Compare the2022 Buick EncoreVS 2022 BMW X1

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Brakes and Stopping
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Payload
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Economic Advantages
Recommendations

Safety

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For enhanced safety, the front and rear (child comfort guides) seat shoulder belts of the Buick Encore are height-adjustable to accommodate a wide variety of driver and passenger heights. A better fit can prevent injuries and the increased comfort also encourages passengers to buckle up. The BMW X1 doesn’t offer height-adjustable seat belts.

The Encore’s optional blind spot warning system uses sensors to alert the driver to objects in the vehicle’s blind spots where the side view mirrors don’t reveal them. The X1 doesn’t offer a system to reveal objects in the driver’s blind spots.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the Encore’s optional rear cross-path warning system uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. The X1 doesn’t offer a cross-path warning system.

Both the Encore and the X1 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, 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 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 Buick Encore is safer than the BMW X1:

	Encore	X1
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	122	328
Neck Injury Risk	26%	32%
Neck Stress	298 lbs.	360 lbs.
Neck Compression	12 lbs.	60 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Compression	.3 inches	.5 inches
Neck Stress	122 lbs.	175 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	249/289 lbs.	309/268 lbs.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Buick Encore is safer than the BMW X1:

	Encore	X1
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	73	143
Chest Movement	.7 inches	.8 inches
Abdominal Force	120 lbs.	154 lbs.
Hip Force	388 lbs.	486 lbs.
	Rear Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	100	193
Spine Acceleration	33 G’s	65 G’s
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Hip Force	707 lbs.	815 lbs.

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

Warranty

Buick’s powertrain warranty covers the Encore 1 year and 10,000 miles longer than BMW covers the X1. Any repair needed on the engine, transmission, axles, joints or driveshafts is fully covered for 5 years or 60,000 miles. Coverage on the X1 ends after only 4 years or 50,000 miles.

There are almost 6 times as many Buick dealers as there are BMW dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Encore’s warranty.

Reliability

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 41 points higher than the X1.

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 BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick above average in initial quality. With 10 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the statistics that show that Buick vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 40 more problems per 100 vehicles, BMW is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that Buick vehicles are more reliable than BMW vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Buick fourth in overall reliability. BMW is ranked 12th.

Fuel Economy and Range

The Encore has a standard cap-less fueling system. The fuel filler is automatically opened when the fuel nozzle is inserted and automatically closed when it’s removed. This eliminates the need to unscrew and replace the cap and it reduces fuel evaporation, which causes pollution. The X1 doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Brakes and Stopping

The Encore stops shorter than the X1:

	Encore	X1
70 to 0 MPH	175 feet	180 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	113 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	134 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Suspension and Handling

For better maneuverability, the Encore’s turning circle is .7 feet tighter than the X1’s (36.7 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

Chassis

The Buick Encore may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 350 pounds less than the BMW X1.

The Encore is 7.1 inches shorter than the X1, making the Encore easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The Encore uses computer-generated active noise cancellation to help remove annoying noise and vibration from the passenger compartment, especially at low frequencies. The X1 doesn’t offer active noise cancellation.

Payload

The Encore has a higher standard payload capacity than the X1 (1018 vs. 924 lbs.).

The Encore has a higher maximum payload capacity than the X1 (1026 vs. 926 lbs.).

Servicing Ease

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that Buick service is better than BMW. J.D. Power ranks Buick fifth in service department satisfaction. With a 6% lower rating, BMW is ranked 7th.

Ergonomics

The Encore offers a remote vehicle starting system, so the vehicle can be started from inside the driver's house. This allows the driver to comfortably warm up the engine before going out to the vehicle. The climate system will also automatically heat or cool the interior. The X1 doesn’t offer a remote starting system.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the Encore has a standard rear fixed intermittent wiper with a full on position. The rear wiper standard on the X1 only has an intermittent setting, so in a hard rain visibility isn’t as good.

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 X1 doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

Economic Advantages

Insurance will cost less for the Encore owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the Encore will cost $475 to $880 less than the X1 over a five-year period.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the Encore is less expensive to operate than the X1 because it costs $64 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the Encore than the X1, including $429 less for a water pump, $461 less for a muffler, $463 less for a starter, $450 less for fuel injection, $198 less for a fuel pump, $229 less for front struts, $584 less for a timing belt/chain and $700 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 $9895 to $11120 less than for the BMW X1.

Recommendations

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

	Encore	X1
Consumer Reports® Recommends	TRUE	FALSE
Car Book “Best Bet”	TRUE	FALSE

The Buick Encore outsold the BMW X1 by almost six to one during the 2021 model year.