Compare the2023 Hyundai KonaVS 2023 Buick Encore GX

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

Safety

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The Kona 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 Kona 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 Kona’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 Kona 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, 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 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 Hyundai Kona is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Kona	Encore GX
	Driver
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Neck Injury Risk	20%	24%
Leg Forces (l/r)	29/232 lbs.	83/261 lbs.
	Passenger
STARS	5 Stars	4 Stars
HIC	217	401
Neck Compression	70 lbs.	82 lbs.
Leg Forces (l/r)	59/27 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 and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the Hyundai Kona is safer than the Buick Encore GX:

	Kona	Encore GX
	Front Seat
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
Chest Movement	.8 inches	1.1 inches
	Into Pole
STARS	5 Stars	5 Stars
HIC	196	337
Spine Acceleration	34 G’s	38 G’s

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 Kona is 3.8% to 4.9% less likely to roll over than the Encore GX.

Warranty

The Kona 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.

Hyundai’s powertrain warranty covers the Kona 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.

The Kona’s corrosion warranty is 1 year and unlimited miles longer than the Encore GX’s (7/unlimited vs. 6/100,000).

Hyundai pays for scheduled maintenance on the Kona for 3 years and 36,000 miles. Hyundai will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Buick doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the Encore GX.

Reliability

A hardened steel chain, with no maintenance needs, drives the camshafts in the Kona’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 Kona has a standard 150-amp alternator. The Encore GX’s 130-amp alternator isn’t as powerful.

Engine

The Kona’s standard 2.0 DOHC 4-cylinder produces 10 more horsepower (147 vs. 137) than the Encore GX’s standard 1.2 turbo 3-cylinder. The Kona N Line/Limited’s standard 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder produces 40 more horsepower (195 vs. 155) and 21 lbs.-ft. more torque (195 vs. 174) than the Encore GX’s optional 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder.

As tested in Car and Driver the Kona N Line/Limited 1.6 turbo 4-cylinder is faster than the Buick Encore GX 1.3 turbo 3-cylinder:

	Kona	Encore GX
Zero to 60 MPH	7.3 sec	9.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	19.7 sec	31.2 sec
5 to 60 MPH Rolling Start	7.6 sec	10.1 sec
Quarter Mile	15.7 sec	17 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	90 MPH	80 MPH

Fuel Economy and Range

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

			MPG
Kona
	FWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	30 city/35 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	29 city/35 hwy
	AWD	2.0 DOHC 4-cyl.	28 city/33 hwy
		1.6 turbo 4-cyl.	27 city/32 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

Transmission

The Kona offers an available sequential manual gearbox (SMG). With no clutch pedal to worry about and a fully automatic mode, an SMG is more internally efficient than a CVT but just as easy to drive. The Encore GX doesn’t offer an SMG or a conventional manual transmission.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the Kona AWD/1.6T’s front brake rotors are larger than those on the Encore GX:

	Kona AWD/1.6T	Encore GX
Front Rotors	12 inches	11.81 inches
Rear Rotors	11.2 inches	10.39 inches

The Kona stops shorter than the Encore GX:

	Kona	Encore GX
70 to 0 MPH	171 feet	174 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	119 feet	122 feet	Motor Trend
60 to 0 MPH (Wet)	131 feet	138 feet	Consumer Reports

Tires and Wheels

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

The Kona N Line/Limited’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

For superior ride and handling, the Kona AWD 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 solid rear axle, with a non-independent rear suspension.

The Kona AWD has front and rear stabilizer bars, which help keep the Kona AWD flat and controlled during cornering. The Encore GX’s suspension doesn’t offer a rear stabilizer bar.

The Kona SEL AWD handles at .88 G’s, while the Encore GX Essence AWD pulls only .84 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The Kona executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the Encore GX AWD (26.9 seconds @ .65 average G’s vs. 27.8 seconds @ .6 average G’s).

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

Chassis

The Kona is 5.8 inches shorter than the Encore GX, making the Kona easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.

Passenger Space

The Kona has .6 inches more front legroom, 1.4 inches more front hip room, .1 inches more front shoulder room, 4.7 inches more rear hip room and .9 inches more rear shoulder room than the Encore GX.

The front step up height for the Kona is 1.5 inches lower than the Encore GX (16” vs. 17.5”). The Kona’s rear step up height is 1.9 inches lower than the Encore GX’s (16.1” vs. 18”).

Cargo Capacity

A low lift-over cargo hatch design makes loading and unloading the Kona easier. The Kona’s cargo hatch lift-over height is 27.5 inches, while the Encore GX’s liftover is 30.5 inches.

Ergonomics

The Kona SEL/N Line/Limted’s front power windows both open or close with one touch of the switches. The Encore GX’s front passenger window doesn’t close automatically.

The Kona 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.

In addition to a parabolic reflector, optical-grade lenses in the Kona’s standard projector headlights precisely focus the beam, providing more even illumination of the road for better visibility and a sharp cut-off that prevents blinding oncoming drivers. The sharp cutoff allows the use of a stronger light. The Encore GX’s standard uses a simple reflector to direct its standard headlights.

Economic Advantages

The Kona will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The IntelliChoice estimates that the Kona will retain 47.55% to 51.42% of its original price after five years, while the Encore GX only retains 45.57% to 45.58%.

Recommendations

The Kona was chosen as a Car and Driver’s “Top Ten” for 2019. The Encore GX has never been chosen by Car and Driver in their “10Best” issue, and the Encore GX has only been chosen.

A group of representative automotive journalists from North America selected the Kona as the 2019 North American Utility Vehicle of the Year. The Encore GX has never been chosen.

The Hyundai Kona outsold the Buick Encore by 36% during 2022.