2021 Buick Encore MPG and Fuel Cost

The 2021 Buick Encore is rated 26 to 27 mpg combined across 4 EPA-tested gas versions; the best is the 1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 27 mpg (25 city / 30 hwy).

EPA fuel economy

2021 Buick Encore · 4 EPA-tested versions

Best EPA rating

27MPG combined

25 city 30 highway

$2,400 a year to fuel

Fuel economy score6/10

1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 27 mpg (25 city / 30 hwy)

Best version costs $500 more in fuel over 5 years vs the average new vehicle (EPA)

Fuel cost: 15,000 miles a year at EPA's $4.32 a gallon (regular gas).

Data: US EPA, fueleconomy.govUpdated Sep 28, 2026

At EPA's price assumptions, fuel costs $2,400 to $2,500 a year. Ratings for the best versions are unchanged from 2020.

Every 2021 Encore version

EPA's ratings for each version it tested. Fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current prices.

Version	Combined	City / Hwy	Fuel / year
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 27 mpg (24 city / 32 hwy) EPA listing: Encore FWD	27 mpg	24 / 32	$2,400
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 27 mpg (25 city / 30 hwy) Best EPA listing: Encore FWD	27 mpg	25 / 30	$2,400
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 26 mpg (23 city / 30 hwy) EPA listing: Encore AWD	26 mpg	23 / 30	$2,500
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 26 mpg (24 city / 29 hwy) EPA listing: Encore AWD	26 mpg	24 / 29	$2,500

Fuel cost at your prices

EPA's annual cost uses 15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving and its current prices: $4.32 a gallon for regular gas. Change the numbers to match your driving.

Version	Per year	Per month	5 years
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 27 mpg (25 city / 30 hwy)	$2,400	$200	$12,000
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · FWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 27 mpg (24 city / 32 hwy)	$2,400	$200	$12,000
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 26 mpg (24 city / 29 hwy)	$2,492	$208	$12,462
1.4L turbo 4-cyl · AWD · 6-speed automatic · rated 26 mpg (23 city / 30 hwy)	$2,492	$208	$12,462

At the default settings the results match EPA's annual cost before EPA rounds it to the nearest $50.

Buick Encore MPG by model year

The best-rated version in each model year; the highlighted year is this page. Gas: 27 to 30 mpg (every year from 2016 to 2022); highest in 2016.

2021: gas 27 mpg

Show as a table

Buick Encore best combined mpg by model year
Model year	Best gas version
2016	30
2017	30
2018	30
2019	28
2020	27
2021	27
2022	27

How the 2021 Encore compares

2021 subcompact SUVs covered on this site, ranked by their best combined rating. Fuel cost is for each model's cheapest version to run, at EPA's prices.

2021 model	Best combined	Best gas	Fuel / year
Nissan Kicks Best: gas	33 mpg	33 mpg	$1,950
Kia Seltos Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,100
Kia Soul Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,100
Buick Encore GX Best: gas	31 mpg	31 mpg	$2,100
Honda HR-V Best: gas	30 mpg	30 mpg	$2,150
Subaru Crosstrek Best: gas	30 mpg	30 mpg	$2,150
Hyundai Kona Best: gas	30 mpg	30 mpg	$2,150
Chevrolet Trax Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,300
Mazda CX-30 Best: gas	28 mpg	28 mpg	$2,300
Buick Encore This page Best: gas	27 mpg	27 mpg	$2,400

2021 Encore recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 0 safety recalls and 9 owner complaints for the 2021 Encore.What they cover, and crash test ratings

Questions

Does AWD lower the 2021 Buick Encore's gas mileage?

Yes. On versions that differ only in drive, AWD lowers the combined rating by 1 mpg: the 1.4L turbo 4-cyl gets 27 mpg combined with front-wheel drive and 26 with AWD.

Does the 2021 Buick Encore need premium gas?

No. EPA lists every 2021 Buick Encore version on regular gasoline.

How does the 2021 Encore's MPG compare with the 2020?

For 2021, the best gas version is rated 27 mpg, the same as the year before.

Sources and method

US EPA and Department of Energy fuel economy data (fueleconomy.gov), file dated Sep 18, 2026.
EPA fuel price assumptions: regular $4.32, midgrade $4.93, premium $5.32, diesel $6.29 a gallon; electricity $0.15 per kWh.
Recall and complaint counts: NHTSA recall file dated Sep 29, 2026 and complaint file dated Sep 28, 2026.

Ratings are EPA estimates. Real-world mileage depends on how, where and in what weather you drive. How we build these pages. Spotted an error? Tell us.