Compare the2022 Chevrolet TraxVS 2021 Buick Encore

Both the Trax and the Encore have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.

There are over 48 percent more Chevrolet dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Trax’s warranty.

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Trax has a standard 525-amp battery. The Encore’s 438-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Chevrolet vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Chevrolet third in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 7th.

The Trax’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 17 more horsepower (155 vs. 138) and 29 lbs.-ft. more torque (177 vs. 148) than the Encore’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder.

On the EPA test cycle the Trax FWD gets better fuel mileage than the Encore FWD (24 city/32 hwy vs. 25 city/30 hwy).

The Trax stops much shorter than the Encore:

The Trax handles at .80 G’s, while the Encore AWD pulls only .72 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Trax executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.4 seconds quicker than the Encore AWD (28.2 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29.6 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Trax LS’ turning circle is 1.3 feet tighter than the Encore’s (35.4 feet vs. 36.7 feet).

The Trax has .6 inches more rear hip room and .3 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore.

The Trax LT offers optional heated front seats, which keep the driver and front passenger extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated seats aren’t available in the Encore.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Trax is less expensive to operate than the Encore because typical repairs cost less on the Trax than the Encore, including $162 less for front brake pads.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Chevrolet Trax will be $1138 to $2877 less than for the Buick Encore.