SUV lineup now does something very un-Buick: it offers personality choice. The 2026 Envista and 2026 Encore GX share showroom space in Poughkeepsie, yet they approach the compact brief from opposite ends—one low, sleek, and style-led; the other upright, versatile, and all-weather ready. Picking between them isn’t about better or worse. It’s about what sort of driver you are when nobody’s watching.
Design Character: Coupe Sweep vs Utility Stance
Envista is the design piece. Long hood, fast roofline, wide stance—it looks like a concept that escaped the auto show and learned how to commute. At 182.6 inches long, it carries visual drama unusual in this class, yet still delivers 42 cu. ft. of cargo with the rear seats down. It’s for drivers who want their daily SUV to feel a bit… intentional.
Encore GX plays the rationalist. Shorter at 171.1 inches, taller, more upright, it prioritizes access and flexibility. The flat-fold front passenger seat and configurable rear space make it the easier partner for furniture runs, trail gear, or Hudson Valley antiquing sprees. Less runway pose, more weekend competence.
Powertrain Personality: Lightness vs All-Weather Confidence
Envista keeps things simple: 1.2L Turbo, 137 hp, 162 lbs. ft., FWD only. It’s smooth, quiet, and efficient—perfectly judged for urban and suburban driving. You don’t drive it hard; you flow with it.
Encore GX adds choice. The 1.3L Turbo lifts output to 155 hp and 174 lbs. ft., and crucially offers AWD. In Poughkeepsie winters, that matters. Where Envista feels low and composed, Encore GX feels planted and adaptable—less style statement, more year-round tool.
Cabin and Tech: Shared Screens, Different Priorities
Both SUVs use Buick’s modern dual-screen layout—11-inch center display plus 8-inch driver info—with wireless Apple CarPlay® and Android Auto™. Materials and fit are impressively upscale for the segment.
Avenir trims elevate both, but Encore GX Avenir leans comfort-luxury (heated wheel, hands-free liftgate), while Envista Avenir leans visual drama (contrast stitching, sculpted surfaces). Same tech, different mood lighting.
Safety and Confidence
Buick Driver Confidence is standard across both—Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, Forward Collision Alert, IntelliBeam. The real differentiator isn’t electronics; it’s traction. Encore GX’s available AWD simply expands the envelope in poor weather.
Which One Fits Your Life?
- Choose Envista if style matters, FWD suits your climate needs, and you want a compact SUV that feels lower, sleeker, and more design-driven.
- Choose Encore GX if versatility, AWD capability, and everyday utility outweigh aesthetics.
Same brand. Same size class. Two completely different mindsets.
See Both at Hudson Buick GMC
The difference between Envista and Encore GX becomes obvious the moment you walk around them at Hudson Buick GMC in Poughkeepsie. One leans forward like it wants to go. The other stands ready like it already has. Test both, and the right one tends to choose you.
