Compare the2023 Kia SoulVS 2023 Buick Encore GX

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

Safety

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The Soul’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 Soul 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, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems 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 Soul is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Soul	Encore GX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Stress	168 lbs.	190 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	49/286 lbs.	83/261 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	4 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	324	401
Leg Forces (l/r)	237/154 lbs.	409/383 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, results indicate that the Kia Soul is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Soul	Encore GX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	1 inches	1.1 inches

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 Soul is 3.2% to 3.8% less likely to roll over than the Encore GX.

For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, with its optional front crash prevention system, and its headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Soul its highest rating: “Top Safety Pick Plus” for 2019, a rating granted to only 134 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The Encore GX is only a standard “Top Safety Pick” for 2019.

Warranty

The Soul 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 Soul 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.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Soul’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 Soul has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Encore GX’s 130-amp alternator 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 Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. J.D. Power ranks Kia first in reliability, above the industry average. With 2 more problems per 100 vehicles, Buick is ranked second.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that Kia vehicles are more reliable than Buick vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks Kia 2 places higher in reliability than Buick.

Engine

The Soul’s 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (147 vs. 137) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Motor Trend the Kia Soul is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Soul	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	6.9 sec	9.3 sec
Quarter Mile	15.2 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	91.3 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Soul
	FWD	EX 2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
		2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/33 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

The Soul has 1.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Encore GX (14.3 vs. 13.2 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups.

Brakes and Stopping

The Soul stops much shorter than the Encore GX:

	Soul	Encore GX
70 to 0 MPH	161 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	116 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	130 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the Soul GT-Line’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Encore GX (235/45R18 vs. 225/55R18).

The Soul GT-Line’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.

Suspension and Handling

The Soul handles at .91 G’s, while the Encore GX Essence AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Soul executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1 seconds quicker than the Encore GX AWD (26.8 seconds @ .66 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

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

Chassis

The Soul is 6.2 inches shorter than the Encore GX, making the Soul easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Soul has 7.9 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Encore GX (102.2 vs. 94.3).

The Soul has .2 inches more front legroom, 1.6 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 1.4 inches more rear headroom, 2.8 inches more rear legroom, 5.3 inches more rear hip room and 1.1 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

The front step up height for the Soul is 1.3 inches lower than the Encore GX (16.2” vs. 17.5”). The Soul’s rear step up height is .6 inches lower than the Encore GX’s (17.4” vs. 18”).

Cargo Capacity

The Soul has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat up than the Encore GX with its rear seat up (24.2 vs. 23.5 cubic feet). The Soul has a larger cargo volume with its rear seat folded than the Encore GX with its rear seat folded (62.1 vs. 50.2 cubic feet).

Servicing Ease

The Soul 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.

Ergonomics

The Soul 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.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts detailed tests on headlights for their range both straight ahead and in curves and to be certain they don’t exceed acceptable amounts of glare to oncoming drivers. The Soul’s available headlights were rated “Good” by the IIHS, while the Encore GX’s headlights are rated “Acceptable” to “Marginal.”

Economic Advantages

The Soul will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Soul will retain 46.79% to 50.48% of its original price after five years, while the Encore GX only retains 45.57% to 45.58%.

IntelliChoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the Kia Soul will be $1345 to $5005 less than for the Buick Encore GX.

Recommendations

Consumer Reports® recommends both the Kia Soul and the Buick Encore GX, based on reliability, safety and performance.

The Kia Soul outsold the Buick Encore by 23% during 2022.