Compare the2022 Buick EncoreVS 2021 Lexus NX Series

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Payload
Servicing Ease
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 Lexus NX Series has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

The Buick Encore has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The NX Series doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Compared to metal, the Encore’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Lexus NX Series has a metal gas tank.

Both the Encore and the NX Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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, collision warning systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors 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 Lexus NX Series:

	Encore	NX Series
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	122	209
Neck Injury Risk	26%	46%
Neck Stress	298 lbs.	509 lbs.
Neck Compression	12 lbs.	24 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	363/313 lbs.	480/609 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	207	355
Chest Compression	.3 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	38%	42%
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	295 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	249/289 lbs.	442/307 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Buick Encore is safer than the Lexus NX Series:

	Encore	NX Series
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	192
Abdominal Force	120 G’s	148 G’s
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	100	317
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	49 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
Max Damage Depth	14 inches	15 inches
HIC	382	542
Hip Force	707 lbs.	828 lbs.

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

Warranty

There are over 8 times as many Buick dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Encore’s warranty.

Reliability

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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick 7th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 12th.

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Encore gets better fuel mileage than the NX Series:

			MPG
Encore
	2WD	1.4 Turbo 4-cyl.	24 city/32 hwy
	4WD	1.4 Turbo 4-cyl.	23 city/30 hwy
NX Series
	2WD	2.0 Turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
	4WD	2.0 Turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		F Sport 2.0 Turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Encore uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 300 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Encore has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The NX Series doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Encore stops much shorter than the NX Series:

	Encore	NX Series
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	127 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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 NX Series’ standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Encore has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the NX Series.

Suspension and Handling

The Encore handles at .82 G’s, while the NX 300 F Sport AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Encore’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the NX Series’ (36.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Buick Encore may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 700 to 800 pounds less than the Lexus NX Series.

The Encore is 1 foot, 2.3 inches shorter than the NX Series, making the Encore easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

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

Passenger Space

The Encore has 21.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the NX Series (92.8 vs. 71.6).

The Encore has 1.4 inches more front headroom and .7 inches more rear headroom than the NX Series.

The front step up height for the Encore is 1.3 inches lower than the NX Series (16.8” vs. 18.1”). The Encore’s rear step up height is 1.2 inches lower than the NX Series’ (16.8” vs. 18”).

Cargo Capacity

The Encore has a much larger cargo volume than the NX Series with its rear seat up (18.8 vs. 17.7 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Encore easier. The Encore’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.8 inches, while the NX Series’ liftover is 31.2 inches.

Payload

The Encore has a higher standard payload capacity than the NX Series (1018 vs. 895 lbs.).

The Encore has a higher maximum payload capacity than the NX Series (1026 vs. 895 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

The Encore has a maintenance free battery for long life without checking the battery’s water level. The NX Series doesn’t have a maintenance free battery, so the water level in the battery’s cells must be checked often to prevent damage.

Ergonomics

The Encore’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The NX Series’ power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

The Encore offers an optional 115-volt a/c outlet on the center console, allowing you to recharge a laptop or run small household appliances without special adapters that can break or get misplaced. The NX Series doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Encore owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Encore will cost $460 less than the NX Series over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Encore is less expensive to operate than the NX Series because it costs $718 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Encore than the NX Series, including $172 less for a water pump, $231 less for a muffler, $320 less for a starter, $489 less for fuel injection, $65 less for a fuel pump, $43 less for front struts and $599 less for a timing belt/chain.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Buick Encore will be $4481 to $9254 less than for the Lexus NX Series.

Recommendations

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

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