Honestly, if you haven't looked at a Buick showroom since the days of the LeSabre, you’re in for a massive shock. The "grandpa's car" trope is officially dead. I mean, buried. Today, the brand is doing something weirdly successful: they've stopped trying to be a budget Cadillac and started being a legitimate alternative to entry-level Lexus or Volvo.
In 2026, the list of Buick cars isn't just a collection of badge-engineered Chevys. It’s a tight, focused roster of four distinct SUVs that somehow managed to make the tri-shield logo cool again.
The Current 2026 Roster
Right now, Buick’s North American strategy is "SUVs or bust." They don't sell a single sedan here anymore, which is wild considering their history. Instead, they’ve doubled down on a "Small, Medium, Large, and Extra-Large" approach.
1. Buick Envista
This is the "gateway drug" for the brand. It’s cheap—starting around $24,700—but it looks like a Lamborghini Urus had a baby with a sleek European hatchback. It's technically a "crossover coupe," which is a fancy way of saying it has a sloping roofline that looks great but makes tall people in the back seat a bit grumpy.
You’ve got a tiny 1.2-liter turbo engine in there. It’s not fast. At all. But for a city car that looks this sharp, most people don't care about the 137 horsepower. They care that it has a massive 11-inch screen and costs less than a loaded Honda Civic.
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2. Buick Encore GX
The Encore GX is the bread and butter. It’s slightly more "upright" than the Envista and offers something the Envista doesn't: All-Wheel Drive. For 2026, they've added a new color called Brilliant Red which, honestly, the brand needed. It felt a little "shades of grey" for a while.
The GX starts around $26,595. It’s the one you buy if you actually have to deal with snow or want a slightly higher seating position. It also features "QuietTuning," which is Buick's secret sauce—basically a ton of insulation and active noise cancellation so you don't have to hear the world outside.
3. Buick Envision
This is where things start getting fancy. The Envision is a mid-size SUV that competes with things like the Acura RDX. The 2026 model is a tech powerhouse. We’re talking about an ultrawide 30-inch diagonal screen that stretches across the dashboard.
- Engine: 2.0L Turbo (228 hp)
- Price: Starts around $41,000
- Vibe: "I want a luxury car but I'm not a snob about the badge."
The Envision Avenir (the top trim) is genuinely nice. Quilted leather, massaging seats—it’s the kind of stuff that makes you feel like you’ve made it without the $70,000 price tag of a German rival.
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4. Buick Enclave
The big dog. The Enclave was completely redesigned for the 2025/2026 cycle. It’s a three-row beast that can actually fit adults in the way back. One of the coolest additions for 2026 is the standard key card option—you can just tuck a card in your wallet and forget the bulky fob.
It also gets Super Cruise. If you haven't tried GM’s hands-free driving tech, it’s arguably the best on the market. It works on thousands of miles of North American highways, letting the car handle the steering while you just... watch.
What About the Electra?
You might have heard whispers of the "Electra." In China, Buick is already an EV powerhouse with models like the Electra E5 and the brand-new Electra E7. In the U.S., the 2026 Buick Electra EV is the looming giant. It’s built on the Ultium platform (the same tech in the Cadillac Lyriq), and it’s meant to be the brand’s first serious foray into electric luxury on our shores.
The Wildcat EV concept you see in all the ads? That’s the design inspiration. While we likely won't get a low-slung coupe like the Wildcat, its "shark-nose" front end and sleek lighting are already appearing on the current list of Buick cars.
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Why People Are Actually Buying Them
It’s not just marketing. J.D. Power recently ranked Buick #1 in the "Mass Market" category for dealership sales experience. People like buying them because the dealers aren't as aggressive, and the cars feel "expensive" without the maintenance nightmares.
There’s a weirdly high number of young people buying Envistas, too. About 70% of Envista buyers are new to the brand. That’s a massive win for a company that was basically on life support fifteen years ago.
Actionable Next Steps for Buyers
If you’re looking at the list of Buick cars and trying to figure out which one fits your life, skip the brochures and do this:
- Test the QuietTuning: Take an Envision or Enclave on the highway. Turn the radio off. If you value a silent cabin over "sporty" handling, you'll be sold instantly.
- Compare the Envista vs. Encore GX: Don't let the price fool you. The Envista is longer and looks cooler, but the Encore GX has a much more usable trunk and AWD. If you live in a rainy or snowy climate, the GX is the non-negotiable choice.
- Check the Avenir Trim: If you're looking at the Enclave, the Avenir trim usually holds its value better on the used market later. The extra $10k upfront for the leather and tech often pays for itself in comfort and resale.
- Wait for the EV? If you're a "tech-first" person, wait for the Electra EV launch later this year. The gas models are great, but the Ultium-based EVs will be a generational leap in performance.
The days of Buick being "your father's car" are over. Now, it's just the car for people who want a quiet, high-tech ride without the "look at me" baggage of a BMW or Mercedes. It’s a smart-money move.