Not every SUV needs to tow a trailer, and not every Buick is built to. If you’re cross-shopping the 2026 Enclave, Envision, Encore GX, and Envista in Ontario, the towing question can narrow the field fast, whether you’re hauling a utility trailer to the cottage, a couple of kayaks, or nothing heavier than groceries and hockey bags. Here is how the four models actually stack up.
Trailer ratings vary sharply across the lineup, from a factory-equipped 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) down to no rating at all.
|
Model |
Max Trailer Weight |
Seating Capacity |
|
Enclave |
5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) |
7 |
|
Envision |
1,500 lbs (680 kg) |
5 |
|
Encore GX |
1,000 lbs (454 kg) |
5 |
|
Envista |
Not rated for towing |
5 |
A towing number on a spec sheet is really three numbers working together: maximum trailer weight, gross combined weight rating (GCWR), and maximum tongue weight. GCWR covers the combined weight of the loaded vehicle and loaded trailer together, while tongue weight measures how much of the trailer’s weight rests on the hitch itself.
The Envision illustrates how these interact: its 1,500 lbs (680 kg) trailer rating comes with a 5,952 lbs (2,700 kg) GCWR and a 150 lbs (68 kg) tongue weight limit. The Encore GX’s 1,000 lbs (454 kg) trailer rating holds steady across all three of its powertrains, but GCWR shifts slightly, from 4,519 lbs (2,050 kg) with the 1.2 L CVT to 4,695 lbs (2,130 kg) with the 1.3 L automatic AWD.
Reaching a rated maximum also depends on having the right factory equipment: a hitch, wiring, and, on the Enclave, the standard Trailering Package’s heavy-duty cooling and Hitch Guidance with Hitch View. The only way to know a loaded combination is within every rating is to weigh the vehicle and trailer together.
Not every Buick shopper needs the same trailering capability, and matching the rating to your actual use case matters more than chasing the highest figure on the page.
If you tow a few times a season, a light trailer of kayaks or camping gear behind an Envision or Encore GX won’t strain either vehicle’s rating. Someone planning to tow a boat, a larger enclosed trailer, or a camper on a regular basis needs the Enclave’s higher rating and the hardware that comes with it.
The gap between occasional light-duty use and being a genuine tow vehicle isn’t about horsepower alone. It comes down to whether the factory cooling, wiring, and hitch guidance exist to back up the number on the page. A Buick that’s never going to see a trailer, the Envista, can put that same engineering budget into cargo room and passenger space instead.
The 2026 Enclave carries the highest tow rating in the Buick lineup at 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg). Every trim includes the Trailering Package as standard content: a trailer hitch, heavy-duty cooling system, Hitch Guidance with Hitch View, Tow/Haul mode, and a hitch cover. Towing capacity on paper only matters if the vehicle actually ships with the hardware to use it.
The Enclave pairs that rating with genuine three-row, seven-passenger space and standard all-wheel drive. Behind the third row there’s 648 L of cargo space, growing to 1,617 L with the third row folded and 2,761 L with both rear rows folded, room for gear on the way to wherever the trailer is headed. Its 2.5 L turbocharged four-cylinder makes 328 hp and 326 lb-ft of torque, run through an 8-speed automatic.
Gross vehicle weight rating is 2,900 kg (6,394 lbs (2,900 kg)), and ground clearance runs 172-185 mm depending on trim.
The Envision’s 2.0 L turbocharged four-cylinder AWD powertrain is rated to tow 1,500 lbs (680 kg), with a gross combined weight rating of 5,952 lbs (2,700 kg) and a maximum tongue weight of 150 lbs (68 kg). That covers a small utility trailer or a single-axle equipment hauler, not a loaded camper.
Trailering provisions come standard on every trim, though reaching the full rating still means following the weight-distribution guidance in the owner’s manual rather than eyeballing a loaded trailer. As a compact crossover, the Envision offers 714 L of cargo space behind the rear seats, growing to 1,492 L with them folded, useful on the weeks it isn’t towing anything at all.
Every 2026 Encore GX powertrain, the 1.2 L CVT, 1.3 L CVT, and 1.3 L automatic with all-wheel drive, tops out at the same 1,000 lbs (454 kg) trailer rating. GCWR shifts slightly by configuration, from 4,519 lbs (2,050 kg) with the 1.2 L CVT to 4,695 lbs (2,130 kg) with the 1.3 L AT AWD, while maximum tongue weight holds at 100 lbs (45 kg) across the board.
That’s enough for a small enclosed cargo trailer or a couple of kayaks, not for hauling equipment. The Encore GX’s 1.3 L turbocharged three-cylinder makes 155 hp and 174 lb-ft of torque. A trailer hitch and trailering harness are available, and trailering equipment is standard, but this is a compact SUV built first for commuting, with 665 L of cargo space behind the rear seats and 1,422 L with them folded.
The Envista carries no tow rating at all, and it isn’t designed or intended to pull a trailer; there’s no published trailer weight, no tongue weight rating, and no factory hitch or wiring offered. Fitting an aftermarket hitch isn’t a workaround: towing with a vehicle that isn’t rated for it can affect handling, braking, and durability, and resulting damage falls outside the vehicle warranty.
Instead, the Envista’s case rests on passenger and cargo space: 586 L behind the rear seats, expanding to 1,189 L with the seats folded, front-wheel drive, and a 1.2 L turbocharged three-cylinder making 136 hp and 162 lb-ft. For a Buick shopper who never plans to tow, that’s the trade worth making.
Towing capacity across the 2026 Buick lineup ranges from a factory-equipped 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) on the Enclave down to no rating on the Envista, with the Envision and Encore GX covering light-duty trailer use in between. The right fit depends on what you’re actually pulling, not the highest number available.
Visit Applewood Chevrolet Buick GMC in Mississauga to confirm current trailering equipment, trim availability, and which 2026 Buick model fits your towing plans, whether that’s a loaded trailer every weekend or none at all.
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