Compare the2022 Honda HR-VVS 2022 Buick Encore GX

Using vehicle speed sensors and seat sensors, smart airbags in the HR-V deploy with different levels of force or don’t deploy at all to help better protect passengers of all sizes in different collisions. The HR-V’s side airbags will shut off if a child is leaning against the door. The Encore GX’s airbags don’t have smart features and will always deploy full force.

Both the HR-V and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact 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, crash mitigating brakes and lane departure warning systems.

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

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

Instrumented handling tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and analysis of its dimensions indicate that the HR-V is 2.6% to 5% less likely to roll over than the Encore GX.

The HR-V’s corrosion warranty is unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (unlimited vs. 100,000 miles).

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshaft in the HR-V’s engine. A rubber cam drive belt that needs periodic replacement drives the Encore GX’s camshafts. If the Encore GX’s belt breaks, the engine could be severely damaged when the pistons hit the opened valves.

The engine in the HR-V has a single overhead cam for simplicity. The engines in the Encore GX have dual overhead cams, which add to the number of moving parts and the complexity of the cylinder heads.

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 HR-V’s reliability 40 points higher than the Encore GX.

The HR-V’s 1.8 SOHC 4-cylinder produces 4 more horsepower (141 vs. 137) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

The HR-V stops shorter than the Encore GX:

The HR-V Sport’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 50 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Encore GX’s 55 series tires.

The HR-V AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the HR-V AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The HR-V EX-L AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the Encore GX AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The HR-V has 5.8 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (100.1 vs. 94.3).

The HR-V has .3 inches more front legroom, 1.2 inches more front hip room, 1.4 inches more front shoulder room, .2 inches more rear headroom, 3.3 inches more rear legroom and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

For enhanced passenger comfort on long trips the HR-V’s rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The HR-V has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (24.3 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The HR-V has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (58.8 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

The HR-V has a standard locking fuel door with a remote release located convenient to the driver. A locking fuel door helps prevent fuel theft and vandalism, such as sugar in the tank. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a locking fuel door.

Consumer Reports rated the HR-V’s headlight performance “Very Good,” a higher rating than the Encore GX’s headlights, which were rated “Good.”