Compare the2022 Jeep CherokeeVS 2022 Buick Encore GX

The Cherokee has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The Encore GX doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The Cherokee (except Latitude) offers optional Parksense with Rear Stop 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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.

Both the Cherokee and the Encore GX have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front and rear 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, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, lane departure warning systems, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive and front parking sensors.

The Jeep Cherokee weighs 437 to 1235 pounds more than the Buick Encore GX. The NHTSA advises that heavier vehicles are much safer in collisions than their significantly lighter counterparts.

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

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

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

Jeep pays for scheduled maintenance on the Cherokee for 3 years and unlimited miles. Jeep will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance (up to 3 oil changes). Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Encore GX.

There are over 21 percent more Jeep dealers than there are Buick dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the Cherokee’s warranty.

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Cherokee’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.

To reliably power the ignition and other systems and to recharge the battery, the Cherokee has a standard 160-amp alternator (180-amp - Cherokee optional). The Encore GX’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the Cherokee third 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 Jeep vehicles are better in initial quality than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Jeep 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked 12th.

The Cherokee’s optional 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 133 more horsepower (270 vs. 137) and 133 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 162) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Cherokee’s 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder produces 115 more horsepower (270 vs. 155) and 121 lbs.-ft. more torque (295 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder. The Cherokee’s standard 3.2 DOHC V6 produces 116 more horsepower (271 vs. 155) and 65 lbs.-ft. more torque (239 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

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

The Cherokee has 2.7 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (15.9 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

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

The Cherokee stops shorter than the Encore GX:

For better traction, the Cherokee 4x4 X/Trailhawk’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore GX (245/65R17 vs. 225/55R18).

The Cherokee Limited’s optional 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.

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

The Cherokee X/Trailhawk has a standard full size spare tire so a flat doesn’t interrupt your trip. A full size spare isn’t available on the Encore GX; it requires you to depend on a temporary spare, which limits mileage and speed before replacement.

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

The Cherokee’s drift compensation steering can automatically compensate for road conditions which would cause the vehicle to drift from side to side, helping the driver to keep the vehicle straight more easily. The Encore GX doesn’t offer drift compensation steering.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the Cherokee’s wheelbase is 4.3 inches longer than on the Encore GX (106.5 inches vs. 102.2 inches).

For better handling and stability, the average track (width between the wheels) on the Cherokee is 2.1 inches wider in the front and 1.4 inches wider in the rear than the track on the Encore GX.

The Cherokee Latitude LUX 4x4 executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Encore GX AWD (27.1 seconds @ .62 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

For greater off-road capability the Cherokee has a greater minimum ground clearance than the Encore GX (7.9 vs. 7.5 inches), allowing the Cherokee to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Cherokee Trailhawk’s minimum ground clearance is 1.2 inches higher than on the Encore GX (8.7 vs. 7.5 inches).

The Cherokee has 9.2 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (103.5 vs. 94.3).

The Cherokee has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.9 inches more front hip room, 2.2 inches more front shoulder room, .4 inches more rear headroom, 4.3 inches more rear legroom, 2.4 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 Cherokee’s rear seats recline. The Encore GX’s rear seats don’t recline.

The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (27.6 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Cherokee has a much larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (54.7 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the Cherokee. The Encore GX doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

The Cherokee’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 Cherokee offers up to a 4500 lbs. towing capacity.

Standard Trailer Sway Control on the Cherokee uses the Electronic Stability Control 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.

The Cherokee uses gas struts to support the hood for easier service access. The Encore GX uses a prop rod to support its heavy hood. It takes two hands to open the hood and set the prop rod, the prop rod gets in the way during maintenance and service, and the prop rod could be knocked out, causing the heavy hood to fall on the person maintaining or servicing the car.

The Cherokee’s front power windows open or close with one touch of the switches, making it more convenient at drive-up windows and toll booths, or when talking with someone outside of the car. The Encore GX’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Cherokee’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Encore GX’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To help drivers see further while navigating curves, the Cherokee Limited offers optional adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle. The Encore GX doesn’t offer cornering lights.

The Cherokee has standard heated front seats. Heated front seats cost extra on the Encore GX. The Cherokee Overland also has standard heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the Encore GX.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the Cherokee Limited/Trailhawk 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 Cherokee and the Encore GX offer rear vents. For greater rear passenger comfort, the Cherokee 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 Cherokee owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Cherokee will cost $220 less than the Encore GX over a five-year period.

The Cherokee will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Cherokee will retain 46.96% to 52.63% of its original price after five years, while the Encore GX only retains 44.51% to 45.1%.

The Jeep Cherokee outsold the Buick Encore by 12% during the 2021 model year.