Compare the2023 Buick Encore GXVS 2021 Lexus NX Series

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Fuel Economy and Range
Environmental Friendliness
Transmission
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Towing
Ergonomics
Recommendations

Safety

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In the past twenty years hundreds of infants and young children have died after being left in vehicles, usually by accident. When turning the vehicle off, drivers of the Encore GX are reminded to check the back seat if they opened the rear door before starting out. The NX Series doesn’t offer a back seat reminder.

The Buick Encore GX has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The NX Series doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

Compared to metal, the Encore GX’s plastic fuel tank can withstand harder, more intrusive impacts without leaking; this decreases the possibility of fire. The Lexus NX Series has a metal gas tank.

Both the Encore GX and the NX Series have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, 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 blind spot warning systems, around view monitors 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 GX is safer than the Lexus NX Series:

	Encore GX	NX Series
OVERALL STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	185	209
Neck Injury Risk	24%	46%
Neck Stress	190 lbs.	509 lbs.
Neck Compression	15 lbs.	24 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	83/261 lbs.	480/609 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
Chest Compression	.4 inches	.4 inches
Neck Injury Risk	29%	42%
Neck Stress	153 lbs.	295 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 post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Buick Encore GX is safer than the Lexus NX Series:

	Encore GX	NX Series
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars

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

Warranty

There are over 8 times as many Buick dealers as there are Lexus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the Encore GX’s warranty.

Reliability

To reliably start during all conditions and help handle large electrical loads, the Encore GX has a standard 760-amp battery. The NX Series’ 580-amp battery isn’t as powerful.

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 Lexus vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Buick second in reliability, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Lexus is ranked 6th.

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
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
NX Series
	FWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
	AWD	2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/28 hwy
		F Sport 2.0 turbo 4-cyl.	22 city/27 hwy

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the Encore GX’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Lexus only offers a regenerative brake system on the NX Series 300h.

Regardless of its engine, the Encore GX’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. Lexus only offers an automatic engine start/stop system on the NX Series 300h.

To lower fuel costs and make buying fuel easier, the Buick Encore GX uses regular unleaded gasoline. The NX 300 requires premium, which can cost 20 to 55 cents more per gallon.

The Encore GX 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 NX Series doesn’t offer a cap-less fueling system.

Environmental Friendliness

In its Green Vehicle Guide, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rates the Buick Encore GX higher (7 out of 10) than the Lexus NX Series (3 to 7). This means the Encore GX produces up to 24.5 pounds less smog-producing pollutants than the NX Series every 15,000 miles.

Transmission

A nine-speed automatic is standard on the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder AWD, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a six-speed automatic is available for the NX Series.

Brakes and Stopping

The Encore GX stops much shorter than the NX Series:

	Encore GX	NX Series
70 to 0 MPH	174 feet	183 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	126 feet	136 feet	Consumer Reports
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	138 feet	142 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

The Encore GX’s tires provide better handling because they have a lower 55 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the NX Series’ standard 65 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the Encore GX has standard 18-inch wheels. Smaller 17-inch wheels are standard on the NX Series.

The Encore GX has a standard easy tire fill system. When inflating the tires, the vehicle’s integrated tire pressure sensors keep track of the pressure as the tires fill and tell the driver when the tires are inflated to the proper pressure. The NX Series doesn’t offer vehicle monitored tire inflation.

Suspension and Handling

The Encore GX Essence AWD handles at .84 G’s, while the NX 300 F Sport AWD pulls only .76 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

For better maneuverability, the Encore GX’s turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the NX Series’ (36.8 feet vs. 37.4 feet).

For greater off-road capability the Encore GX has a greater minimum ground clearance than the NX 300h (7.5 vs. 6.7 inches), allowing the Encore GX to travel over rougher terrain without being stopped or damaged. The Encore GX’s minimum ground clearance is .6 inch higher than on the NX 300 (7.5 vs. 6.9 inches).

Chassis

The Buick Encore GX may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 900 pounds less than the Lexus NX Series.

The Encore GX is 11.3 inches shorter than the NX Series, making the Encore GX easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

The front grille of the Encore GX uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The NX Series doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

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

As tested by Car and Driver while under full throttle, the interior of the Encore GX Essence AWD is quieter than the NX 300 F Sport AWD (73 vs. 74 dB).

Passenger Space

The Encore GX has 22.7 cubic feet more passenger volume than the NX Series (94.3 vs. 71.6).

Cargo Capacity

The Encore GX has a much larger cargo volume than the NX Series with its rear seat up (23.5 vs. 17.7 cubic feet).

Towing

The Encore GX’s standard towing capacity is much higher than the NX Series’ (1000 vs. 0 pounds).

The Encore GX AWD can be flat towed on all four wheels (dinghy towed), allowing recreational vehicle owners to bring it with them on the road. When they reach their destination, the Encore GX can be unhitched and driven around locally. The NX Series can’t be towed flat on the ground.

Ergonomics

The Encore GX Select/Essence offers an optional heads-up display that projects speed, tachometer, warning and navigation instruction readouts in front of the driver’s line of sight, allowing drivers to view information without diverting their eyes from the road. The NX Series doesn’t offer a heads-up display.

In case you lock your keys in your vehicle, or don’t have them with you, you can let yourself in using the Encore GX’s available exterior PIN entry system. The NX Series doesn’t offer an exterior PIN entry system.

The Encore GX’s power window, power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are lit from behind, making them plainly visible and easier to operate at night. The NX Series’ power lock, power mirror and cruise control switches are unlit, making them difficult to find at night and operate safely.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Buick Encore GX Essence offers an optional wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the center console. The NX Series doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The Encore GX Essence has a 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 NX Series doesn’t offer a house-current electrical outlet.

The Encore GX Essence’s optional Automatic Parking Assist can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting and stopping automatically, with the driver only responsible for switching from reverse to drive. The NX Series doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Buick Encore GX and the Lexus NX Series, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Buick Encore outsold the Lexus NX Series by 47% during the 2021 model year.

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