Compare the2022 Buick EncoreVS 2022 Acura RDX

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 Acura RDX has only front height-adjustable seat belts.

Both the Encore and the RDX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front 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, 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 Acura RDX:

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

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

There are over 7 times as many Buick dealers as there are Acura dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Encore’s warranty.

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 57 points higher than the RDX.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are better in initial quality than Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick 12th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 44 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 26th, 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 Acura vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in reliability, above the industry average. With 8 more problems per 100 vehicles, Acura is ranked 10th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than Acura vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick fourth in reliability. Acura is ranked 28th.

On the EPA test cycle the Encore gets better mileage than the RDX:

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

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Buick Encore higher (7 out of 10) than the Acura RDX (6). This means the Encore produces up to 1.1 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the RDX every 15,000 miles.

The Encore stops much shorter than the RDX:

The Encore handles at .82 G’s, while the RDX A-Spec AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Encore’s turning circle is 2.2 feet tighter than the RDX’s (36.7 feet vs. 38.9 feet).

The Buick Encore may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 550 to 700 pounds less than the Acura RDX.

The Encore is 1 foot, 7 inches shorter than the RDX, making the Encore easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Encore has .5 inches more rear headroom and .2 inches more rear hip room than the RDX.

The Encore has a higher standard payload capacity than the RDX (1018 vs. 838 lbs.).

The Encore has a higher maximum payload capacity than the RDX (1026 vs. 838 lbs.).

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 RDX doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

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 RDX is rated higher at a number “10” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Encore is less expensive to operate than the RDX because it costs $191 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Encore than the RDX, including $57 less for a water pump, $77 less for front brake pads, $286 less for a starter, $159 less for fuel injection, $105 less for a fuel pump, $71 less for front struts and $733 less for a power steering pump.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Buick Encore will be $8903 to $18868 less than for the Acura RDX.

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

The Buick Encore outsold the Acura RDX by 75% during the 2021 model year.