Compare the2022 Kia SportageVS 2022 Buick Encore GX

The Sportage’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

Both the Sportage 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, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, 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 Kia Sportage 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 Sportage is 2.4% to 3.8% less likely to roll over than the Encore GX.

The Sportage comes with a full 5-year/60,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire truck and includes 24-hour roadside assistance. The Encore GX’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 2 years or 24,000 miles sooner.

Kia’s powertrain warranty covers the Sportage 5 years and 40,000 miles longer than Buick covers the Encore GX. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Coverage on the Encore GX ends after only 5 years or 60,000 miles.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Sportage has a standard 140-amp alternator (150-amp - Sportage SX Turbo AWD). The Encore GX’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

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 Sportage’s reliability 31 points higher than the Encore GX.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Sportage first among compact suvs in their 2021 Initial Quality Study. The Encore GX isn’t in the top three in its category.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that Kia vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 9 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 12th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia third in reliability, above the industry average. With 3 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked fifth.

The Sportage has more powerful engines than the Encore GX:

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Sportage 4 cyl. is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

The Sportage has 3.2 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (16.4 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

For better stopping power the Sportage’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

The Sportage stops shorter than the Encore GX:

For better traction, the Sportage SX Turbo’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore GX (245/45R19 vs. 225/55R18).

The Sportage SX Turbo’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 45 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Encore GX’s 55 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Sportage SX Turbo has standard 19-inch wheels. The Encore GX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

For superior ride and handling, the Kia Sportage has fully independent front and rear suspensions. An independent suspension allows the wheels to follow the road at the best angle for gripping the pavement, without compromising ride comfort. The Buick Encore GX has a rear torsion beam axle, with a semi-independent rear suspension.

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

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Sportage’s wheelbase is 2.9 inches longer than on the Encore GX (105.1 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Sportage is 2.3 inches wider in the front and 2 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore GX.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD handles at .83 G’s, while the Encore GX AWD pulls only .81 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The Sportage SX Turbo AWD executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Encore GX AWD (26.8 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the Sportage’s turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the Encore GX’s (34.8 feet vs. 36.8 feet).

The Sportage has 4.3 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (98.6 vs. 94.3).

The Sportage has .6 inches more front legroom, 2.4 inches more front hip room, 1.7 inches more front shoulder room, 1 inch more rear headroom, 2.2 inches more rear legroom, 3.7 inches more rear hip room and 1.5 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

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

The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (30.7 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Sportage has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (60.1 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

The Sportage’s cargo area is larger than the Encore GX’s in almost every dimension:

The Sportage’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds).

The Sportage 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.

Heated windshield washer nozzles are optional on the Sportage to prevent washer fluid and nozzles from freezing and help continue to keep the windshield clear in sub-freezing temperatures. The Encore GX doesn’t offer heated windshield washer nozzles.

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

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Sportage (except LX/Nightfall) keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Encore GX doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

Both the Sportage and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Sportage has standard rear air conditioning vents to keep rear occupants cool in summer or warm in winter. The Encore GX doesn’t offer rear air conditioning vents, only heat vents.

Insurance will cost less for the Sportage owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Sportage will cost $435 less than the Encore GX over a five-year period.

The Kia Sportage has won recognition from these important consumer publications: