Compare the2022 Ford EscapeVS 2022 Buick Encore GX

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

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear seat shoulder belts of the Ford Escape have pretensioners to tighten the seatbelts and eliminate dangerous slack in the event of a collision and force limiters to limit the pressure the belts will exert on the passengers. The Buick Encore GX doesn’t offer pretensioners for the rear seat belts.

The Escape has standard Post Collision Braking, which automatically apply the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Escape Titanium has a standard backup collision prevention system that uses rear sensors to monitor and automatically apply the brakes to prevent a rear collision. The Encore GX doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The Escape has a standard blind spot warning system which uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. A system to reveal vehicles in the Encore GX’s blind spot costs extra.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Escape has a standard rear cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Rear cross-path warning costs extra on the Encore GX.

The Escape’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 Escape and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front wheel drive, height adjustable front shoulder belts, 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 and front and rear parking sensors.

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

	Escape	Encore GX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	143	185
Neck Injury Risk	22.5%	24%
Neck Stress	185 lbs.	190 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	102	401
Neck Compression	58 lbs.	82 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	220/169 lbs.	409/383 lbs.

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

Warranty

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

There are over 52 percent more Ford dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Escape’s warranty.

Reliability

The Escape has a standard “limp home system” to keep drivers from being stranded if most or all of the engine’s coolant is lost. The engine will run on only half of its cylinders at a time, reduce its power and light a warning lamp on the dashboard so the driver can get to a service station for repairs. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a lost coolant limp home mode, so a coolant leak could strand you or seriously damage the truck’s engine.

Engine

The Escape’s standard 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 44 more horsepower (181 vs. 137) and 28 lbs.-ft. more torque (190 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Escape’s 1.5 turbo 3-cylinder produces 26 more horsepower (181 vs. 155) and 16 lbs.-ft. more torque (190 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder. The Escape’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 95 more horsepower (250 vs. 155) and 106 lbs.-ft. more torque (280 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Ford Escape turbo 3 cyl. is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Escape	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	7.7 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	23.5 sec	31.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	8.3 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.9 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	87 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

On the EPA test cycle the Escape gets better mileage than the Encore GX:

			MPG
Escape
	FWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	28 city/34 hwy
	AWD	1.5 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/31 hwy
Encore GX
	FWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/32 hwy
		1.2 turbo 3-cyl.	29 city/31 hwy
	AWD	1.3 turbo 3-cyl.	26 city/29 hwy

An engine control system that can shut down some of the engine’s cylinders helps improve the Escape 1.5 Turbo’s fuel efficiency. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a system that can shut down part of the engine.

The Escape FWD’s standard fuel tank has 1.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (14.8 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The Escape AWD’s standard fuel tank has 2.5 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (15.7 vs. 13.2 gallons).

Brakes and Stopping

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

	Escape	Encore GX
Front Rotors	13 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.9 inches	10.39 inches

The Escape stops much shorter than the Encore GX:

	Escape	Encore GX
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	137 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Escape offers optional 19-inch wheels. The Encore GX’s largest wheels are only 18-inches.

Suspension and Handling

For superior ride and handling, the Ford Escape 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 Escape has standard front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Escape 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 Escape’s wheelbase is 4.5 inches longer than on the Encore GX (106.7 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the Escape is 1.3 inches wider in the front than on the Encore GX.

The Escape SE AWD handles at .87 G’s, while the Encore GX Essence AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

Passenger Space

The Escape has 9.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (104 vs. 94.3).

The Escape has .3 inches more front headroom, 1.5 inches more front legroom, 3.3 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, 1.2 inches more rear headroom, 4.7 inches more rear legroom, 5.8 inches more rear hip room and 2.4 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

Cargo Capacity

The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (37.5 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Escape has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (65.4 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Escape easier. The Escape’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 28.1 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

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

	Escape	Encore GX
Length to seat (2nd/1st)	37.8”/68.5”	31.8”/60.8”
Max Width	57.3”	53”
Min Width	41.4”	40.7”
Height	34.8”	32”

Towing

The Escape’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the Encore GX’s (2000 vs. 1000 pounds). Maximum trailer towing in the Buick Encore GX is only 1000 pounds. The Escape offers up to a 3500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Escape uses the AdvanceTrac® sensors to detect trailer sway, then uses individual brakes to counteract any swaying and help keep the tow vehicle and trailer steady. The Encore GX doesn’t offer electronic trailer sway control.

Ergonomics

The Escape SEL/Titanium’s front and rear power windows all open or close with one touch of the switches. The Encore GX’s rear power window switches have to be held the entire time to close them fully.

The Escape’s standard speed-sensitive wipers speed up when the vehicle does, so that the driver doesn’t have to continually adjust the speed of the wipers. The Encore GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

Both the Escape and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Escape offers optional 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.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Escape owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Escape will cost $370 less than the Encore GX over a five-year period.

Recommendations

The Ford Escape outsold the Buick Encore by 53% during the 2021 model year.