2018 Buick Encore: trims, real prices & how to pick yours

30 builds left the factory as a 2018 Encore, each a different combination of engine, transmission and body identified by the first eight characters of its VIN. The 19 main configurations sell for $4,999–$18,045 today.

  • 19 main configurations
  • 34,869 vehicles built
  • 568 for sale right now
  • $4,999–$18,045 typical price range

Which Encore is yours?

Enter a VIN — the 17 characters on the windshield or the title — and we’ll match it to its exact factory configuration, typical price and equipment.

Works with any VIN — a different year or model takes you straight to its own page.

Pick your Encore

What actually differs

Preferred · FWD Preferred · AWD Preferred II · FWD Essence · FWD
Drivetrain Front-wheel drive All-wheel drive Front-wheel drive Front-wheel drive
Typical price today $11,500 $11,980 $12,859 $11,988
For sale right now 290 77 29 38
Vehicles built 18,124 3,961 2,301 2,290
Same on every 2018 Encore
  • Engine 1.4L 4-cyl
  • Transmission Automatic
  • Fuel Gasoline
  • Body Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)
  • Seats 5
  • Doors 4-door

What people actually pay

762 price observations · updated Aug 30, 2026
Preferred · FWD
$11,500
Preferred · AWD
$11,980
Preferred II · FWD
$12,859
Essence · FWD
$11,988
Sport Touring · FWD
$11,742
Essence · AWD
$10,998
$4,849 $8,284 $11,718 $15,153 $18,587
Price trend

Median up $1,693 over the last 12 months.

2018 Encore price history →
Will it hold value?

A Encore typically keeps about 73% of its price over 5 years — a 5-year-old one runs about $8,500 today.

Encore depreciation by year →
Cost to run

27/33 mpg city/highway. Roughly $1,550/yr on fuel at 15,000 miles.

EPA estimate for the 2018 Encore

Safety, in plain English

NHTSA overall crash rating

★★★★★ 5 / 5

No recalls on file for this model year.

Driver assistance — varies by configuration
  • ✓ Watches your blind spot
Decoded from NHTSA build records.

What KL4CJGSB-J means

KL4 CJGSB · J
KL4
the World Manufacturer Identifier Buick registered — assembled in South Korea
CJGSB
together encode the Encore line — Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), 1.4L 4cyl, All-wheel drive — as Buick filed it, these five characters are read as one block, not letter by letter
J
in position 10 — model year 2018
9, 11–17
differ on every car: check digit, plant code and the serial number
Real VINs from this run KL4CJGSB 6JB535349 KL4CJGSB 1JB557758
11 rare configurations — mostly fleet, export or irregular VIN patterns. Fewer than 20 known vehicles each.

Already looking at a specific Encore?

Paste its VIN — we’ll open that exact car’s page: its configuration, market position and every listing we’ve tracked.

2018 Buick Encore prices →