Compare the2022 Buick EncoreVS 2021 Ford EcoSport

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front shoulder belts of the Buick Encore are height-adjustable, and the rear seat shoulder belts have child comfort guides to move the belt to properly fit children. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages children to buckle up. The Ford EcoSport has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

The Encore offers an optional collision warning system, which detects an impending crash through forward mounted sensors and flashes a bright light and sounds a loud, distinctive tone to warn the driver to brake or maneuver immediately to avoid a collision. The EcoSport doesn't offer a collision warning system.

The Encore’s optional lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The Encore offers optional Ultrasonic Park Assist to help warn the driver about vehicles, pedestrians or other obstacles behind or in front of their vehicle. The EcoSport doesn’t offer a front parking aid.

Both the Encore and the EcoSport 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, 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 and rear cross-path warning.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the Buick Encore is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Encore	EcoSport
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	122	250
Neck Injury Risk	26%	36%
Neck Stress	298 lbs.	403 lbs.
Neck Compression	12 lbs.	60 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	363/313 lbs.	495/441 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	207	325
Chest Compression	.3 inches	.5 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38%	38%
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	200 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	249/289 lbs.	329/236 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH, results indicate that the Buick Encore is safer than the Ford EcoSport:

	Encore	EcoSport
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.9 inches
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	100	195
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	40 G’s
Hip Force	672 lbs.	685 lbs.

New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.

For its top level performance in all IIHS frontal, side, rear impact and roof-crush tests, and with its optional front crash prevention system, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Encore the rating of “Top Pick” for 2016, a rating granted to only 221 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The EcoSport has not been fully tested, yet.

Warranty

The Encore’s corrosion warranty is 1 year longer than the EcoSport’s (6 vs. 5 years).

Reliability

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the Encore’s reliability 63 points higher than the EcoSport.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Encore third among small suvs in their 2020 Initial Quality Study. The EcoSport isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick 7th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 16th, below the industry average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 30 more problems per 100 vehicles, Ford is ranked 22nd.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Ford vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick fourth in reliability. Ford is ranked 22nd.

Engine

The Encore’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 32 more horsepower (155 vs. 123) and 52 lbs.-ft. more torque (177 vs. 125) than the EcoSport’s standard 1.0 turbo 3-cylinder. The Encore’s 1.4 turbo 4-cylinder produces 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (177 vs. 149) than the EcoSport’s optional 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Buick Encore is faster than the Ford EcoSport turbo 3 cyl.:

	Encore	EcoSport
Zero to 60 MPH	10.7 sec	11.2 sec
Quarter Mile	17.9 sec	18.2 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	77.5 MPH	76.7 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Encore AWD gets better fuel mileage than the EcoSport 4x4 4 cyl. (23 city/30 hwy vs. 23 city/29 hwy).

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Encore uses regular unleaded gasoline. The EcoSport with the 1.0 turbo 3-cylinder engine requires premium for maximum efficiency, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

Brakes and Stopping

The Encore stops much shorter than the EcoSport:

	Encore	EcoSport
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	186 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	132 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	139 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Encore has larger tires than the EcoSport (215/55R18 vs. 205/60R16).

The Encore’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the EcoSport’s standard 60 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Encore has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 16-inch wheels are standard on the EcoSport. The EcoSport’s largest wheels are only 17-inches.

The Buick Encore’s wheels have 5 lugs for longer wheel bearing life, less chance of rotor warping and greater strength. The Ford EcoSport only has 4 wheel lugs per wheel.

Suspension and Handling

The Encore has vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The EcoSport doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Encore’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the EcoSport (100.6 inches vs. 99.2 inches).

The Encore handles at .82 G’s, while the EcoSport Titanium pulls only .80 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Encore AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the EcoSport SE (28.2 seconds @ .58 average G’s vs. 29.3 seconds @ .54 average G’s).

Chassis

The Encore uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The EcoSport doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Passenger Space

The Encore has .1 inches more front hip room, .9 inches more front shoulder room, 1.3 inches more rear headroom and 1.2 inches more rear shoulder room than the EcoSport.

Cargo Capacity

The Encore’s liftgate lifts up in one piece, completely out of the way of loading and unloading, while sheltering the cargo loading area. The EcoSport’s swing out door blocks loading from the driver’s side.

Ergonomics

The Encore’s front and rear power windows all lower with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The EcoSport’s passenger windows don’t open automatically.

The Encore’s standard outside mirrors include heating elements to clear off the mirrors for better visibility. Ford only offers heated mirrors on the EcoSport SES/Titanium.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Encore owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the Encore with a number “5” insurance rate while the EcoSport is rated higher at a number “8” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Encore is less expensive to operate than the EcoSport because it costs $37 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Encore than the EcoSport, including $69 less for a starter, $107 less for fuel injection, $11 less for a fuel pump, $81 less for front struts, $259 less for a timing belt/chain and $394 less for a power steering pump.

Recommendations

The Buick Encore has won recognition from these important consumer publications:

	Encore	EcoSport
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE